Back to stories list
Big blue bus
Ibhasi Enkulu Eluhlaza Okwe Sibhakabhaka
Ibhasi Enkulu Ezuba
Big blue bus
Mecelin Kakoro
Mango Tree
Darshan Soni
The audio for this story is currently not available.
Regular PDFs (full-page)
Bilingual PDFs
Booklet PDFs (for printing)
There was only
one bus in
Ebei’s village.
It was big and blue.
It was very noisy.
Yayiyodwa ibhasi edolobheni lika-Ebei. Yayinkulu futhi iluhlaza okwesibhakabhaka. Yayinomsindo omkhulu.
Kwakukho ibhasi enye jwi elalilini ka-Ebei. Yayinkulu kwaye izuba ngombala. Yayingxola kakhulu.
There was only
one bus in
Ebei’s village.
It was big and blue.
It was very noisy.
One day, Ebei’s
mother said,
“Tomorrow we will
go to town to buy
your school uniform.”
Ngelinye ilanga umama ka-Ebei wathi, “Kusasa sizokuya edolobheni siyothenga umfaniswano wakho.”
Ngenye imini umama ka-Ebei wathi, “Kusasa ngomso sizokuya edolophini siyokuthenga iyunifomu yakho.”
One day, Ebei’s
mother said,
“Tomorrow we will
go to town to buy
your school uniform.”
Ebei was very excited.
They would travel
in the big blue
bus.
He could not sleep
that night.
U-Ebei wajabula kakhulu. Babezohamba ngebhasi enkulu eluhlaza okwesibhakabhaka. Kwakungavumi ukuba alale ebusuku.
U-Ebei wavuya kakhulu. Babeza kuhamba ngebhasi enkulu ezuba ngombala. Wayengakwazi ukulala ebusuku luvuyo.
Ebei was very excited.
They would travel
in the big blue
bus.
He could not sleep
that night.
Ebei was already
dressed when his
mother came to
wake him.
U-Ebei wayesevele esegqokile lapho umama wakhe engena ezomvusa.
Wayesele enxibile ngelixa umama wakhe engena ezokumvusa.
Ebei was already
dressed when his
mother came to
wake him.
Ebei and his mother
walked to the
bus stop.
They waited for
the big blue bus.
But the bus
did not come.
U-Ebei nomama wakhe baya esitobhini. Balindela ibhasi enkulu eluhlaza okwesibhakabhaka. Kodwa ibhasi ayizange ifike.
U-Ebei nomama wakhe baya esitophini sebhasi. Balinda ibhasi enkulu embala uzuba. Kodwa ibhasi ayizange ifike.
Ebei and his mother
walked to the
bus stop.
They waited for
the big blue bus.
But the bus
did not come.
Other people arrived
at the bus stop.
They complained
because the bus
was late.
“Has the bus
left us?”
they asked.
Abanye abantu bafika esitobhini. Babekhononda ngoba ibhasi yayingasigcinanga isikhathi. “Ngabe ibhasi isishiyile?” Babebuza.
Abanye abantu bafika nabo esitophini. Babekhalaza kuba ibhasi yayingalibambanga ixesha layo. “Ingaba ibhasi isishiyile?” Babebuza.
Other people arrived
at the bus stop.
They complained
because the bus
was late.
“Has the bus
left us?”
they asked.
Ebei was worried.
“We will not be able
to go to town.
I will not be able
to get my uniform,”
he thought.
U-Ebei wakhathazeka. “Ngeke sikwazi ukuya edolobheni. Ngeke ngikwazi ukuthola umfaniswano wami,” ecabanga.
U-Ebei wakhathazeka. “Asizukwazi ukuya edolophini. Asizukwazi ukuyokuthenga iyunifomu yam,” wacinga.
Ebei was worried.
“We will not be able
to go to town.
I will not be able
to get my uniform,”
he thought.
Some people gave up
and went home.
But Ebei cried and
did not want to go.
His mother
comforted him.
“We will wait
a bit longer,” she said.
Abanye abantu baduba babuyela emakhaya. Kodwa u-Ebei wayekhala engafuni ukuya ekhaya. Kodwa umama wakhe wayemduduza ethi, “Sizolinda isikhashana eside.”
Abanye abantu bajika babuyela emakhaya. Kodwa u-Ebei wayekhala engafuni ukuya ekhaya. Umama wakhe wamthuthuzela wathi, “Siza kuqhubeka silinde.”
Some people gave up
and went home.
But Ebei cried and
did not want to go.
His mother
comforted him.
“We will wait
a bit longer,” she said.
Suddenly, they heard
a noise.
They saw dust
in the air.
The bus was coming!
Masishane, bezwa umsindo. Babona izintuli emoyeni. Yayiza ibhasi!
Ngokukhawuleza beva ingxolo. Babona uthuli emoyeni. Yayisiza ibhasi!
Suddenly, they heard
a noise.
They saw dust
in the air.
The bus was coming!
But this bus was not
blue. It was not big.
This bus was red
and small.
The waiting people
looked at this bus.
They did not get in.
Kodwa le bhasi yayingeluhlaza okwesibhakabhaka. Yiyingenkulu. Le bhasi yayibomvu futhi incane. Abantu ababelindile bayibuka ibhasi. Abazange bagibele.
Kodwa ibhasi yayingekho zuba. Yayingekho nkulu. Le bhasi yayibomvu yaye incinane. Abantu ababelindile bayijonga nje ibhasi. Abazange bakhwele.
But this bus was not
blue. It was not big.
This bus was red
and small.
The waiting people
looked at this bus.
They did not get in.
“Get in! Get in!”
shouted the driver.
“We are very late
today,” he said.
“Ngenani! “Ngenani!” kumemeza umshayeli ethi, “Sishiywe isikhathi namuhla.
“Ngenani! Ngenani!” wakhwaza umqhubi Waphinda wathi, “Sishiywe lixesha namhlanje.
“Get in! Get in!”
shouted the driver.
“We are very late
today,” he said.
Ebei and his mother
got in first.
Soon everyone else
got in the small
red bus.
U-Ebei nomama wakhe bangena kuqala. Ngesikhashana wonke umuntu wangena ebhasini elibomvu elincane.
U-Ebei nomama wakhe bangena kuqala. Ngomzuzwana wonke umntu wangena ebhasini ebomvu encinane.
Ebei and his mother
got in first.
Soon everyone else
got in the small
red bus.
Ebei looked out the
window. He saw
more people at
the bus stop.
U-Ebei wabuka phandle ngefasitela. Wabona abanye abantu abaningi esitobhini.
U-Ebei wajonga phandle ngefestile. Wabona abanye abantu abaninzi esitophini.
Ebei looked out the
window. He saw
more people at
the bus stop.
Even more people
were running to
catch the bus.
But they were too late.
The bus was full.
The red bus left
for town.
Abanye abantu abaningi babegijima bejahe ukugibela ibhasi. Kodwa basebeshiywe isikhathi. Ibhasi yase igcwele. Ibhasi ebomvu yahamba yaya edolobheni.
Abanye abantu abaninzi babebaleka beleqa ukukhwela ibhasi. Kodwa babesele beshiywe lixesha. Ibhasi yayisele igcwele. Ibhasi ebomvu yahamba yaya edolophini.
Even more people
were running to
catch the bus.
But they were too late.
The bus was full.
The red bus left
for town.
“Where is the big
blue bus?” asked
Ebei’s mother.
“It broke down,”
replied the driver.
“We are fixing it.
It will come tomorrow,”
he added.
“Iphi ibhasi enkulu eluhlaza okwesibhakabhaka?” Kubuza umama ka Ebei. “Ifile,” kuphendula umshayeli. “Siyayilungisa, izobakhona kusasa,” kusho umshayeli.
“Iphi ibhasi enkulu ezuba ngombala?” Kwabuza umama ka-Ebei. “Yonakele,” waphendula umqhubi. “Siyayilungisa, iza kuba khona ngomso,” watsho umqhubi.
“Where is the big
blue bus?” asked
Ebei’s mother.
“It broke down,”
replied the driver.
“We are fixing it.
It will come tomorrow,”
he added.
Ebei did not care
about the colour of
the bus.
He did not care
about the size of
the bus.
He was happy
because this bus
was going to town.
U-Ebei wayengenandaba nombala webhasi. Wayengenandaba nobukhulu bebhasi. Wayejabuliswa ukuthi yayiya edolobheni.
U-Ebei wayengenaxesha lombala webhasi. Wayengenaxesha lobukhulu bebhasi. Wayevuyiswa kukuba wayesiya edolophini.
Ebei did not care
about the colour of
the bus.
He did not care
about the size of
the bus.
He was happy
because this bus
was going to town.
Written by: Mecelin Kakoro
Illustrated by: Mango Tree
Read by: Darshan Soni
