“How I spent my December Holiday” by Erastus Njiiri

In advance of my next post which I am diligently working upon, here is a story/account written by Erastus, one of the boys in class 5 - ages 9-10 (he is also my Kiswahili teacher). This is what he wrote for his English Composition exam last week.

“How I spent my December Holiday” by Erastus Njiiri

I spent my december holiday very well because I went to visit my brother and my cousin. My mother had promised that if I became number one (in class) I would go at Nairobi the capital city of Kenya.

When we did the exam I became number one I was happy as a king. The teacher gave me a report and I hurried.

Before I went home we went to the assembly. We arranged neat lines and the Headteacher came. He asked “good afternoon school” we answered “good afternoon sir”. He replied, I am happy for you have finished your exam. Because of that we will close our school tomorrow. All the pupils clapped cheerfully. “So today we will go home earlier so that you come very neat”. We lined up one by one and went home I was as fast as a deer. When my mother saw the report she was very happy and she told me on Tuesday we will go where she promised I was waiting patiently.

When the day reached we woke up very early in the morning. We took a bath and a breakfast. We went to the bus stop. Then a very big bus came. We got in the bus.
When we were travelling, I saw building, vehicles and many crowds of people.
When we reached, I was shocked to see my brother as fat as a pig.

I started boasting “what did you eat I asked” I asked. I will tell you when we reach home. I didn’t know Kiswahili I was always keeping quiet. Some people there they were shocked “where did he come” they were all boasting. That was my first day to go to Nairobi.

But when I learnt Kiswahili I was not fearing them. I knew their names and they knew my name. We played happily with them and we loved each other.
_ _ _

He got 33/40 which is very good.