Bedtime Story | Lisi o La'au ma Fugala'au

Once upon a time, in the warm village of Apia, there was a curious young boy named Tama. Every morning, Tama loved to walk through the gardens and greet the morning sun. I se tasi aso, i le nuu mafanafana o Apia, sa i ai se tama fiailoa e igoa ia Tama. O taeao uma lava, e fiafia lava Tama e savali i totonu o togalaau ma faafeiloai le la o le taeao.

Introduction, Curious boy, brown skin, dark brown eyes, eager smile in Apia's gardens

Today, Tama had a special task. His mother asked, 'Can you count all the trees and flowers, Tama?' Tama nodded excitedly and set off on his adventure. O le asō, sa iai se galuega faapitoa a Tama. Na fesili lona tina, 'E mafai ona e faitauina uma laau ma fugala'au Tama?' Na luelue le ulu fiafia o Tama ma alu loa i lana malaga.

Curious boy, brown skin, dark brown eyes, eager smile given a task by his mother

He started with the trees. Tama counted 'tasi, lua, tolu.' Three tall coconut trees swaying in the breeze. Sa ia amata i laau. Na faitau e Tama 'tasi, lua, tolu.' E tolu niu uumi o lo'o fe'au i le savili.

Curious boy, brown skin, dark brown eyes, eager smile counting trees in Samoan

Next, he found four frangipani trees. 'Fa, lima, ono, fitu,' he counted. Their sweet scent filled the air. Ona sosoo ai lea ma le mauaina o ni laau frangipani se fa. 'Fa, lima, ono, fitu,' o lana faitau lea. Sa faatumulia le ea i lo latou manogi manogi.

Tama wondered, 'How many trees did I count?' As he pondered, a butterfly fluttered by. Na mafaufau Tama, 'E fia ni laau na ou faitauina?' A o ia mafaufau loloto, sa lele mai se pepe.

Curious boy, brown skin, dark brown eyes, eager smile reflects on count, sees butterfly

Tama knew! 'Three plus four is seven! I counted fitu trees!' he exclaimed. Na iloa e Tama! 'Tolu fa'atasi ma le fa o le fitu! Na ou faitauina laau fitu!' sa ia alaga.

Curious boy, brown skin, dark brown eyes, eager smile solves the math problem

It was time for flowers. 'One, two, three,' Tama murmured as tou'lou'lou flowers danced in the wind. Ua oo i le taimi mo fugalaau. 'Tasi, lua, tolu,' o le tomumu lea a Tama a'o siva fuga tou'lou'lou i le matagi.

Curious boy, brown skin, dark brown eyes, eager smile starting to count flowers

Then he spotted la'au'ula flowers. 'Fa, lima,' he counted two red hibiscuses. Ona ia iloa atu lea o fugala'au la'au'ula. 'Fa, lima,' na ia faitauina ni hibiscus mumu se lua.

Curious boy, brown skin, dark brown eyes, eager smile counts hibiscus flowers

Tama traced his path back in his mind. 'Five flowers! Can you count them with me? Tasi, lua, tolu, fa, lima!' Na toe su’e e Tama lona ala i lona mafaufau. 'E lima fugala'au! E mafai ona e faitauina faatasi ma aʻu? Tasi, lua, tolu, fa, lima!'

Recap and counting with reader inclusion

Suddenly, Tama had an idea. He brought together the number of trees and flowers and counted them all up. Na faafuasei ona maua se manatu o Tama. Na ia aumaia faatasi le aofaʻi o laau ma fugālaau ma faitau i latou uma.

Curious boy, brown skin, dark brown eyes, eager smile has an idea to combine counts

With a smile, Tama shouted, 'Seven trees and five flowers make twelve! Tasi, lua...all the way to lua sefulu ma lua!' Ma le ataata, na alaga Tama, 'E fitu laau ma fuga e lima e maua ai le sefululua! Tasi, lua...ia o'o i le lua sefulu ma lua!'

Total count of trees and flowers in Samoan

Tama hurried home to tell his mother about the plants and numbers. 'Very good, Tama,' she said with a proud smile. 'You counted just like a true explorer!' Na fa’anatinati atu Tama i le fale e ta’u i lona tina la’au ma fuainumera. ‘Ua lelei lava Tama,’ o lana tala lea ma le ‘ata mimita. 'Ua e faitaulia e pei o se tagata su'esu'e moni!'

Curious boy, brown skin, dark brown eyes, eager smile reporting back to mother

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