Grandma’s garden was wonderful, full of sorghum, millet, and cassava.
But best of all were the bananas.
Although Grandma had many grandchildren, I secretly knew that I was her favourite. She invited me often to her house. She also told me little secrets.
But there was one secret she did not share with me: where she ripened bananas.
Grandma's garden was wonderful, full of sorghum, millet, and cassava.
But best of all were the bananas.
Although Grandma had many grandchildren, I secretly knew that I was her favourite. She invited me often to her house. She also told me little secrets.
But there was one secret she did not share with me: where she ripened bananas.
Le jardin de grand-mère était
merveilleux – plein de sorgho, de
millet et de manioc. Mais le meilleur
de tout, c'était les bananes.
Bien que grand-mère avait
beaucoup de petits-enfants, je
savais que secrètement j'étais sa
préférée. Elle m'invitait souvent
dans sa maison. Elle partageait
avec moi ses petits secrets.
Mais il y avait une chose qu'elle
gardait secrète : L'endroit où elle
faisait murir les bananes.
One day I saw a big straw basket placed in the sun outside Grandma’s house. When I asked what it was for, the only answer I got was, “It’s my magic basket.”
Next to the basket, there were several banana leaves that Grandma turned from time to time. I was curious. “What are the leaves for, Grandma?” I asked. The only answer I got was, “They are my magic leaves.”
One day I saw a big straw basket placed in the sun outside Grandma's house. When I asked what it was for, the only answer I got was, "It's my magic basket."
Next to the basket, there were several banana leaves that Grandma turned from time to time. I was curious. "What are the leaves for, Grandma?" I asked. The only answer I got was, "They are my magic leaves."
Un jour, je vis un grand panier de
paille placé au soleil devant la
maison de grand-mère. Quand je lui
ai demandé à quoi il servait, pour
seule réponse, elle me dit : « C'est
mon panier magique. » A côté du
panier, il y avait plusieurs feuilles
de bananier que grand-mère
retournait de temps en temps.
J'étais curieuse. « A quoi servent ces
feuilles, grand-mère ? » demandai-je.
Mais pour seule réponse, elle me
dit : « Ce sont mes feuilles
magiques. »
It was so interesting watching Grandma, the bananas, the banana leaves and the big straw basket. But Grandma sent me off to my mother on an errand.
“Grandma, please, let me watch as you prepare…”
“Don’t be stubborn, child, do as you are told,” she insisted. I took off running.
It was so interesting watching Grandma, the bananas, the banana leaves and the big straw basket. But Grandma sent me off to my mother on an errand.
"Grandma, please, let me watch as you prepare..."
"Don't be stubborn, child, do as you are told," she insisted. I took off running.
C'était fascinant de regarder grand-mère, les bananes, les feuilles de
bananier et le grand panier de
paille. Mais grand-mère m'envoya
retrouver maman pour aller
chercher quelque-chose.
« Grand-mère, s'il te plaît, laisse-moi
regarder ce que tu prépares...
« Ne sois pas têtue, petite, fais ce
que je te demande » insista-t-elle. Je
partis donc en courant.
When I returned, Grandma was sitting outside but with neither the basket nor the bananas.
“Grandma, where is the basket, where are all the bananas, and where…”
But the only answer I got was, “They are in my magic place.” It was so disappointing!
When I returned, Grandma was sitting outside but with neither the basket nor the bananas.
"Grandma, where is the basket, where are all the bananas, and where..."
But the only answer I got was, "They are in my magic place." It was so disappointing!
A mon retour, grand-mère était
assise dehors, mais il n'y avait plus
ni panier, ni bananes.
« Grand-mère, où est le panier, où
sont toutes les bananes, et où est ...
« Mais pour seule réponse, elle me
dit : « Ils sont dans mon lieu
magique. » J'étais très déçue.
Two days later, Grandma sent me to fetch her walking stick from her bedroom.
As soon as I opened the door, I was welcomed by the strong smell of ripening bananas. In the inner room was grandma’s big magic straw basket. It was well hidden by an old blanket. I lifted it and sniffed that glorious smell.
Two days later, Grandma sent me to fetch her walking stick from her bedroom.
As soon as I opened the door, I was welcomed by the strong smell of ripening bananas. In the inner room was grandma's big magic straw basket. It was well hidden by an old blanket. I lifted it and sniffed that glorious smell.
Deux jours plus tard, grand-mère
m'envoya dans sa chambre
chercher son bâton de marche.
Dès que j'ouvris la porte, je fus
accueilli par une forte odeur de
bananes mures. Au milieu de la
pièce, se trouvait le grand panier
magique de grand-mère. Il était
bien caché sous une vieille
couverture. Je la soulevai et reniflai
cette odeur extraordinaire.
Grandma’s voice startled me when she called, “What are you doing? Hurry up and bring me the stick.”
I hurried out with her walking stick. “What are you smiling about?” Grandma asked.
Her question made me realise that I was still smiling at the discovery of her magic place.
Grandma's voice startled me when she called, "What are you doing? Hurry up and bring me the stick."
I hurried out with her walking stick. "What are you smiling about?" Grandma asked.
Her question made me realise that I was still smiling at the discovery of her magic place.
La voix de grand-mère me fit
sursauter quand elle appela, « Que
fais-tu ? Dépêche-toi de m'apporter
mon bâton ».
Je me suis alors précipitée avec sa
canne.
« Qu'est-ce qui te fait sourire ? »
demanda grand-mère. Sa question
me fit réaliser que je souriais
encore en pensant à la découverte
de son lieu magique.
The following day when grandma came to visit my mother, I rushed to her house to check the bananas once more.
There was a bunch of very ripe ones. I picked one and hid it in my dress. After covering the basket again, I went behind the house and quickly ate it. It was the sweetest banana I had ever tasted.
The following day when grandma came to visit my mother, I rushed to her house to check the bananas once more.
There was a bunch of very ripe ones. I picked one and hid it in my dress. After covering the basket again, I went behind the house and quickly ate it. It was the sweetest banana I had ever tasted.
Le lendemain, lorsque grand-mère
est venue rendre visite à maman, je
me suis précipitée chez elle pour
regarder les bananes une fois de
plus.
Il y en avait plusieurs, qui étaient
déjà très mûres. J'en pris une, que
je cachai sous ma robe. Après avoir
recouvert le panier, je me rendis
derrière la maison pour la manger
en vitesse. C'était la banane la plus
douce que je n'avais jamais goûtée.
The following day, when grandma was in the garden picking vegetables, I sneaked in and peered at the bananas.
Nearly all were ripe. I couldn’t help taking a bunch of four.
As I tiptoed towards the door, I heard grandma coughing outside. I just managed to hide the bananas under my dress and walked past her.
The following day, when grandma was in the garden picking vegetables, I sneaked in and peered at the bananas.
Nearly all were ripe. I couldn't help taking a bunch of four.
As I tiptoed towards the door, I heard grandma coughing outside. I just managed to hide the bananas under my dress and walked past her.
Le lendemain, alors que grand-mère
était dans le jardin en train de
ramasser des légumes, je me suis
glissée dans sa chambre pour
regarder les bananes. Elles étaient
presque toutes mûres. Je n'ai pas
pu résister, et pris quatre autres
bananes. Alors que je marchais sur
la pointe des pieds vers la porte,
j'entendis grand-mère tousser
dehors. J'eus juste le temps de
cacher les bananes sous ma robe
avant de passer devant elle en
m'éloignant.
The following day was market day. Grandma woke up early. She always took ripe bananas and cassava to sell at the market.
I did not hurry to visit her that day. But I could not avoid her for long.
The following day was market day. Grandma woke up early. She always took ripe bananas and cassava to sell at the market.
I did not hurry to visit her that day. But I could not avoid her for long.
Le lendemain, c'était le jour du
marché.
Grand-mère se réveilla très tôt.
Elle prenait toujours du manioc et
des bananes mûres pour les vendre
sur le marché.
Ce jour-là, je ne me suis pas
dépêchée pour aller lui rendre
visite. Mais je n'allais pas pouvoir
l'éviter bien longtemps.
Later that evening I was called by my mother and father, and Grandma. I knew why.
That night as I lay down to sleep, I knew I could never steal again, not from grandma, not from my parents, and certainly not from anyone else.
Later that evening I was called by my mother and father, and Grandma. I knew why.
That night as I lay down to sleep, I knew I could never steal again, not from grandma, not from my parents, and certainly not from anyone else.
Plus tard ce soir-là, ma mère, mon
père et grand-mère m'ont appelée.
Je savais pourquoi.
Cette nuit là quand je me suis
couchée, je savais que je ne pourrai
plus jamais voler, ni ma grand-mère, ni mes parents, ni qui que ce
soit d'autres.