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Umhlobo othembekileyo

Author

Retold Dawn Garisch

Ngenye intsasa iBuzi loMgxobhozo lalivele ngentloko ezingcongolweni ezaziseludongeni lomlambo. Lanqika impumlo yalo larhogela ukuze lijoje ukuba ngubani na okufuphi. Kwathi gqi amantshontshwana asandul’ ukuqanduselwa edada ejikela igophe, engathi liqela leebhola ezifukufuku ezithambileyo zilandelelana. Unina wayewalandela kude kufuphi. Umama uDada wayenobuso obumhlophe nentloko emnyama. Wayezama ukufundisa amantshontsho akhe ukuba angema njani na ngeentloko zawo emanzini.

“Anisokuze nikwazi ukutsala umdla kuye nabani na ngaphandle kokuba nibe niyakwazi ukuma ngeentloko emanzini,” utsho emana ebabonisa ukuba kwenziwa njani. Kodwa amantshontshwana akhe ayengamhoyanga. Ayemancinane engazi ukuba izakubanceda njani into yokutsala umdla wabanye abantu.

“Abeva ke khona aba bantwana!” latsho iBuzi loMgxobhozo, “bafanele kukusuka bantywiliselwe.”

“Bubuvuvu obo,” waphendula uMama uDada, “wonke umntu kufanele kubekho apho aqala khona, kwaye singabazali kufuneka sibe nomonde.”

“Hayi ke! Andazi nto kwaphela ngokuba ngumzali,” latsho iBuzi loMgxobhozo. Andinguye utata kwaye andinamnqweno wakuba nguye. Lona uthando luyinto entle, kodwa ukuba nomhlobo othembekileyo kona yeyona nto inkulu.

“Ucinga ukuba ngumhlobo onjani umhlobo othembekileyo?” yabuza iNgwamza ekwathi kanti iyimamele le ncoko lo gama yayihamba-hamba emanzini kufutshane.

“Nam ndingathanda ukwazi,” latsho idada, limi ngentloko kwakhona.

“Hayi ke ngoku bubuvuvu obu nibubuzayo!” lakhala latsho iBuzi loMgxobhozo. “Kakade, umhlobo wam othembekileyo nozinikelayo makathembeke azinikele kum.”

“Wena uza kumenzela ntoni?” yabuza iNgwamza, ihambisa iinyawo zayo inqola-nqola ngomlomo wayo omthubi eludakeni.

“Andiwuqondi kakuhle umbuzo wakho,” laphendula iBuzi loMgxobhozo.

“Mandikubalisele ibali,” yatsho iNgwamza.

“Ingaba elo bali lingam?” labuza iBuzi loMgxobozo. “Ukuba kunjalo, ndiza kumamela.”

“Ungatsho,” yaphendula iNgwamza, ibamba intlanzi ngomlomo wayo iyibimbiliza ngokumane igiyozisa intloko yayo. Yema ngomlenze omnye, yatsho ngesandi esibonisa ukwaneliseka yaze yabalisa eli bali lomhlobo othembekileyo nozinikeleyo.

Isahluko 2

Kudala-dala kwakukho umfana onyanisekileyo ogama linguSizwe.

“Ingaba wayethandeka kodwa?” laphazamisa ngelitshoyo iBuzi loMgxobhozo.

“Andiqondi ukuba wayezama ukudlisela kwabanye,” yaphendula iNgwamza. “Wayelunge kakhulu – leyo yayiyindlela awayeziphethe ngayo. Mandiqhubeke …”

USizwe wayehlala kufutshane nomfula kwindlwana efulelwe ngengca ehlala yedwa. Yonke imihla wayesebenza emasimini. Kuwo wonke ummandla wakhe yayingekho intsimi eyayichume ukudlula eyakhe. Apho kwakukhula umbona, iitumato namathanga amakhulu angangamavili ekiriva. Kwakukho ispinatshi, iitapile kunye nemithi emibini emide yebhanana. Iminqathe yakhe yayiswiti kakhulu inombala o-orenji kangangokuba abantu babeyitya ikrwada. Ngamanye amaxesha wayelima namaqunube anencindi abomvu.

USizwe wayenezihlobo ezininzi, kodwa oyena mhlobo wayezinikele kubo bonke yayingumfama wobisi owayenefama esendulini. Sasingumhlobo othembeke kakhulu esi sityebi somfama kangangokuba wayengasokuze adlule entsimini kaSizwe ngaphandle kokuma ecingweni akhe isikhwebu sombona okanye athathe isipha seebhanana agoduke naso.

“Abahlobo benene kufuneka babelane,” wayedla ngokutsho umfama wobisi. USizwe wayenqwala ancume kwaye wayezingca ngokuba umhlobo wakhe wayeyithanda kakhulu imveliso yakhe.

USizwe zange wakhe wayicinga eyokuba kutheni umhlobo wakhe osisityebi somfama wobisi engazange wakhe wamnika nto nje yena. Lo mfama wobisi wayenamavili etshizi angaphezulu kwekhulu awayewagcine kwigumbi lakhe eliphantsi komhlaba, neemazi zobisi ezingamashumi amathathu, kunye nomhlambi omkhulu weegusha zoboya. USizwe wayevuyela ukumamela zonke izinto ezintle ezithethwa ngumfama wobisi malunga nokungazicingeli siqu sakhe kuphela umhlobo wenene.

Ngoko ke uSizwe waqhubeka ezisebenzela entsimini yakhe. Ngalo lonke ixesha lasekwindla, ebusika nasentwasahlobo wayonwabile, kodwa ehlotyeni kwakusina iimvula ezinkulu. Umfula wawuzala ubengumlambo ozalisayo amanzi angena entsimini kaSizwe. Zonke izilimo azityalileyo zazikhukuliswa ngamanzi okanye zibole zibolela phantsi kwamanzi. USizwe wayengabi nazo izityalo zokuthengisa emarikeni. Ehlotyeni wayelamba amathuba amaninzi okanye alale etye iimengo ezimbalwa. Wayenesithukuthezi, kuba umfama wobisi wayengamndwendweli nokumndwendwela ngeli xesha.

Isahluko 3

“Akukho mfuneko yokundwendwela uSizwe xa intsimi yakhe isemanzini,” watsho umfama wobisi emfazini wakhe. Ifama yabo yayisendulini, ngoko ke iinkomo, iigusha namasimi akhe ayekhuselekile. “Xa abantu besengxakini, kufuneka bayekwe bajongane neengxaki zabo bangabe bephazanyiswa ziindwendwe. Ndiza kulinda ude umthamo wamanzi wehle aze uSizwe abe uqalile ukutyala. Ndakumndwendwela ngoko ke, kwaye uzawukwazi ukundinika ingobozi ezele sisivuno semifuno kwaye oko kuza kumvuyisa kakhulu,” watsho umfama wobisi.

“Ngokuqinisekileyo ungumhlobo omcingelayo umhlobo wakhe, waphendula umfazi wakhe njengokuba wayefaka ukutya kwisikhenkcezisi sabo. “Hayi, ngenene ndiyamcingela. Kananjalo kushushu kakhulu ukuba umntu angahamba. Kwaye ingayinto embi kakhulu kuSizwe ukubonwa kwentsimi yakhe yonakaliswe ziimvula.”

“Kodwa asikwazi na ukummema ukuba eze apha?” wabuza unyana omncinane womfama wobisi ehlafuna ukutya. “Ukuba uSizwe usengxakini ndakumohlulela isiqingatha sesi sonka sam ndimbonise nemivundlana yam emhlophe ukumvuselela nokumonwabisa.”

“Uyinkwenkwana egezayo ke wena!” wamngxolisa ngelitshoyo umfama wobisi. “Yintoni imfuneko yokukuthumela esikolweni xa kanti awuzukufunda nto kwaphela? Ukuba uSizwe angeza apha abone eli dama lethu lipholisayo nesonka samasi sethu nomphanda wethu wewayini, angabanomona. Umona yeyona nto yakhe yambi. Ungamonakalisa umntu. Ngokuqinisekileyo andisoze ndivumele ukuba uSizwe onakaliswe ngumona. Ndingumhlobo wakhe osenyongweni. Ngalo lonke ixesha ndiza kusoloko ndimkhathalela kwaye ndiqinisekise ukuba akangeni ekuhendweni. Ngaphandle koko, ukuba uSizwe angeza apha, angafuna ukuba simnike isonka samasi ngetyala, kwaye angekhe ndikwazi ukuyenza loo nto. Isonka samasi yenye into; nobuhlobo yenye, zizinto ke ezo ekungafunekiyo ukuba zibhidaniswe. Loo magama abhalwa ngokwahlukileyo kwaye nentsingiselo yawo yahlukile. Wonke umntu uyayazi loo nto.”

“Uthetha kakuhle kakhulu!” watsho umfazi womfama wobisi, ezigalelela iglasi yobisi. Kodwa ukumamela wena kuyandozelisa, kuba ushumayela ngathi usecaweni.”

“Abantu abaninzi banezenzo ezihle,” waphendula umfama wobisi, kodwa bambalwa kakhulu abathetha kakuhle. Kunzima kakhulu ukuthetha kakuhle, ngoko ke uyabona, ndiyindoda elungileyo.” Wajamela unyana wakhe owayehleli kwelinye icala letafile, owayefile ziintloni kangangokuba wayejonge phantsi ejike wabomvu krwe sele qala nokulila, iinyembezi zakhe zisiwela etini yakhe.

Isahluko 4

“Ingaba sisiphelo sebali eso?” labuza iBuzi loMgxobhozo

“Ngokuqinisekileyo ayisiso,” yaphendula iNgwamza. “Esi sisiqalo.”

“Ngenene usadla ngendebe endala,” latsho iBuzi loMgxobhozo. “Wonke umntu ongumbalisi wamabali kule mihla uqala ekugqibeleni, emva koko aye ekuqaleni, aze agqibezele ngomphakathi webali. Leyo yindlela entsha. Konke oku ndikuve ngenye imini komnye umhlalutyi owayehamba apha ngaseludongeni lomlambo wethu ekhatshwa ngumfana othile. Wayithetha le nto ixesha elide, kwaye ndiqinisekile ukuba unyanisile kuba wayeneeglasi zamehlo eziluhlaza nenkqayi. Ngalo lonke ixesha umfana lo ephawula kuloo nto ayithethayo ebesoloko ephendula ngelithi ‘Pewu’. Kodwa ke, qhubeka nebali lakho. Ndimthanda kakhulu umfama wobisi,” latsho iBuzi loMgxobhozo.

Ingwamza yatsala umphefumlo yaza yaqhubeka ibalisa ibali.

Kwakamsinyane emva kokwetha kwamanzi ezandyondyo zemvula emhlabeni, uSizwe walima wagalela isichumiso entsimini yakhe waza watyala izityalo zakhe. Wayesebenza ukususela ekuseni ukuya ebusuku kakhulu. Wayesebenza kangangokuba ukubila kwakuthontsiza kusuka kwibunzi lakhe kwaye nezandla zakhe zazinamadyungudyungu.

Kungekudala imbewu yakhe yantshula, amagqabi aphuma emhlabeni efuna ilanga. Kwavela amakhaphetshu angangentloko yosana iimbotyi zona zanyuka ngocingo olubiyileyo. Phezulu endulini, umfama wobisi wabona ukuba intsimi kaSizwe ivuseleleke kakuhle. Wathi emfazini wakhe uza kukhe ahle andwendwele uSizwe.

“Owu! Unentliziyo entle!” watsho umfazi womfama “Usoloko ucinga ngabanye. Uze uncede uthathe ingobozi enkulu ukuze ubuye nemifuno.”

Wehlisa induli ke umfama wobisi ephethe ingobozi.

“Molo, Sizwe,” wabulisa umfama wobisi.

“Ewe,” wavuma uSizwe engqiyame kumhlakulo wakhe uncumo lwakhe luphela ezindlebeni.

“Belikuphethe njani phofu ihlobo?” wabuza umfama wobisi.

“Kuhle ukuba ubuze,” watsho uSizwe, “kuhle kakhulu. Ndingatsho ndithi ndibenexesha elinzima kakhulu ngenxa yezikhukula, kodwa ngoku ndonwabe kakhulu kwaye nemifuno yam ikhula kakuhle.”

“Besithetha ngawe rhoqo ngexesha lasehlotyeni, Sizwe,” watsho umfama wobisi, “besizibuzana ukuba ingaba uqhuba njani na kwezaa mvula.”

“Ninobubele,” watsho uSizwe, “Bendicinga ukuba nindilibele.”

“Sizwe, uyandothusa,” watsho umfama wobisi. “Abahlobo zange balibalane. Yeyona nto imangalisayo ngobuhlobo leyo.”

Umfama wobisi wabhekabheka. “Akhangeleka emahle kakhulu amakhaphetshu akho! watsho.

“Mahle ngenene,” watsho uSizwe, kwaye ndinethamsanqa ukuba namakhaphetshu amaninzi kangaka. Ndiza kuwathengisela intombi kasodolophu. Emva koko ndiza kuphinda ndithenge inqwelo yam kuye ngemali leyo.

“Uza kuthenga inqwelo yakho kuye? Uthetha ukuba ubuyithengisile? Ibibubuyatha ukwenza oko!” watsho umfama wobisi.

Isahluko 5

“Okwenzekayo kukuba,” watsho uSizwe, “ndaye ndanyanzeleka. Ngenxa yezikhukula, ndandingenamali yokuthenga isonka. Ngoko ke ndaqala ndathengisa ibhatyi yam yesikhumba, emva koko ndathengisa umgexo wam wasentanyeni wesilivere ndaze ekugqibeleni ndathengisa inqwelo yam. Kodwa ndiza kubuya ndizithenge zonke kwakhona.”

“Ndiza kupha inqwelo yam,” watsho umfama wobisi. “Ayikho kwimeko entle kakhulu. Elinye icala lophukile kwaye kukho nokungalunganga emavilini, kodwa nangona kunjalo ndiza kupha yona. Ndinobubele kakhulu. Abanye abantu bangathi nqa kutheni ndiphisa ngayo, kodwa ndicinga ukuba ububele ngoyena ndoqo wobuhlobo. Ngaphezulu, ndizithengele inqwelo entsha.”

“Bububele obukhulu obo undenzele bona,” watsho uSizwe ubuso bakhe bukhazimla luvuyo. “Ndingayilungisa inqwelo kuba ndinalo iplanga phaya eshedini.”

“Uneplanga!” watsho umfama wobisi evuya. Ndifuna kanye lona ukuze ndivale ithuba eliselucingweni lwam. Iigusha zam ziza kuphuma ukuba andilulungisi. Ibe lithamsanqa ukuba uthi unalo! Kuyamangalisa ukuba isenzo esinye esihle sisoloko sikhokhelela kwesinye. Ndiza kupha inqwelo yam wena uza kundipha iplanga lakho. Kakade, inqwelo ixabisa ngaphezulu kakhulu kuneplanga, kodwa ubuhlobo benene abuziqapheli ezo zinto. Yiza neplanga kwangoku ukuze ndilungise ucingo lwam kwanamhlanje.”

“Ngokuqinisekileyo,” waphendula uSizwe. Wabaleka ukuya eshedini waza walitsala walikhupha iplanga.”

“Ayiloplanga likhulu kakhulu,” watsho umfama wobisi elijonga, ndinoloyiko lokuba emva kokuba ndilungise ucingo lwam akuzukusala nto ukuze ukwazi ukulungisa inqwelo, kodwa ke ayililo ityala lam elo. Ngoku ke, njengokuba ndiza kupha inqwelo yam, ndiqinisekile ukuba nawe ungathanda ukundipha amagaqa amakhaphetshu. Nantsi ingobozi. Ukhumbule ukuyizalisa.”

“Ndiyizalise?” wabuza uSizwe ebuhlungu, kuba loo ngobozi yayinkulu, esazi ukuba, ukuba uyizalisile angangakwazi ukufumana imali eyoneleyo xa athe wawathengisa aseleyo ukuze akwazi ukuthenga ibhatyi yakhe yesikhumba kwakhona.

Isahluko 6

“Kaloku, waphendula umfama wobisi, njengokuba ndiza kupha inqwelo yam, andiqondi ukuba ndicela kakhulu xa ndicela amagaqa ambalwa ekhaphetshu. Kusenokwenza ukuba ndithetha okungalunganga, kodwa bendicinga ukuba umhlobo wenene akazicingeli isiqu sakhe sodwa nangayiphi na indlela.”

“Mhlobo wam endimthandayo, mhlobo wam osenyongweni,” waphendula uSizwe, Kungcono ndifumane iingcinga zakho ezilungileyo kunebhatyi yam yesikhumba.” Wabaleka wakha amagaqa amahlanu elona khaphetshu lihle wayizalisa ingobozi yomfama wobisi.

“Usale kakuhle, Sizwe,” watsho umfama wobisi njengokuba wayenyuka induli ethwele iplanga emagxeni akhe ephethe nengobozi esandleni sakhe.

“Uhambe kakuhle,” watsho uSizwe wabe seleqalisa ukomba onwabile. Yayimvuyisa kakhulu into yokuba eza kufumana inqwelo kwakamsinyane.

Ngosuku olulandelayo uSizwe wayesusa iinkumba kwibhedi yespinatshi sakhe ukuva kwakhe umfama wobisi emkhwaza esendleleni. Wabaleka uSizwe wehlisa intsimi yakhe wajonga ngaphaya kocingo. Nanko umfama wobisi ethwele ingxowa enkulu yetshizi.

“Sizwe othandekayo,” watsho umfama wobisi, “ungakhathazeka ukuthatha le ngxowa yetshizi undisele yona emarikeni?”

“Owu, ungafi, watsho uSizwe, kodwa namhlanje ndixakeke kakhulu. Kufuneka ndixhwithe ukhula kuzo zonke ezi bhedi zam zemifuno.”

“Ayinakwenzeka loo nto,” watsho umfama wobisi. “Xa sicingisisa kakuhle ndiza kupha inqwelo yam, ngoko asibobuhlobo ukuba wale xa ndikucela.”

“Owu, ungatsho,” waphendula uSizwe. “Akukho nto inokundenza ndingabi ngumhlobo kuwe.” Wabaleka waya endlwini yakhe wathatha umnqwazi wakhe waza wahamba nzima esindwa yingxowa yetshizi esemagxeni akhe.

Yayiyimini eshushu kakhulu. Phambi kokuba uSizwe afike edolophini wayedinwe kakhulu kangangokuba kwafuneka ahlale phantsi aphumle. Ekugqibeleni wafika emarikeni apho wathengisa khona isonka samasi ngexabiso elihle kakhulu. Emva koko wakhawuleza wagoduka kuba wayesoyika ukuhlangana nabaphangi endleleni.

Isahluko 7

Kwakusasa ngosuku olulandelayo umfama wobisi wehlisa induli ukuza kuthatha imali yakhe yesonka samasi kuSizwe, kodwa uSizwe wayedinwe kangangokuba wayesalele.

“Nkosi yamazulu’ wakhuza umfama wobisi, “ulinqenerha. Ukonqena sisono esikhulu kakhulu kwaye mna andithandi ukuba abahlobo bam babe ngamanqenerha. Nceda ungakhathazeki kuba ndithetha phandle xa ndithetha nawe. Buyintoni ubuhlobo benene ukuba ubani akakwazi ukuthetha inyaniso? Nabani na angakukholisa okanye akuqhathe, kodwa umhlobo wenene uthetha izinto ezingemnandanga, kuba uyazi ukuba uyalungisa.”

“Ungafi,” watsho uSizwe ehlikihla amehlo akhe, “kodwa bendidinwe kakhulu ndalala ndimamele iintaka zicula. Ndisebenza ngcono kakhulu emva kokuba ndikhe ndamamela iintaka zicula.”

“Inene, ndiyakuvuyela oko,” watsho umfama wobisi embambazela uSizwe, “kuba namhlanje ndifuna uze kulungisa ucingo lwam.”

Usizana olunguSizwe lwalunxunguphele kakhulu kuba lwaluzimisele ukuya kusebenza entsimini yalo, kuba lwalufuna ukutyala amatswele.

“Ndakuba andingomhlobo ukuba ndithi ndixakekile?” wabuza ngelizwi elinobuphakuphaku.

“Eneneni,” waphendula umfama wobisi, “andiqondi ukuba ndakuba ndicela lukhulu, xa sicinga ndiza kupha inqwelo yam, kodwa ukuba uyala, ndakulilungisa ngokwam ucingo lwam.”

“Owu hayi! Ngekhe kwenzeke oko,” waphendula uSizwe. Wanxiba wanyuka induli waya kwifama yobisi.

Wasebenza apho imini yonke, kwaye lalisele litshonile ilanga, ngethuba kusiza umfama wobisi ezokubona ukuba uqhuba njani na.

“Aha!” watsho umfama wobisi, ebona ukuba ucingo lwakhe lulungisiwe, “owona msebenzi uncomekayo ngumsebenzi umntu awenzela abanye.”

“Lilungelo elilodwa ukukuva uthetha,” waphendula uSizwe, ehleli phantsi esosula ibunzi lakhe, “ilungelo elilodwa ngokwenene. Ndinoloyiko lokuba andisoze ndibe nazo iingcinga ezintle njengezakho.”

“Ungabinaxhala, ziza kufika,” watsho umfama wobisi. “Okwangoku kufuneka uziqhelise ubuhlobo, kodwa ngenye imini uza kubanazo iingcinga ezizezakho ngobuhlobo. Kungangcono ugoduke uyokuphumla ngoku, kuba ndifuna uqhube iinkomo zam uzise eshedini kwakusasa ngomso uzisenge.”

Ngengomso usizana olunguSizwe lwavuka kwakusasa. Waziqhuba iinkomo zomfama wobisi wazisa eshedini waza wachitha intsasa yonke ezisenga. Akufika ekhaya wayedinwe kakhulu kangangokuba walala esahleli esitulweni sakhe.

Isahluko 8

“Ndiza kuba nexesha elimnandi entsimini yam namhlanje” wacinga njalo uSizwe ukuvuka kwakhe ngosuku olulandelayo, nangona iingalo zakhe zaziqaqamba kuko konke ukusenga akwenzileyo.

Kodwa wayengasakwazi ukukhathalela imifuno yakhe, kuba umhlobo wakhe umfama wobisi wayesoloko efika emthuma ukuba amenzele imisebenzi emthatha ixesha elide, okanye amcele ukuba aze kumncedisa efama. Wayekhathazeke kakhulu uSizwe, kuba wayeba imifuno yakhe iza kucinga ukuba uyilibele, kodwa wazixolisa ngelithi umfama wobisi ngoyena mhlobo wakhe usenyongweni kwaye uza kumpha nenqwelo yakhe.

USizwe wasebenza nzima esebenzela umfama wobisi, kwaye umfama wobisi wayethetha zonke izinto ezintle ngobuhlobo. USizwe wayebhala phantsi yonke into engobuhlobo kwincwadana yakhe aze azifundele ebusuku, kuba wayengumfundi olungileyo.

Ngobunye ubusuku basebusika obabubanda kakhulu, uSizwe wayehleli ngasemlilweni ukuvakala kokunkqonkqozwa emnyango.

“Inokuba lusizana lomhambi” wacinga njalo uSizwe ebaleka ukuya emnyango. Kodwa endaweni yomhambi kwakumi umfama wobisi ephathe itotshi kwesinye isandla nentonga kwesinye.

“Sizwe endimthandayo, wakhala umfama wobisi, “Ndisengxakini enkulu. Unyana wam omncinane uwe kwileli waza wenzakala. Kufuneka edibene nogqirha, kodwa ugqirha uhlala kude kakhulu kwaye obu bubusuku obubanda kakhulu. Ndicinga ukuba ingayeyona nto ilungileyo ukuba ibe nguwe oya kubiza ugqirha endaweni yam. Uyazi ukuba ndiza kupha inqwelo yam, ngoko ke kulungile ukuba nawe undenzele into entle.”

“Ngokuqinisekileyo,” waphendula uSizwe. Yindlela yokundikhuthaza ukuba undicele. Ndiza kuhamba kwangoku. Ndiboleke le totshi yakho, kuba obu busuku bumnyama kakhulu ndoyika ukuba ndingawela ezindongeni.”

“Ungafi,” waphendula umfama wobisi, “yitotshi yam entsha le, kwaye ingayilahleko enkulu ukuba kungabakho nantoni na eyehlelayo.”

“Ungazihluphi, kuza kulunga,” watsho uSizwe ngokukhalipha. Wathatha idyasi yakhe nomnqwazi wakhe obomvu. Wabhijela isikhafu eside entanyeni yakhe wahamba.

Isahluko 9

Yayibubusuku obubanda kakhulu, kukhanyise luzizi inyanga eliceba. Kwakunzima nokubona apho umntu ahamba khona, kodwa emva kokuba uSizwe ehambe malunga neeyure ezintathu, wafika kwagqirha wankqonkqoza.

“Ungubani?” wabuza ugqirha.

“NdinguSizwe, Gqirha.”

“Ufuna ntoni, Sizwe?” wabuza uGqirha.

“Unyana womfama wobisi uzenzakalisile kwaye udinga uncedo lwakho olukhawulezayo,” waphendula uSizwe.

Ugqirha wehla esuka kumgangatho wokuqala waza wakhwela ibhayisekile yakhe waya apho umfama wobisi ahlala khona. USizwe yena waphinda wahamba kwaloo ndlela inde igodukayo.

Kodwa amafu amnyama ayigquma inyanga waze uSizwe walahleka. Walahlekela ngasemlanjeni, indawo leyo eyayinobungozi kakhulu. Kwakukho amawa amqengqelezi kuwo omabini amacala omlambo. USizwe wawa eliweni wawela emlanjeni onamaza alephuzayo. Idyasi yakhe enzima yamtsalela ezantsi warhaxwa. Ngosuku olulandelayo abelusi bawufumana umzimba wakhe udada emanzini.

Emngcwabeni kaSizwe, umfama wobisi wayengoyena mntu olahlekelweyo.

“Bendingoyena mhlobo wakhe usenyongweni,”watsho umfama wobisi. “Ndicinga ukuba kulungile ukuba ndibe ndifumana indawo yokuhlala ephezulu. Umfama wobisi wayehamba phambi komkhumbi esosula amehlo akhe ngetshefu kwaye efuna ukubonwa nguye wonke ubani.

“Ukufa kukaSizwe yilahleko enkulu,” watsho umfazi womfama wobisi emva komngcwabo. “Siza kuba ngabakabani ngaphandle kwemifuno yakhe?”

“Yilahleko enkulu,” waphendula umfama wobisi. “Bendifana nokuba ndimphile inqwelo yam, kodwa ngoku andazi ukuba ndiza kuyithini na. Isendleleni yam apha kwaye yophuke kangangokuba andinakho nokuyithengisa. Soze ndiphinde ndiphise nganto. Umntu onobubele usoloko esiva kabuhlungu ngenxa yobubele bakhe.”

“Kwaze kwathini?” labuza iBuzi loMgxobhozo emva kwexesha elide kuthe cwaka.

“Kaloku, sisiphelo eso,” yatsho iNgwamza.

“Kodwa kwenzeka ntoni kumfama wobisi?” labuza iBuzi loMgxobhozo.

“Owu hayi,  andazi ngenene,” yaphendula ingwamza, “kwaye andinaxesha laloo nto.”

“Kucace mpela ukuba ungumntu ongenalo usizi” latsho iBuzi loMgxobhozo.

“Ndinoloyiko lokuba awuyifumani imfundiso yeli bali,” yatsho iNgwamza.

“Intoni?” labuza iBuzi loMgxobhozo.

“Imfundiso,” yaphinda ngelitshoyo iNgwamza.

“Uthetha ukuba eli bali linemfundiso?” labuza iBuzi loMgxobhozo

“Ngokuqinisekileyo” yatsho iNgwamza.

“Ngenene,” latsho iBuzi loMgxobhozo linomsindo, “ubufanele ukuba undixelele phambi kokuba uqale. Ngendingakhange ndikumamele. Eneneni ngendithe ‘Pewu’ ndaxelisa laa mhlalutyi. Kodwa ke, ndisengatsho nangoku.” Latsho likhwaza kakhulu lisithi ‘Pewu!’ lajiwuzisa umsila walo lasithela phakathi kweengcongolo.

“Ulithande njani iBuzi loMgxobhozo?” labuza idada, elalisondela lidada.

“Ndinoloyiko lokuba ndilicaphukisile,” yaphendula iNgwamza. “Ndilibalisele ibali elinemfundiso.”

“Aah! Oko kusoloko kuyingozi,” latsho idada. Emva koko layitshonisa lema ngayo intloko emanzini litsala umdla weNgwamza.