USipho uzalwa yedwa kubo. Uneminyaka eyisithupha. Uhlala nomama wakhe kanye nobaba wakhe. Bahlala endlini encane enamakamelo amabili.

USipho uhlezi enomama wakhe. Noma umama wakhe enza imisebenzi yasekhaya uSipho uhlezi emlekelela.

USipho ubuka yonke into eyenziwa umama wakhe noma ebasa umlilo esitofini saparafini.

Ngolunye usuku umama wakhe eye edolobheni eshiye uSipho no baba wakhe, kwenzeka ingozi enkulu! Ubaba wayesaphumile eyobheka imfuyo yakhe eshiye uSipho elele.

USipho waphaphama wavuka eselambe kakhulu, wabona ukuthi akukho muntu uyedwa, wabasa isitofu sikaparafini njengoba aye abone umama wakhe enza.

USipho wayezama ukupheka kanti sizowa isitofu sikaparafini kokheleka ikhethenisi kwasha!

USipho wethuka kakhulu, esaba! Waphuma wabalehka efuna usizo ememeza ubaba wakhe.

Ilangabi lomlilo lokheleka ophahleni lendlu! Kwaqubuka elikhulu ilangabi lomlilo! Kwazise phela kuyindlu efulelwe.

Kwaqhubuka esikhulu isililo! Kukhala isimaye-maye, ubaba ememeza ezama ukucima umlilo nomakhelwane bememeza "Sizani boh, indlu iyasha!" Begijima namabhakede anamanzi bezocima. USipho yena wakhala ezibhuqa phansi ethuke kakhulu. Isha indlu.

Umama wakhe wafika, kuphithizela ebaleni, omakhelwane begijima nama bhakede amanzi, akakholwanga into eyayenzeka indlu yabo Isha! Washawa uvalo olukhulu ecabanga ukuthi u Sipho ushela phakathi endlini, wayengamboni egcekeni, wawa waquleka.

USipho wathi uyabheka wabona umama wakhe ewa. Wagijima ememeza ekhala, "mama! Mama! Vuka! Vuka!" Wakhala kakhulu ethukile umama wakhe engavuki. "Baba! Baba! Sizani boh umama akavuki", esho ekhala ememeza USipho.

Ubaba washayela ucingo isithuthi seziguli kanye nezicisha mlilo. Waphuthunyiswa esibhedlela umama kaSipho. Wayethuke kakhulu USipho ngomama wakhe. Ezisola ngokuzama ukupheka. Waxolisa kumama naku baba wakhe ekhathazekile.

IsiZulu Reach Out to Read