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Holidays with grandmother
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Holidays with grandmother
Writer: Violet Otieno
Illustration: Catherine Groenewald
© African Storybook Initiative, 2015
Holidays with grandmother
page #
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.
Holidays with grandmother
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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.

Holidays with grandmother
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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.
Holidays with grandmother
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After a while, the children were tired and fell

asleep.

Holidays with grandmother
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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.
Holidays with grandmother
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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.
Holidays with grandmother
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After she opened the presents, Nyar-Kanyada

blessed her grandchildren in a traditional way.

Holidays with grandmother
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Then Odongo and Apiyo went outside.
They chased butterflies and birds.
Holidays with grandmother
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They climbed trees and splashed in the water of

the lake.

Holidays with grandmother
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When it was dark they returned to the house for

dinner.

Before they could finish eating, they were

falling asleep!

Holidays with grandmother
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The next day, the children's father drove back to

the city leaving them with Nyar-Kanyada.

Holidays with grandmother
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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.

Holidays with grandmother
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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.

Holidays with grandmother
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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.

Holidays with grandmother
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On another day, the children went to the market

place 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.
Holidays with grandmother
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At the end of the day they drank chai tea

together.

They helped grandmother to count the money she

earned.

Holidays with grandmother
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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.
Holidays with grandmother
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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."

Holidays with grandmother
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Odongo and Apiyo both hugged her tightly and said

goodbye.

Holidays with grandmother
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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!

Holidays with grandmother
page #
Holidays with grandmother.
Writer: Violet Otieno.
Illustration: Catherine Groenewald.
Language: English.
© African Storybook Initiative, 2015.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution
(CC-BY 4.0) Version 4.0 International Licence
Disclaimer: You are free to download, copy, translate
or adapt this story and use the illustrations as long as you
attribute or credit the original author/s and illustrator/s.