Here’s a cute story about a group of kids going to the beach on a day when there was no school. This is a great beginner story, and helpful for learning when to switch between single/dual and plural with our verbs. Chamorro text, an English translation, Chamorro audio narration, and a Quizlet study deck is included. The original illustrations were done Rogelio G. Faustino, but I’ve given it a refresh with this illustration generated by the Midjourney AI. Happy reading!

Annai Tåya’ Eskuela
When There Was No School

Tinige’ Lagrimas L.G. Untalan
Writing by Lagrimas L.G. Untalan

Pinentan Rogelio G. Faustino
Illustrations by Rogelio G. Faustino

Ilek-ña si Ben, “Ayugue’ i gima’. Nihi ya ta espia si Jose.”
Ben said, “There is the house. Let’s go and look for Jose.”

“Nihi, nai,” ilek-ñiha si Roberta, si Cecilia yan si Esteban.
“Let’s go,” said Roberta, Cecilia, and Esteban.

Ilek-ña si Ben as Tun Ramon, “Buenas tåtdes, Tun Ramon. Bai in fanhugåndo fan yan si Jose.”
Ben said to Tun Ramon, “Good afternoon, Tun Ramon. We want to play with Jose please.”

Manoppe si Tun Ramon, “Buenas tåtdes. Hunggan, låhi-hu. Maila’ ha ya en fanhugåndo.”
Tun Ramon answered, “Good afternoon. Yes, my son. Come and you all will play.”

Ilek-ña ta’lo si Ben, “Tun Ramon, estague’ si Roberto, si Cecilia, yan si Esteban. Guahu si Ben.”
Ben said again, “Tun Ramon, this is Roberto, Cecilia, and Esteban. I am Ben.”

“Maila’, hamyo todus,” ilek-ña si Tun Ramon.
“Come, all of you,” said Tun Ramon.

Ha ågang lokkue’ si Jose, “Jose, hugåndo yan i manatungo’-mu siha.”
He also called to Jose, “Jose, play with your friends.”

Manggofmagof i manatungo’.
The friends are very happy.

Manhugåndo i famagu’on ni’ volley ball.
The children played volley ball.

Si Esteban ha panak i bola ni’ kannai-ña.
Esteban hit the ball with his hand.

“Enague’ Jose. Panak mågi!” ilek-ña si Esteban.
“There Jose. Hit here!” said Esteban.

“Esta!” umågang si Jose.
“Okay!” called Jose.

“Enague’ lokkue’.”
“There as well.”

Ya ha panak guatu i bola gi as Cecilia.
And he hit the ball over there to Cecilia.

Si Tun Ramon para u hånao para i tasi.
Tun Ramon will go to the ocean.

Ilek-ña ni’ famagu’on, “Manmalago’ hamyo manhånao para i tasi?”
He asked the children, “Do you all want to go to the ocean?”

Todus manmanoppe, “Hunggan! Hunggan, Tun Ramon.”
All of them answered, “Yes! Yes, Tun Ramon.”

Manhånao yan si Tun Ramon para i tasi.
They went with Tun Ramon to the ocean.

Ma konne’ lokkue’ i ga’lågu.
They also took the dog.

“Meggai na guihan guini mågi,” ilek-ña si Ben.
“There are a lot of fish here,” said Ben.

“Estague’ ha’ lokkue’ mågi un guihan,” manoppe si Jose.
“Here is a fish too,” answered Jose.

“Bai konne’ este na guihan,” ilek-ña si Jose.
“I will catch this fish,” said Jose.

Pues ume’kahat para u konne’ i guihan.
Then he moved carefully to catch the fish.

Lao humaohao i ga’lågu, ya malågu i guihan.
But the dog barked and the fish took flight.

“Nihi,” ilek-ña si Esteban.
“Let’s go,” said Esteban.

“Nihi ya ta fanmanespia åcho’ tåsi.”
“Let’s all go and look for coral.”

“Munga chago’,” manoppe si Cecilia, “sa’, siña ha’ guaha nufo’. Adahi!”
“Don’t go far,” answered Cecilia, “Because there can be scorpion fish. Be careful!”

Si Cecilia yan si Esteban manespia åcho’ tåsi yan cheggai lokkue’.
Cecilia and Esteban found coral and cowrie shells too.

Ha sodda’ si Cecilia un balåte’.
Cecilia found a sea cucumber.

“Chalao enao, Ben,” umågang si Cecilia, ya ha daggao si Ben ni’ balåte’.
“Catch that, Ben,” called Cecilia, and she threw the sea cucumber to Ben.

“Adahi hao, Cecilia. Siña ha’ lokkue’ hu daggao hao,” umågang si Ben.
“Watch out, Cecilia. I can also throw it to you,” called Ben.

Umågang ta’lo si Ben, “Atan este! Maila’ sa’ gos meggai na cheggai guini.”
Ben called again, “Look at this! Come because there are a lot of cowrie shells here.”

“Esteban, nihi ta hånao tatte para as Jose,” ilek-ña si Cecilia.
“Esteban, let’s go back to Jose,” said Cecilia.

Humånao tatte lokkue’ si Roberta yan si Ben.
Roberta and Ben went back as well.

Meggai esta na åcho’ tåsi yan cheggai gi batde.
There were already a lot of coral and cowrie shells in the bucket.

“På’go na bai hu konne’ este na guihan,” ilek-ña si Jose.
“Now I will catch this fish,” said Jose.

Ume’kahat si Jose guatu gi guihan.
Jose carefully tracked the fish there.

Ha konne’ si Jose i guihan, ya ilek-ña, “Bai adahi este na guihan.”
Jose caught the fish and said, “I will look after this fish.”

Malågu si Jose para u po’lo i guihan gi halom batde.
Jose ran to put the fish inside the bucket.

Ha po’lo i guihan gi halom batde.
He put the fish inside the bucket.

Si Ben lokkue’ ha konne’ guatu un guihan.
Ben also caught a fish there.

Ha po’lo si Jose i guihan gi halom batde.
Jose put the fish inside the bucket.

Todos i famagu’on manhånao guatu as Tun Ramon.
All the children went to Tun Ramon.

“Håfa na humahaohao i ga’lågu?” mamaisen si Roberta.
“Why is the dog barking?” asked Roberta.

“Humahaohao sa’ ha li’e’ un paharu,” manoppe si Esteban.
“It’s barking because it saw a bird,” answered Esteban.

“Siña i ga’lågu ha konne’ i paharu?” mamaisen si Cecilia.
“Can the dog catch the bird?” Cecilia asked.

“Hekkua’, lao guahu bai konne’ i paharu,” manoppe si Jose.
“I don’t know, but I will be the one to catch the bird,” answered Jose.

Malagu si Jose para u konne’ i paharu.
Jose ran to catch the bird.

“Munga ma’å’ñao, paharu,” ilek-ña si Jose, “sa’ bai adahi hao.”
“Don’t be afraid, bird,” said Jose, “because I will protect you.”

Ha konne’ i paharu si Jose.
Jose caught the bird.

“Hu konne’ hao på’go,” ha sangåni i paharu.
“I caught you now,” he said to the bird.

“Bai konne’ hao para iya-hami.”
“I will take you to our house.”

“Tåta, atan sa’ hu konne’ este na paharu,” ilek-ña si Jose as tatå-ña.
“Father, look because I caught this bird,” Jose said to his father.

Manoppe si Tun Ramon, “Gos bonito, låhi-hu. Adahi enao na paharu.”
Tun Ramon answered, “Very good, my son. Look after that bird.”

Pues manhånao todos tåtte para iya-siha.
Then all of them went back to their house.

Mangosmagof todus.
Everyone is very happy.

Study Resources

Quizlet Flashcard Deck to Learn Vocabulary: https://quizlet.com/_9zmqii?x=1jqt&i=2ugq94