UKhalai lona. Uneminyaka eyisikhombisa. Igama lakhe lichaza ‘olungile’ ngolimi lwakubo, isi Lubukusu.
This is Khalai. She is seven years old. Her name means ‘the good one’ in her language, Lubukusu.
UKhalai uvuka ekuseni akhulume nesihlahla samawolintshi. “Ngiyacela sihlahla samawolintshi, khula ubemkhulu usiphe amawolintshi amaningi avuthiwe.”
Khalai wakes up and talks to the orange tree. “Please orange tree, grow big and give us lots of ripe oranges.”
UKhalai uya esikoleni. Endleleni ukhuluma notshani. “Ngiyakucela tshani, yiba luhlaza kakhulu ungomi.”
Khalai walks to school. On the way she talks to the grass. “Please grass, grow greener and don’t dry up.”
UKhalai wedlula izimbali zasendle, “Ngiyanicela zimbali, hlalani niqhakaza ukuze nginihlome ezinweleni zami.”
Khalai passes wild flowers. “Please flowers, keep blooming so I can put you in my hair.”
Esikoleni, uKhalai ukhuluma nesihlahla esimila phakathi nezakhiwo, “Ngiyakucela sihlahla, khipha amahlamvu amade ukuze sifunde siphansi komthunzi wakho.”
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.”
UKhalai ukhuluma nothango oluzungeze isikole, “Ngicela ukhule uqine ukuze uvimbe abantu ababi bangangeni.”
Khalai talks to the hedge around her school. “Please grow strong and stop bad people from coming in.”
Lapho uKhalai ebuya esikoleni uvakashela isihlahla samawolintshi. “Asevuthiwe kodwa amawolintshi akho?” kubuza uKhalai.
When Khalai returns home from school, she visits the orange tree. “Are your oranges ripe yet?” asks Khalai.
“Amawolintshi aseluhlaza,” uKhalai edonsa umoya.” Ngiyokubona kusasa sihlahla samawolintshi,” kusho uKhalai. “Mhlawumbe uzobe usunalo iwolintshi lami elivuthiwe!”
“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!”
