My Father

My father was Mr Mafunga.
He was a short man.
He was the fifth born in his family.
He was dark in [complexion.]

We were only two in our family.
When my father died.
Father died when I was still young.
I wish he was here with me.

My father died when I was 10 years old.
When my father died I cried so much.
Until my mother asked me not to cry.

This went on worse when my mother also died
I (wash) wish they were all alive.
To give me [everything] I want.
To pay for my school fees and to buy me new clothes. Mother and father I miss you so much.
Rest in peace.

Netsai Mafunga 4C

The second letter reads:

I am a boy in the grade six in Murewa. I have no parents my father (died) in 1997 and my mother [died] in 1996. We are three children in our family. We are living with our grandmother [but] she is sick We don't have money to buy clothes and food. We came to school by foot because we don't have money to buy pair of shoes. Some times my grandmother doesn't [give] us food to eat Some of the time I will [feel] lazy in the class My [grandmother] is (so) poor that she can't buy food. My name is Hardwell Motsi