Back to stories list

What Vusi’s sister said What Vusi's sister said ˈhwət @vusi's ˈsɪstɝ ˈsɛd

Nina Orange

Wiehan de Jager

Darshan Soni

English

Level 4

Early one morning Vusi’s granny called him, “Vusi, please take this egg to your parents. They want to make a large cake for your sister’s wedding.”

Early one morning Vusi’s granny called him, “Vusi, please take this egg to your parents. They want to make a large cake for your sister’s wedding.”

ˈɝɫi ˈwən ˈmɔɹnɪŋ @vusi’s ˈɡɹæni ˈkɔɫd ˈhɪm @vusi ˈpɫiz ˈteɪk ˈðɪs ˈɛɡ ˈtu ˈjɔɹ ˈpɛɹənts ˈðeɪ ˈwɑnt ˈtu ˈmeɪk ˈeɪ ˈɫɑɹdʒ ˈkeɪk ˈfɔɹ ˈjɔɹ ˈsɪstɝz ˈwɛdɪŋ

On his way to his parents, Vusi met two boys picking fruit. One boy grabbed the egg from Vusi and shot it at a tree. The egg broke.

On his way to his parents, Vusi met two boys picking fruit. One boy grabbed the egg from Vusi and shot it at a tree. The egg broke.

ˈɑn ˈhɪz ˈweɪ ˈtu ˈhɪz ˈpɛɹənts @vusi ˈmɛt ˈtu ˈbɔɪz ˈpɪkɪŋ ˈfɹut ˈwən ˈbɔɪ ˈɡɹæbd ˈðə ˈɛɡ ˈfɹəm @vusi ˈænd ˈʃɑt ˈɪt ˈæt ˈeɪ ˈtɹi ˈðə ˈɛɡ ˈbɹoʊk

“What have you done?” cried Vusi. “That egg was for a cake. The cake was for my sister’s wedding. What will my sister say if there is no wedding cake?”

“What have you done?” cried Vusi. “That egg was for a cake. The cake was for my sister’s wedding. What will my sister say if there is no wedding cake?”

ˈhwət ˈhæv ˈju ˈdən ˈkɹaɪd @vusi ˈðæt ˈɛɡ ˈwɑz ˈfɔɹ ˈeɪ ˈkeɪk ˈðə ˈkeɪk ˈwɑz ˈfɔɹ ˈmaɪ ˈsɪstɝz ˈwɛdɪŋ ˈhwət ˈwɪɫ ˈmaɪ ˈsɪstɝ ˈseɪ ˈɪf ˈðɛɹ ˈɪz ˈnoʊ ˈwɛdɪŋ ˈkeɪk

The boys were sorry for teasing Vusi. “We can’t help with the cake, but here is a walking stick for your sister,” said one. Vusi continued on his journey.

The boys were sorry for teasing Vusi. “We can’t help with the cake, but here is a walking stick for your sister,” said one. Vusi continued on his journey.

ˈðə ˈbɔɪz ˈwɝ ˈsɑɹi ˈfɔɹ ˈtizɪŋ @vusi ˈwi ˈkænt ˈhɛɫp ˈwɪð ˈðə ˈkeɪk ˈbət ˈhiɹ ˈɪz ˈeɪ ˈwɔkɪŋ ˈstɪk ˈfɔɹ ˈjɔɹ ˈsɪstɝ ˈsɛd ˈwən @vusi kənˈtɪnjud ˈɑn ˈhɪz ˈdʒɝni

Along the way he met two men building a house. “Can we use that strong stick?” asked one. But the stick was not strong enough for building, and it broke.

Along the way he met two men building a house. “Can we use that strong stick?” asked one. But the stick was not strong enough for building, and it broke.

əˈɫɔŋ ˈðə ˈweɪ ˈhi ˈmɛt ˈtu ˈmɛn ˈbɪɫdɪŋ ˈeɪ ˈhaʊs ˈkæn ˈwi ˈjus ˈðæt ˈstɹɔŋ ˈstɪk ˈæskt ˈwən ˈbət ˈðə ˈstɪk ˈwɑz ˈnɑt ˈstɹɔŋ iˈnəf ˈfɔɹ ˈbɪɫdɪŋ ˈænd ˈɪt ˈbɹoʊk

“What have you done?” cried Vusi. “That stick was a gift for my sister. The fruit pickers gave me the stick because they broke the egg for the cake. The cake was for my sister’s wedding. Now there is no egg, no cake, and no gift. What will my sister say?”

“What have you done?” cried Vusi. “That stick was a gift for my sister. The fruit pickers gave me the stick because they broke the egg for the cake. The cake was for my sister’s wedding. Now there is no egg, no cake, and no gift. What will my sister say?”

ˈhwət ˈhæv ˈju ˈdən ˈkɹaɪd @vusi ˈðæt ˈstɪk ˈwɑz ˈeɪ ˈɡɪft ˈfɔɹ ˈmaɪ ˈsɪstɝ ˈðə ˈfɹut ˈpɪkɝz ˈɡeɪv ˈmi ˈðə ˈstɪk bɪˈkɑz ˈðeɪ ˈbɹoʊk ˈðə ˈɛɡ ˈfɔɹ ˈðə ˈkeɪk ˈðə ˈkeɪk ˈwɑz ˈfɔɹ ˈmaɪ ˈsɪstɝz ˈwɛdɪŋ ˈnaʊ ˈðɛɹ ˈɪz ˈnoʊ ˈɛɡ ˈnoʊ ˈkeɪk ˈænd ˈnoʊ ˈɡɪft ˈhwət ˈwɪɫ ˈmaɪ ˈsɪstɝ ˈseɪ

The builders were sorry for breaking the stick. “We can’t help with the cake, but here is some thatch for your sister,” said one. And so Vusi continued on his journey.

The builders were sorry for breaking the stick. “We can’t help with the cake, but here is some thatch for your sister,” said one. And so Vusi continued on his journey.

ˈðə ˈbɪɫdɝz ˈwɝ ˈsɑɹi ˈfɔɹ ˈbɹeɪkɪŋ ˈðə ˈstɪk ˈwi ˈkænt ˈhɛɫp ˈwɪð ˈðə ˈkeɪk ˈbət ˈhiɹ ˈɪz ˈsəm ˈθætʃ ˈfɔɹ ˈjɔɹ ˈsɪstɝ ˈsɛd ˈwən ˈænd ˈsoʊ @vusi kənˈtɪnjud ˈɑn ˈhɪz ˈdʒɝni

Along the way, Vusi met a farmer and a cow. “What delicious thatch, can I have a nibble?” asked the cow. But the thatch was so tasty that the cow ate it all!

Along the way, Vusi met a farmer and a cow. “What delicious thatch, can I have a nibble?” asked the cow. But the thatch was so tasty that the cow ate it all!

əˈɫɔŋ ˈðə ˈweɪ @vusi ˈmɛt ˈeɪ ˈfɑɹmɝ ˈænd ˈeɪ ˈkaʊ ˈhwət dɪˈɫɪʃəs ˈθætʃ ˈkæn ˈaɪ ˈhæv ˈeɪ ˈnɪbəɫ ˈæskt ˈðə ˈkaʊ ˈbət ˈðə ˈθætʃ ˈwɑz ˈsoʊ ˈteɪsti ˈðæt ˈðə ˈkaʊ ˈeɪt ˈɪt ˈɔɫ

“What have you done?” cried Vusi. “That thatch was a gift for my sister. The builders gave me the thatch because they broke the stick from the fruit pickers. The fruit pickers gave me the stick because they broke the egg for my sister’s cake. The cake was for my sister’s wedding. Now there is no egg, no cake, and no gift. What will my sister say?”

“What have you done?” cried Vusi. “That thatch was a gift for my sister. The builders gave me the thatch because they broke the stick from the fruit pickers. The fruit pickers gave me the stick because they broke the egg for my sister’s cake. The cake was for my sister’s wedding. Now there is no egg, no cake, and no gift. What will my sister say?”

ˈhwət ˈhæv ˈju ˈdən ˈkɹaɪd @vusi ˈðæt ˈθætʃ ˈwɑz ˈeɪ ˈɡɪft ˈfɔɹ ˈmaɪ ˈsɪstɝ ˈðə ˈbɪɫdɝz ˈɡeɪv ˈmi ˈðə ˈθætʃ bɪˈkɑz ˈðeɪ ˈbɹoʊk ˈðə ˈstɪk ˈfɹəm ˈðə ˈfɹut ˈpɪkɝz ˈðə ˈfɹut ˈpɪkɝz ˈɡeɪv ˈmi ˈðə ˈstɪk bɪˈkɑz ˈðeɪ ˈbɹoʊk ˈðə ˈɛɡ ˈfɔɹ ˈmaɪ ˈsɪstɝz ˈkeɪk ˈðə ˈkeɪk ˈwɑz ˈfɔɹ ˈmaɪ ˈsɪstɝz ˈwɛdɪŋ ˈnaʊ ˈðɛɹ ˈɪz ˈnoʊ ˈɛɡ ˈnoʊ ˈkeɪk ˈænd ˈnoʊ ˈɡɪft ˈhwət ˈwɪɫ ˈmaɪ ˈsɪstɝ ˈseɪ

The cow was sorry she was greedy. The farmer agreed that the cow could go with Vusi as a gift for his sister. And so Vusi carried on.

The cow was sorry she was greedy. The farmer agreed that the cow could go with Vusi as a gift for his sister. And so Vusi carried on.

ˈðə ˈkaʊ ˈwɑz ˈsɑɹi ˈʃi ˈwɑz ˈɡɹidi ˈðə ˈfɑɹmɝ əˈɡɹid ˈðæt ˈðə ˈkaʊ ˈkʊd ˈɡoʊ ˈwɪð @vusi ˈæz ˈeɪ ˈɡɪft ˈfɔɹ ˈhɪz ˈsɪstɝ ˈænd ˈsoʊ @vusi ˈkæɹid ˈɑn

But the cow ran back to the farmer at supper time. And Vusi got lost on his journey. He arrived very late for his sister’s wedding. The guests were already eating.

But the cow ran back to the farmer at supper time. And Vusi got lost on his journey. He arrived very late for his sister’s wedding. The guests were already eating.

ˈbət ˈðə ˈkaʊ ˈɹæn ˈbæk ˈtu ˈðə ˈfɑɹmɝ ˈæt ˈsəpɝ ˈtaɪm ˈænd @vusi ˈɡɑt ˈɫɔst ˈɑn ˈhɪz ˈdʒɝni ˈhi ɝˈaɪvd ˈvɛɹi ˈɫeɪt ˈfɔɹ ˈhɪz ˈsɪstɝz ˈwɛdɪŋ ˈðə ˈɡɛsts ˈwɝ ɔˈɹɛdi ˈitɪŋ

“What shall I do?” cried Vusi. “The cow that ran away was a gift, in return for the thatch the builders gave me. The builders gave me the thatch because they broke the stick from the fruit pickers. The fruit pickers gave me the stick because they broke the egg for the cake. The cake was for the wedding. Now there is no egg, no cake, and no gift.”

“What shall I do?” cried Vusi. “The cow that ran away was a gift, in return for the thatch the builders gave me. The builders gave me the thatch because they broke the stick from the fruit pickers. The fruit pickers gave me the stick because they broke the egg for the cake. The cake was for the wedding. Now there is no egg, no cake, and no gift.”

ˈhwət ˈʃæɫ ˈaɪ ˈdu ˈkɹaɪd @vusi ˈðə ˈkaʊ ˈðæt ˈɹæn əˈweɪ ˈwɑz ˈeɪ ˈɡɪft ˈɪn ɹiˈtɝn ˈfɔɹ ˈðə ˈθætʃ ˈðə ˈbɪɫdɝz ˈɡeɪv ˈmi ˈðə ˈbɪɫdɝz ˈɡeɪv ˈmi ˈðə ˈθætʃ bɪˈkɑz ˈðeɪ ˈbɹoʊk ˈðə ˈstɪk ˈfɹəm ˈðə ˈfɹut ˈpɪkɝz ˈðə ˈfɹut ˈpɪkɝz ˈɡeɪv ˈmi ˈðə ˈstɪk bɪˈkɑz ˈðeɪ ˈbɹoʊk ˈðə ˈɛɡ ˈfɔɹ ˈðə ˈkeɪk ˈðə ˈkeɪk ˈwɑz ˈfɔɹ ˈðə ˈwɛdɪŋ ˈnaʊ ˈðɛɹ ˈɪz ˈnoʊ ˈɛɡ ˈnoʊ ˈkeɪk ˈænd ˈnoʊ ˈɡɪft

Vusi’s sister thought for a while, then she said, “Vusi my brother, I don’t really care about gifts. I don’t even care about the cake! We are all here together, I am happy. Now put on your smart clothes and let’s celebrate this day!” And so that’s what Vusi did.

Vusi’s sister thought for a while, then she said, “Vusi my brother, I don’t really care about gifts. I don’t even care about the cake! We are all here together, I am happy. Now put on your smart clothes and let’s celebrate this day!” And so that’s what Vusi did.

@vusi’s ˈsɪstɝ ˈθɔt ˈfɔɹ ˈeɪ ˈhwaɪɫ ˈðɛn ˈʃi ˈsɛd @vusi ˈmaɪ ˈbɹəðɝ ˈaɪ ˈdoʊn ˈɹiɫi ˈkɛɹ əˈbaʊt ˈɡɪfs ˈaɪ ˈdoʊn ˈivɪn ˈkɛɹ əˈbaʊt ˈðə ˈkeɪk ˈwi ˈɑɹ ˈɔɫ ˈhiɹ təˈɡɛðɝ ˈaɪ ˈæm ˈhæpi ˈnaʊ ˈpʊt ˈɑn ˈjɔɹ ˈsmɑɹt ˈkɫoʊðz ˈænd ˈɫɛts ˈsɛɫəˌbɹeɪt ˈðɪs ˈdeɪ ˈænd ˈsoʊ ˈðæts ˈhwət @vusi ˈdɪd

Written by: Nina Orange

Illustrated by: Wiehan de Jager

Read by: Darshan Soni

Language: English

Level 4

Source: What Vusi's sister said from African Storybook

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 International License.

Read more level 4 stories:

Holidays with grandmother The Honeyguide’s revenge Grandma’s bananas

Options

Back to stories list Download PDF