Family Relationships
Primary 6 · English
Family Relationships
Lesson 4 of 5
45 min
Every member of your family has a life story: where they were born, what was hard, what made them happy, and how they changed. When you tell a life story, you put events in order, and linking words are the glue that holds it together.
Today's story, Simbegwire, begins sadly, because a girl's mother dies. It ends with hope. If parts of it make you feel sad, that is normal. You can talk about it with someone you trust.
This is a shorter retelling of a story by Rukia Nantale. Listen to the full original story (audio, read by Darshan Soni) or read it on the Storybooks Rwanda page.
When Simbegwire's mother died, she was very sad. Her father did his best to take care of her. Slowly, they learned to feel happy again. Every morning they sat and talked about the day ahead. Every evening they made dinner together, and after they washed the dishes, her father helped her with her homework.
One day, her father came home later than usual, holding a woman's hand. “I want you to meet someone special, my child. This is Anita,” he said, smiling. “I hope you will accept Anita as your mother.”
Simbegwire's life changed. She no longer had time to sit with her father in the mornings. Anita gave her so many household chores that she was too tired to do her schoolwork in the evenings. Her only comfort was the colourful blanket her mother had given her. Her father did not seem to notice that she was unhappy.
After a few months, her father had to travel for his job. Then things got worse. Anita was very harsh with Simbegwire and often left her only a few scraps of food. Each night, Simbegwire cried herself to sleep, hugging her mother's blanket.
One morning, Simbegwire was late getting out of bed. “You lazy girl!” Anita shouted, and she pulled Simbegwire out of bed. The precious blanket caught on a nail and tore in two.
Simbegwire decided to run away. She took the pieces of the blanket, packed some food and followed the road her father had taken. In the evening, she climbed a tall tree near a stream and made a bed in its branches. As she went to sleep, she sang a sad song for her mother.
The next morning, some women came to wash their clothes at the stream. One of them listened carefully to the song, looked up, and saw the girl and the pieces of colourful blanket. “Simbegwire, my brother's child!” she cried. It was her aunt. She took Simbegwire to her own house, gave her warm food and tucked her into bed.
When Simbegwire's father returned home, he found her room empty. “What happened, Anita?” he asked. Anita explained that Simbegwire had run away. “I wanted her to respect me,” she said. “But perhaps I was too strict.”
Her father went to his sister's village and found Simbegwire playing with her cousins. She was scared he might be angry, but he said, “Simbegwire, you have found a perfect mother for yourself. One who loves you and understands you. I am proud of you and I love you.” They agreed that Simbegwire would stay with her aunt as long as she wanted to.
Her father visited her every day. Eventually, he came with Anita. “I'm so sorry, little one. I was wrong,” Anita said. “Will you let me try again?” Simbegwire looked at her father's worried face. Then she stepped forward slowly and put her arms around Anita.
The next week, Anita invited Simbegwire, her cousins and her aunt to a meal, and cooked all of Simbegwire's favourite foods. Simbegwire felt happy and brave. She decided that soon, very soon, she would return home to live with her father and her stepmother.
Answer each question in your head or in your exercise book first. Then tap Show answer to check.
How did Simbegwire and her father spend their days before Anita came?
They talked every morning, cooked dinner together every evening, and he helped her with her homework.
Why was the blanket so precious to Simbegwire?
It was a gift from her mother, who had died.
How did the aunt recognise Simbegwire in the tree?
She listened carefully to the song and saw the pieces of the colourful blanket.
What did Anita say when she came to the aunt's house?
“I'm so sorry, little one. I was wrong. Will you let me try again?”
Simbegwire forgave Anita. Do you think that was brave? Explain.
Possible answer: Yes. It is hard to forgive someone who hurt you. She gave Anita a second chance because Anita said sorry and wanted to change.
| Part of the story | Linking words |
|---|---|
| The beginning | First, At first, In the beginning, When she was young, Long ago |
| The middle | Then, Next, After that, After a few months, Later, One day, One morning, The next morning, Meanwhile |
| The end | Finally, In the end, Eventually, At last |
| Joining ideas | and, but, so, because, when |
Look how the story uses them: When Simbegwire's mother died, she was very sad. One day, her father came home later than usual. After a few months, her father had to travel. Eventually, he came with Anita.
The woman at the stream is Simbegwire's aunt: her father's sister. The aunt's children are Simbegwire's cousins. Anita, her father's new wife, is her stepmother.
Here is a short life story, written by Ganzaa, about a grandmother. The verbs are in the past simple, and the linking words are in bold.
My grandmother, Mukamana, was born in a village near Lake Burera. When she was young, she walked five kilometres to school every day. After primary school, she learned to weave baskets. Later, she married my grandfather and moved to Musanze, and they had four children. Life was not always easy, but she never stopped working. Today she still weaves beautiful agaseke baskets, and she is teaching me too.
Useful life-story verbs: was born, grew up, went to school, learned, moved to, married, became, worked as, retired. To talk about someone who has died, we can say gently that they passed away.
Tip
A life story is a road. First is where it starts. Then and after that are the turns. Finally is where it arrives.
Keep every verb in the past: was born, grew up, moved, married.
Write your answers in your exercise book, then check.
Put these linking words in story order: Finally, First, Then.
Answer: First, Then, Finally
Who is the woman at the stream to Simbegwire?
Answer: her aunt (her father's sister)
Write the past simple of: tear, find, take.
Answer: tore, found, took
Choose: (After / Finally) a few months, her father had to travel.
Answer: After
Write five sentences about the life of an older family member. Use at least three linking words.
Answer: Example: My grandfather was born in Nyanza. When he was young, he looked after cows. Later, he became a carpenter. After that, he built our house. Today he still makes chairs for the neighbours.
What you learned today
Sources and credits
Quick check
Put the events of Simbegwire in the order they happened.
Tap the cards in the right order.
