Tamara bekayintfombatane leneminyaka lesihlanu budzala lebeyihlala nemndeni wakubo.

Indzawo yakubo beyiseceleni kwelihlatsi labelinetilwane tesiganga.

Tamara bekabahlonipha batali bakhe.

Abelusa timvu kanye netimbuti.

Tamara bekatsandza kulalela tinyoni natihlabela ngesikhatsi eluse imfuyo.

Ngesikhatsi tinyoni tihlabela, yena bekafaka emagama akhe engomeni.

Tamara bekamncane kakhulu kutsi angaya esikolweni.

Batali bakhe bebavumela bantfwana babo labadzala kuphela kutsi baye esikolweni, boNashipae naTasieku. Lesikolwa besikhashane ngemakhilomitha langu-10.

Nashipae naTasieku bebahamba nalabanye bantfwana labebasuka endzaweni yakubo ekuseni futsi babuye ntsambama.

Bebaphatsa kudla ngeticukatsi letincane.

"Ngitokuya nini mine esikolweni?" Tamara wabuta make wakhe.

"Utokuya madvutane, mntfwanami." Kuphendvula make wakhe.

Ngalelinye lilanga, kwefika imoto labeyikadze inesikhulu sendzawo nemakhosikati lamabili.

Lesikhulu besihlola kutsi bantfwana baya esikolweni nasebaneminyaka lefanele yini.

Bantfu bebakholelwa kutsi nangabe umntfwana asakwati kwelula sandla ngetulu kwenhloko yakhe bese atsintsa indlebe, bekasuke asakulungele kutsi angacala kuya esikolweni.

"Sewuneminyaka lemingakhi?" kwabuta sikhulu. "Ngineminyaka lesihlanu yebudzala," kwaphendvula Tamara.

Sikhulu satsi, "Ake sibone kutsi sewungaya yini esikolweni."

Lomunye wemakhosikati wabamba sandla sangasekudla saTamara wase usibeka kahle ngetulu kwenhloko yakhe.

Tamara watsintsa indlebe yakhe yangesencele.

Tamara abetoya esikolweni lesihlukile kunalesi saNashipae naTasieku.

Bekusikolwa lesisha futsi lesisedvute nelikhaya.

Tamara bekajabule kakhulu.

Wacabanga, "Sengitofundza futsi ngibhale njengaNashipae naTasieku."