Nakatira si Odongo at Apiyo sa lungsod kasama ang kanilang tatay. Gustong gusto nila ang bakasyon hindi lang dahil walang pasok, pero dahil dinadalaw nila ang kanilang lola na nakatira sa palaisdaan malapit doon sa malaking lawa.
Odongo and Apiyo lived in the city with their father.
They looked forward to the holidays. Not just because school was closed, but because they went to visit their grandmother. She lived in a fishing village near a large lake.
Masaya sina Odongo at Apiyo na malapit na nila makasama si lola. Sa gabi pa lang, naka-impake na ang mga damit at nakahanda na ang lahat para sa biyahe. Hindi sila makatulog sa tuwa kaya buong gabi silang nagkuwentuhan.
Odongo and Apiyo were excited because it was time to visit their grandmother again.
The night before, they packed their bags and got ready for the long journey to her village. They could not sleep and talked the whole night about the holiday.
Kinaumagahan, hinatid sila ng kanilang tatay papunta sa lola. Dumaan sila sa mga taniman ng tsaa at mga bundok na may ligaw na hayup. Binilang nila ang mga sasakyang dumaan at nagkantahan din sila.
Early the next morning, they left for the village in their father’s car.
They drove past mountains, wild animals and tea plantations. They counted cars and sang songs.
Di nagtagal, napagod ang dalawa at nakatulog ng mahimbing.
After a while, the children were tired and fell asleep.
Ginising sila ng tatay nung makarating sila sa nayon. Nakita nila si Lola Nyar-Kanyada na nagpapahinga sa ilalim ng puno. Sa Luo, ang ibig sabihin ng Nyar-Kanyada ay “anak ng mga tiga-Kanyada.” Maganda at matatag na babae ang lola ni Odongo at Apiyo.
Father woke up Odongo and Apiyo as they arrived in the village.
They found Nyar-Kanyada, their grandmother, resting on a mat under a tree.
Nyar-Kanyada in Luo, means ‘daughter of the people of Kanyada’. She was a strong and beautiful woman.
Sumayaw at kumanta sa tuwa si Nyar-Kanyada nang dumating ang mga apo. Nag-uunahan sa pagbigay ng pasalubong sina Odongo at Apiyo. “Buksan po ninyo, bilis,” sabi ni Odongo. “Akin muna unahin ninyo,” sabi ni Apiyo.
Nyar-Kanyada welcomed them into the house and danced around the room singing with joy.
Her grandchildren were excited to give her the presents they brought from the city.
“First open my gift,” said Odongo.
“No, my gift first!” said Apiyo.
Pagkatapos mabuksan ang mga pasalubong, pinagmano ni Nyar-Kanyada ang mga apo.
After she opened the presents, Nyar-Kanyada blessed her grandchildren in a traditional way.
Naglaro agad sa labas sina Odongo at Apiyo. Nakipaghabulan sila sa mga paru-paru at mga ibon.
Then Odongo and Apiyo went outside. They chased butterflies and birds.
Inakyat nila ang mga puno at nagtampisaw sa lawa.
They climbed trees and splashed in the water of the lake.
Bumalik lang sila sa bahay ng lola nung malapit na maghapunan. Hindi pa man natatapos kumain, nakatulog na sila!
When it was dark they returned to the house for dinner. Before they could finish eating, they were falling asleep!
Kinaumagahan, bumalik sa lungsod ang tatay at naiwan sina Odongo at Apiyo kay Nyar-Kanyada.
The next day, the children’s father drove back to the city leaving them with Nyar-Kanyada.
Tumulong sila sa mga gawaing-bahay ng lola. Nag-igib sila ng tubig at nag-hanap ng panggatong. Inipon nila ang mga itlog sa manukan at nanguha ng gulay sa gulayan.
Odongo and Apiyo helped their grandmother with household chores. They fetched water and firewood. They collected eggs from the chickens and picked greens from the garden.
Tinuruan din sila ni Nyar-Kanyada kung paano magluto ng stew. Pinakita pa ng lola kung paano gumawa ng ginataang kanin at inihaw na isda.
Nyar-Kanyada taught her grandchildren to make soft ugali to eat with stew. She showed them how to make coconut rice to eat with roast fish.
Isang araw, dinala ni Odongo ang mga baka sa bukid ng kapitbahay. Kinain ng mga baka ang damo at nagalit ang may-ari. Nagbanta siyang kukunin ang mga baka bilang kabayaran pero nangako si Odongo na hindi na uulit.
One morning, Odongo took his grandmother’s cows to graze. They ran onto a neighbour’s farm.
The farmer was angry with Odongo. He threatened to keep the cows for eating his crops. After that day, the boy made sure that the cows did not get into trouble again.
Isang beses, sumama ang magkapatid sa palengke. May tindahan pala ng gulay, asukal at sabon si lola. Si Apiyo ang tigasabi ng presyo at si Odongo naman ang tigabalot ng mga binili.
On another day, the children went to the marketplace with Nyar-Kanyada. She had a stall selling vegetables, sugar and soap.
Apiyo liked to tell customers the price of items. Odongo would pack the items that customers bought.
Nang maubos lahat, uminum silang tatlo ng tsaa at binilang ang perang kinita.
At the end of the day they drank chai tea together. They helped grandmother to count the money she earned.
Di nagtagal, natapos ang bakasyon. Nag-impake ng gamit ang magkapatid. Binigyan ni Nyar-Kanyada si Odongo ng sombrero at pangginaw naman ang para kay Apiyo. Naghanda rin siya ng makakain nila sa biyahe.
But too soon the holidays were over and the children had to go back to the city.
Nyar-Kanyada gave Odongo a cap and Apiyo a sweater. She packed food for their journey.
Dumating ang tatay para sunduin sila pero ayaw sumama ng magkapatid. Nagmakaawa sila kay Nyar-Kanyada na tumira na lang sa lungsod. “Matanda na ako. Hindi ko na kaya ang buhay sa lungsod. Hihintayin ko na lang kayo sa sunod na bakasyon.”
When their father came to fetch them, they did not want to leave. The children begged Nyar-Kanyada to go with them to the city.
She smiled and said, “I am too old for the city. I will be waiting for you to come to my village again.”
Mahigpit na niyakap ni Odongo at Apiyo ang lola.
Odongo and Apiyo both hugged her tightly and said goodbye.
Kinuwento nina Odongo at Apiyo sa kanilang mga kaibigan ang lahat. Sabi ng iba mas gusto pa rin nila ang buhay sa lungsod. Sabi naman ng iba, mas maganda talaga sa nayon. Pero lahat sila sang-ayon na walang hihigit pa kay Lola Nyar-Kanyada!
When Odongo and Apiyo went back to school they told their friends about life in the village. Some children felt that life in the city was good. Others felt that the village was better.
But most of all, everyone agreed that Odongo and Apiyo had a wonderful grandmother!
