Isheen kuni Halayi dha. Umriin ishee wagga torba. Hikkan maqaa ishee’ nama gameti’ jechuudah afaan isheetin, Lubukusu dhan.
This is Khalai. She is seven years old. Her name means ‘the good one’ in her language, Lubukusu.
Halayi hirbaa kaate burtukaanati dubbati. “Mukaa burtukanaa adaraa kee dafii gudadhuu ijaa mi’aawa nukenni.”
Khalai wakes up and talks to the orange tree. “Please orange tree, grow big and give us lots of ripe oranges.”
Halayin gara mana barnoota nideemiti. otuma deemitu margaatti akkan jette dubbate, “Adara margan dafii gudadhuu oto hingogin turi.”
Khalai walks to school. On the way she talks to the grass. “Please grass, grow greener and don’t dry up.”
Halayin hababoo didaa bira dabarte. “Adara hababowaan bayee darara akkan mataa ko gubbaa isin ka’au.”
Khalai passes wild flowers. “Please flowers, keep blooming so I can put you in my hair.”
Mana barnoota kessati, Halayin mukkenti dubbati. “Adara kessan dafaati damee guddaa basaa akkaa isin jala tenyee dubifnu.”
At school, Khalai talks to the tree in the middle of the compound. “Please tree, put out big branches so we can read under your shade.”
Halayi mukken balbala gubbatin jiranti dubbatee. “Adara dafa gudadhati namoota ala dhufan nurra qabaa.”
Khalai talks to the hedge around her school. “Please grow strong and stop bad people from coming in.”
Yeroo Halayi gara mana deebitu, mukaa burtukaana ilalti. “Firrin kee hinbilchanee?” jette gafati.
When Khalai returns home from school, she visits the orange tree. “Are your oranges ripe yet?” asks Khalai.
Burtukanni kun hinbilchanee, jette Halayin. “Muka burtukana bor walarginaa” jette Halayin. “Akka tasa firii bilchate nafkennita ta’a!”
“The oranges are still green,” sighs Khalai. “I will see you tomorrow orange tree,” says Khalai. “Perhaps then you will have a ripe orange for me!”
