Kudzala kakhulu endzaweni lesemakhaya lebeyateka ngekutsi kuse Elunyiko, kwakuhlala indvodza lengu Dong'a kanye nemfati wayo lobekabitwa nga Namukhaywa. Beba nebantfwana labasitfupha. Bonkhe labantfwana bebangemantfombatane.

Ngalesikhatsi Namukhaywa akhulelwe umntfwana wakhe wesikhombisa, Ndong'a wamcwayisa watsi, "Nawungaphindza utfole lomunye umntfwana wentfombatane, ngitawuhamba ngikushiye. Kepha uma ungatfola umntfwana wemfana ngitakwentela umcimbi lomkhulu!"

Nasesikhatsi sekukhululeka sisondzele, Namukhaywa wahamba wayobona Umbelekisi wesintfu. Ngabe lomntfwana utawuba intfombatane nobe ngumfana?

Bekungumfana nentfombatane - emaphahla! Wetsa lomfana watsi nguMukhwana, bekajabule kakhulu ngaye. Kepha utsite nakabuka Mulongo, waphatseka kabi. Wabona kutsi kunentfo yinye lokumele ayente.

Namukhaywa washiya Mulongo etandleni tembelekisi wesintfu wase utsatsa Mukhwana waya naye ekhaya kumyeni wakhe.

Bekatfokotile kukhombisa Ndong'a umntfwana wemfana. Ndong'a bekajabule kakhulu wase ubita ummango wendzawo kute batobungata kutalwa kwendvodzana yakhe. Watfokota kakhulu Ndong'a wabita nemphakatsi kutojabulela lilanga lekutalwa kwemntfwana wakhe wemfana.

Mukhwana wakhula waba lijahha lelicotfo futsi naMulongo wakhula waba yintfombatane lecotfo.

Ngalelinye lilanga Mukhwana asachuba imfuyo yababe wakhe, wabona intfombi lenhle kakhulu. Wakhuluma nelingekhatsi lakhe watsi, "Lena yintfombi lengifuna kuyishada."

Kepha nakamcela kutsi amshade, wahlabela leliculo: "Mukhwana wefwe, Mukhwana. So yakhupa omunwa, Mukhwana. Nebebula omukhana, Mukhwana. Barulaka khulwanda, Mukhwana. Nebebula omusiani, Mukhwana. Barera mungo muno, Mukhwana. Iyeyi yakwa, Mukhwana."

Kwachubeka kwenteka ngaleyondlela. Mukhwana bekangati kutsi enteni. Ngaloko-ke wancuma kuya kumake wakhe, Namukhaywa. "Ngitfole intfombatane lenhle," walandsisela make wakhe. "Futsi ngitimisele kuyishada." Kepha ngasosonkhe sikhatsi nangim' mcela, uhlabela liculo lelifanako.

Lokwam' mangalisa, Namukhaywa watsi, "Loku lehlabela ngako lentfombatane kuliciniso. Kutsi ungudzadze wakho. Natalwa ningemaphahla. Babe wakho bekafuna umfana, hhayi intfombatane. Loko kwenta kutsi ngishiye umtfwana longudzadze wakho etandleni tembelekisi wesintfu, bese ngibuya nawe ekhaya kubabe wakho."

Ngalesikhatsi Mukhwana atjela babe wakhe lendzaba, watibona kutsi bekangenti kahle. Wabita Namukhaywa base baya kumbelekisi wesintfu bobabili kuyolandza Mulongo.

Ngalesikhatsi Mulongo afika ekhaya, babe wakhe kanye nalabadzala bemmango base babulala imbuti benta umsimeto wesintfu wekuhlanganisa Mulongo kanye nebanakabo labasikhombisa.

Ngemva kwemnyaka, Mulongo washada nendvondzana yenkhosi yendzawo leganyile. Nguye loletsa umcebo Kanye nentfokoto emndenini.