Khalai talks to plants
Ursula Nafula
Jesse Pietersen

This is Khalai. She is seven years old.

In her language, Lubukusu, her name means 'the good one.'

1

Khalai wakes up and talks to the orange tree.

"Please orange tree, grow big and give us lots of ripe oranges."

2

Khalai walks to school. On the way, she talks to the grass.

"Please grass, grow greener and don't dry up."

3

Khalai sees flowers.

"Please flowers, keep blooming so I can put you in my hair."

4

Khalai talks to the tree at her school.

"Please tree, put out big branches so we can read under your shade."

5

Khalai talks to the hedge round her school.

"Please, grow strong and protect us from bad people."

6

When Khalai returns home, she visits the orange tree.

"Are your oranges ripe yet?" Khalai asks the tree.

7

"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!"

8
You are free to download, copy, translate or adapt this story and use the illustrations as long as you attribute in the following way:
Khalai talks to plants
Author - Ursula Nafula
Translation - Ursula Nafula
Illustration - Jesse Pietersen
Language - English
Level - First paragraphs