Hier is Khalai. Haar naam beteken “blom” in haar taal, Setswana.
This is Khalai. She is seven years old. Her name means ‘the good one’ in her language, Lubukusu.
Khalai word wakker en praat met die lemoenboom. “Asseblief, lemoenboom, groei hoog sodat jy vir ons baie ryp lemoene kan gee.”
Khalai wakes up and talks to the orange tree. “Please orange tree, grow big and give us lots of ripe oranges.”
Khalai loop skool toe. Langs die pad gesels sy met die gras. “Asseblief, gras, bly mooi groen en moenie opdroog nie.”
Khalai walks to school. On the way she talks to the grass. “Please grass, grow greener and don’t dry up.”
Khalai loop verby veldblomme. “Asseblief, blomme, hou aan met bloei dat ek julle in my hare kan steek.”
Khalai passes wild flowers. “Please flowers, keep blooming so I can put you in my hair.”
By die skool praat Khalai met die boom in die middel van die speelgrond. “Asseblief, boom, stoot groot takke uit sodat ons in jou skaduwee kan sit en lees.”
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.”
Khalai praat met die heining rondom haar skool. “Groei asseblief om ‘n sterk heining te wees en die slegte mense buite te hou.”
Khalai talks to the hedge around her school. “Please grow strong and stop bad people from coming in.”
Toe Khalai na skool ttuiskom, gaan sy na die lemoenboom toe. “Is jou lemoene al ryp?” vra Khalai.
When Khalai returns home from school, she visits the orange tree. “Are your oranges ripe yet?” asks Khalai.
“Die lemoene is nog groen,” sug Khalai. “Ek sal jou môre weer sien, lemoenboom,” sê sy. “Miskien sal jy dan ‘n ryp lemoen vir my hê!”
“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!”
