Winner of the category of 'Best Class Book' as part of the 2019 Shepherdson College Writing Festival.
Waŋganymirr waluy, ŋamay' ga djäma dämba ŋunhal raŋiŋur.
One day, mum was making damper at the beach.
Ga waṯu ga nhina galki munatha'ŋur. Nhäma ŋayi ga ŋamany'. Waṯu ga
gitkitthun bili ŋunhi dämba ḏäl ga yindipuy.
The dog was sitting nearby on the sand. He was watching mum. The dog
was smiling because the damper was hard and big.
Waṯuy ga guyaŋirr, “Mak ŋarra dhu manaŋirr ŋunha dämba”.
Yurr ŋama' ga djäga dämbaw.
The dog was thinking, “Maybe I will steal that damper!” But mum was
keeping an eye on the damper.
Ga dämbany borumnha dhuwal. Ŋamay' dämbany rulwaŋ'thurr
djorra'lil galki munatha'lil.
When the damper was cooked, mum put in onto brown paper on the
sand.
Bala ŋamany' marrtjin wäŋalil ŋayi dhu märram yiki ga djurrut.
Then mum went into the house to get a knife and golden syrup.
Ga ŋayiny waṯuy manaŋin balanyamirriy dämbany, bala waṉḏirra
winya’yuna retjalil.
The dog stole the damper and ran away towards the bush.
Ŋamany' roŋiyin, nhämany ŋayi djorran' yan dhäparŋ’nha bäyŋun d ämba, bala ŋayi bitjanna, “Way! Wanha ŋarraku dämbany? Bay mak ŋayi roŋiyin
wurraŋatjarra waṯu bili ŋayi djaw'yurr ŋarraku dämba!”
Mum returned and saw the empty paper with no damper. She said, “Hey!
Where’s my damper? Maybe that cheeky dog stole my damper!”
Bala ŋamay' warrwarryurra waṯuny bala ŋayi yaŋarany warryurr. “ Roŋan maraŋ ŋarraku dämba!” bitjarr ŋama' yatjurr waŋan.
Then mum chased the dog and grabbed his tail. “Give my damper back!”
she shouted.
Ŋamay' bakmaraŋal dämba bala gurrupar waṯuw. Bala maṉḏa ḻukanan
rrambaŋin dämbany.
Mum broke the damper in half and gave half to the dog. They both ate the
damper together.
Beŋuryiny dhäŋur maṉḏa ḻupthurr bala ŋorran raŋiŋura.
They both had a wash and went to sleep at the beach.
