Tani waa Kalaay. Waxay jirtaa toddoba sano. Magaceeda macnihiisa waa “midda wanaagsan” luqaddeeda, Lubukusu.
Khalai ni msichana mwenye umri wa miaka saba. Jina lake lina maana ya ‘aliye mzuri’ katika lugha yake ya Lubukusu.
Kalaay way soo toostaa waxeyna lahadashaa geedka liinta ah. “Fadlan geedka liinta ahoow, weynoow oo na sii liin badan oo bissil.”
Khalai anaamka na kuongea na mmea mchanga wa Mchungwa, “Tafadhali mti wa Mchungwa, kua mkubwa uzae machungwa mengi mabivu.”
Kalaay waxay aadaa dugsiga. Jidka waxay kula hadashaa cawska. “Fadlan caws, weynoow cagaaro oo ha qallalin.”
Khalai anaenda shuleni na njiani anaongea na Nyasi, “Tafadhali Nyasi, kua kijani zaidi na zaidi na wala usikauke.”
Kalaay waxay soo martaa ubaxyo duureed. “Fadlan ubaxyo, sii magoola, si aan timaheyga idiin saarto.”
Khalai anayapita Maua ya mwituni na kusema, “Tafadhali Maua, endelea kunawiri ili niweze kukuweka kwenye nywele zangu.”
Iskuulka, Kalaay waxay la hadashaa geedka dhexda xerada ku yaallo. “Fadlan geed, so saar laamo waaweyn si aan ugu akhrisano hooskaada.”
Akiwa shuleni, Khalai anazunguumza na Mti ulioko katikati ya shule, “Tafadhali Mti, toa matawi makubwa ili tusome chini ya kivuli chako.”
Kalaay waxay la hadashaa bowdka ku wareegsan dugsigeeda. “Fadlan u kora si awoodleh oo joojiya soogallida dadka xun.”
Khalai anazunguumza na ua unaoizingira shule yake, “Tafadhali ua, kuwa mwenye nguvu ili uzuie shule yetu kutokana na watu wabaya.”
Markay Kalaay guriga ku laabato, waxay booqataa geedka liinta.” Miyay bislaadeen midhahaada wali?” Ayey weydisaa Khalaay.
Anaporudi nyumbani alasiri, Khalai anautembelea mti wa Mchungwa kuangalia kama machungwa yameiva.
“Liinta weli waa cagaar,” ayay ku neef tuurtay Kalaay “Waxaan ku arki doonaa berrito geedka liintaw,” ayay tidhi Khalaay. “Malaha markaas baad ii yeelan doonto midho liin ah oo bislaaday!”
“Machungwa bado mabichi,” Khalai anashusha pumzi. “Nitakuona kesho, we mti wa machungwa. Labda utanipa chungwa bivu wakati huo.”
