Aha m bụ Chidumebi. Obi dị m ụtọ nke ukwuu n’ihi na m na-amalite n’ụlọ akwụkwọ ọhụrụ echi.

My name is Chidumebi. I am so excited because I am starting at a new school tomorrow.

Ka Nne na-akwadebe uwe m, m na-ekiri ka ọ na-agba egwu. Mgbe ọ bụla ọ na-agba egwu, ama m na o nwere ihe ọ na-enwe obi ụtọ maka ya.

As Mother gets my uniform ready, I watch her dance. Whenever she dances, I know she’s happy about something.

Nne nara aka m tinye ya na redio. E nwetara m ịma jijiji nke egwu ahụ, ma ugbu a, m nwere ike iso ya gbaa egwu.

Mother takes my hand and puts it on the radio. I can feel the vibrations of the music, and now I can dance with her.

M na-ekwurịta okwu n’asụsụ pụrụ iche naanị mmadụ ole na ole na-aghọta. Ụwa dịkarịsịrị jụụ nyere m. Ana m ege ntị n’ụzọ dị iche.

I communicate in a special language only a few people understand. The world is mostly quiet for me. I listen differently.

“Ị nwere obi ụtọ maka ụlọ akwụkwọ echi?” Nne na-akara m aka. “E nwere m. Ma olee otu ha ga-esi ghọta m?” Ajụrụ m ya, na-aka kwara ya aka.

“Are you excited about school tomorrow?” Mother signs to me. “I am. But how will they understand me?” I asked her, signing back.

Nne na-akọwara m na ọ dị mkpa ka m na-akpakọrịta n’etiti ụmụaka n’adighi ka m.

Mother explains to me how important it is for me to be around children who may be different from me.

“Ha ga-amụta ọtụtụ ihe n’aka gị, Chidumebi.” Nne mụmụrụ m ọnụ ọchị. “Ị maara ọtụtụ ihe ha na-amaghị.”

“They will learn so much from you, Chidumebi.” Mother smiles at me. “You know lots of things that they don’t know.

Emesia n’abali ahu, na nrọ m, klaasị m mara mma ma chakepụ achakepụ. N’agbanyeghị na ọ dị jụụ, enwere m ezigbo ndị enyi na onye nkuzi dị ịtụnanya.

Later that night, in my dreams, my class is beautiful and colourful. Even though it’s quiet, I have nice friends and an amazing teacher.

N’oge nri ụtụtụ, obi erughị m ala iri nri. M na-eche maka ndị enyi ọhụrụ m ga-emeta, bụ ndị ga-amuta ihe n’aka m dị ka Nne kwuru.

At breakfast, I am too nervous to eat. I’m thinking about the new friends I will make, who will learn from me as Mother said.

Ụlọ akwụkwọ ọhụrụ m mara mma n’ezie, ọ fọrọ obere ka ọ dị ka nke m hụrụ na nrọ. Onye ọ bụla yiri ka ọ na-arụsi ọrụ ike na obi ụtọ. M na-ahụ ka ha na-akparịta ụka. Ọ dị ka ebe mkpọtụ dị.

My new school is really beautiful, almost like my dream. Everyone seems so busy and excited. I see them talking to each other. It looks noisy.

Onye nkuzi m, Oriakụ Ebenezer, ji nwayọọ kpatụ m aka n’ubu m ma feere m aka i kelee m. Ọ na-asụ asụsụ m!

My teacher, Mrs. Ebenezer, taps me gently on my shoulder and waves to me to say hello. She speaks my language!

Ana m asụ asụsụ m site n’iji aka m, ihu m na ahụ m dum. Nke a na-enyere ndị mmadụ aka ịghọta ihe m na-ekwu.

I speak my language by using my hands, my face and my whole body. This helps people understand what I am saying.

“Nnọọ na Klas Purple, Chidumebi!” Oriakụ Ebenezer meere ya akara. “Ka m gosi gị ụmụ akwụkwọ ibe gị.”

“Welcome to Purple Class, Chidumebi!” Mrs. Ebenezer signs. “Let me introduce you to your classmates.”

Ka Oriakụ Ebenezer na-ewebata m, a na m anụ ịgbachi nkịtị ka ha na-ekiri ka o ji aka ya na-ekwu okwu. Ndị enyi ọhụrụ m niile yiri ka ọ tụrụ ha n’anya.

As Mrs. Ebenezer introduces me, I can hear the silence as they watch her use her hands to speak. My new friends all seem amazed.

“Chidumebi na-ege ntị otu dị iche na otu anyị si ege ntị. Ụnụ ga-amụta iji ihu gị, egbugbere ọnụ gị, aka gị na ahụ gị eme ihe, dị ka m na-eme.” Ọ gwara ha.

“Chidumebi listens differently from the way we do. You will learn to use your face, your lips, your hands and your body, just as I am doing.” She tells them.

Otu n’ime ndị enyi ọhụrụ m kwuru sị, “Ịnọdụ n’okirikiri na-eme ka ọ dịkwuo mfe.” Amaghị m aha ya. Oriakụ Ebenezer na-amụmụ ọnụ ọchị.

One of my new friends says, “Sitting in a circle makes that easier.” I don't know his name yet. Mrs. Ebenezer smiles.

Oche m dị n’ihu klas ka m nwee ike ịhụ mgbe ndị mmadụ na-ekwu okwu. Onye nkuzi m na-enyere m aka mee ka ụbọchị mbụ m dị jụụ.

My seat is in front so that I can see when people speak. My teacher helps make my first day very calming.

Ama m na ha niile nwere ajụjụ ndị ọzọ. Nke a ga-abụ ihe Nne na-ekwu mgbe o kwuru na ha ga-amụta ihe n’aka m. Obi dị m ụtọ ịkụziri ha ihe.

I know they all have more questions. This must be what Mother meant when she said they would learn from me. I am glad to teach them.

Ndị enyi m si n’aka m were mụta otu e si ele onye na-ekwu okwu anya. N’ọnọdụ m, ọ bụrụ na enweghị m ike ịhụ gị, agaghị m ama ihe ị na-ekwu n’ihi na m na-agu egbugbere onu gi.

My friends learn from me how to pay attention to the person speaking. For me, if I can’t see you, I won’t know what you’re saying because I have to read your lips.

Na klaasị m taa, anyị kwere nkwa na ọ bụghị naanị na anyị ga-echebara onye ọ bụla echiche kama anyị ga-agụkwa asụsụ ahu ha.

In my class today, we made a promise not only to be considerate of everyone but to read their body language too.

“Chei, Chidumebi. Ugbu a ị bịarutere ebe a, anyị na-amụ asụsụ ndị ogbi na asụsụ ahụ. Asụsụ abụọ ọhụrụ!” Chinelo kwuru, na-amụmụ ọnụ ọchị.

“Wow, Chidumebi. Now that you’re here, we are learning sign language and body language. Two new languages!” Chinelo says, smiling.

Enwere m mmetụta na Chinelo na m ga-abụ ezigbo enyi. Ọ na-ekwe m ka m gbaziri pensụl agba ya.

I have a feeling Chinelo and I are going to be really good friends. She is already letting me borrow her colouring pencils.