Mani-yum Avarudaiya Magic Cricket Ball-um

Read-aloud note

Read slowly, soften your voice near the end, and leave a small pause before the final goodnight line.

Story

Adhu oru azhagana saayankaalam. 1998-la Mani-um avanoda friends-um cricket velayada ready aayittaanga. Veyil nallaa orange colour mango madhiri irundhuchi. Mani oru periya wooden bat vechirundhaan. Adhu namma Appa senju kudutha bat. Mani blue shorts potrundhaan, avan friends Kavin-um Ravi-um stumps vekka moonu sivappu bricks-a onnu mela onnu adukkunaanga. Mani-oda garden-la oru jolly-ana rule irundhuchi. Ball-a poduradhukku munnadi ellarum oru chinna whistle adikkanum. Whistle adichaa dhaan game start aagum!

Kavin ball-a vegamaa pottaan. Adhu oru pachai tennis ball, adhu mela white tape otti irundhuchi. Mani bat-a nallaa suzhatti adichaan. Tappu! Ball romba dhooram parandhuchi. Coconut tree-a thaandi, pazhaya cycle-a thaandi, garden-la irundha periya sembaruthi chedi kulla poiyiduchi. Mani satham pottu sonnaan, "Ellarum nillunga! Statue!" Ball chedi kulla poyitta ellarum appadiye kal madhiri ammaidhiyaa nikkanum. Adhu dhaan Mani-oda special rule. Mani oru kaalla ninnaan. Ravi vaaya moodittu sirikkama ninnaan. Shhh! Romba silent-aa irundhuchi.

Ippo ball-a kaanom. Mani mella mella andha chedi kitta ponaan. "Engey ponalum ball vandhudum!" Mani eppovum solluvaan. Avan red color flower pot-a paathaan, anga ball illai. Pazhaya wooden bench-a paathaan, angayum ball illai. Appo thidirnu andha sembaruthi chedi mella aadura maadhiri irundhuchi. Kaatru kooda adikalla, aana chedi mattum mella thopp-thopp-thopp-nu aaduchi. Mani mella ulla paathaan. Anga oru periya brown color koli kukkundhu irundhuchi. Adhu andha tennis ball-a muttai-nu nenachi adhan mela nallaa ukkarndhuchi!

Mani-kku nallaa sirippu vandhuduchi. "Idhu muttai illa koli-ma, idhu namma cricket ball!" Mani kitta pona udane andha koli "Kukkoo-koo!" nu satham pottutu mella elundhu odi poyiduchi. Mani ball-a eduthuttu vandhaan. "Engey ponalum ball vandhudum!" Mani thirumba sonnaan. Appo Amma kooptanga, "Mani, snacks ready! Bajji saapda vaanga!" Cricket game mudinjiduchi. Mani ball-a pocket-la vachittu friends kooda saapda odunaan. Nila mella mella mela vandhuchi, Mani-um avanoda magic ball-um romba happy-aa thoongunaanga.

Scenes

Cricket Match Ready!

1998-la oru azhagana saayankaalam. Veyil nallaa orange colour mango madhiri irundhuchi. Mani blue shorts potrundhaan, avanoda periya wooden bat-a vachittu match-kku ready aanaan. Kavin-um Ravi-um moonu red bricks-a stumps madhiri vechaanga. Whistle adichaa dhaan game start!

Ball Parakudhu!

Kavin vegamaa oru pachai tennis ball-a pottaan. Adhu mela white tape otti irundhuchi. Mani bat-a nallaa suzhatti adichaan. Tappu! Ball romba dhooram parandhuchi. Coconut tree-a thaandi, pazhaya cycle-a thaandi, sembaruthi chedi kulla poiyiduchi!

Ellarum Nillunga!

Mani satham pottu sonnaan, 'Ellarum nillunga! Statue!' Ball chedi kulla poyitta ellarum appadiye kal madhiri ammaidhiyaa nikkanum. Mani oru kaalla ninnaan, Ravi vaaya moodittu sirikkama ninnaan. Romba silent-aa irundhuchi.

Muttai Illa Koli-ma!

Mani mella andha chedi kitta ponaan. Chedi thopp-thopp-nu aaduchi. Ulla paathaa oru periya brown koli andha tennis ball-a muttai-nu nenachi adhan mela nallaa ukkarndhuchi! Mani-kku nallaa sirippu vandhuduchi.

Bajji Ready!

Koli odi poyiduchi. Mani ball-a eduthutaan. Appo Amma 'Mani, bajji saapda vaanga!' nu kooptanga. Match over! Nila mela vandhuchi, Mani avanoda magic ball kooda happy-aa thoongunaan.