compulsory schooling

10 (a) togàj bèše stòka mìlo stòka ìmaše nì te pràštat

Back then there was livestock, dear one – livestock. They didn’t send you

11 (a) na učìlište od učìlišteto dòjde cɤrvèno izvèstie

to school. And from the school came a red notice (warning of a fine):

12 (a) ùtre da se jàviš mène me ne pùštat

“Tomorrow you must appear!” [But] they didn’t let me go,

13 (a) trèbe da se pùštat stòkata drùgi dèn pà ispràtat izvèstie

because the livestock had to be let out. The next day again a notice,

14 (a) i jà ìda tàm da zapìšad dèka səm se javìla

and I go there [long enough] for them to note down that I had appeared,

15 (a) i i tòku

and – and only that.

16 (GK) cèla nedèl'a pàk te nèma

And you were absent the whole week.

17 (a) tòku tòku u nedèlata jà dvà pati jà edìn pɤ̀t

That’s all [there was]. Either once or twice in a week.

19 (a) takà e

That’s it!

20 (GK) kòlko da nèma cɤrvèno izvèstie

Just enough for there not to be a “red notice”.

21 (a) tòku carvèno izvèstie da nèma əə štò da pràime i ostarèxme

[Just] so much – to be no red notice. Yes. What can we do? And we’ve gotten old.

62 (GK) ama na učìlište pùskəha li vi da òdite

But did they allow you to go to school?

63 (a) əmə ne b'àhə dušlìli b'àhə pòčnəli gà pudràstene də nə òt'

Well they didn't come – they started – when we grew [old enough] (because

64 (a) màjkit'e ne nɤ̀ pùskəhə əmə tàtkufci təkòvu še vɤ glubìne

our mothers didn't let us go), but our fathers knew [they'd hear] “We'll fine you”.

65 (a) təkà i təkɤ̀i zənəred'àvəhə màjkit'e n'àmə gi pùsnete əmə

So they gave the mothers an order: “You don't have let them go. But

66 (a) še və glubìne glòbə i ut'ỳvəhne tàm d'e ut'ùvəhne

we'll charge you a fine.” And [so] we went there. And we went

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