Sonke siyazi ukuthi indlovu inomboko omude, ikhala layo phela.

Kodwa emandulo umboko wendlovu wawumfishane futhi unonile. Njengesicathulo maphakathi nobuso bayo. Uyikhala nje elijwayelekile.

Kwazalwa inkonyane lendlovu elalithanda ukubuza imibuzo. Lalinombuzo esilwaneni ngasinye ababephila nazo.

Lalilangazelele ukwazi ngendlulamithi. "Kungani unomqala omude?" labuza indlulamithi.

Lalilangazelele ukwazi ngobhejane. "Kungani unezimpondo ezicijile?" labuza kubhejane.

Kanti lalilangazelele KAKHULU ukwazi ngengwenya. "Ingwenya idlani ngesidlo sakusihlwa?"

Kodwa ngokushesha igwababa elihlakaniphile lathi, "Ngilandele siye emfuleni. Kulapho uzobona ukuthi ingwenya idlani ngokudla kwakusihlwa."

Nangempela inkonyane lendlovu lalilandela igwababa behlela emfuleni.

Laziminyeka encemeni labe selima osebeni lomfula. Labuka emanzini. Yayikuphi ingwenya?

"Sawubona," kusho itshe ngasosebeni lomfula. "Yebo," kuphendula inkonyane lendlovu. "Mhlawumbe ungangitshela ukuthi ingwenya idlani ngesidlo sakusihlwa?"

"Gobela phansi ngizokutshela," kuphendula itshe. "Yehla futhi, futhi." Ngokunjalo inkonyane lendlovu lagoba laze.

"Ngqi!" Ikhala layo labe selise mhlathini wengwenya. "Ingwenya izodla wena ngokudla kwakusihlwa!" Kuswininiza igwababa.

Inkonyane lendlovu lazabalaza ngemilenze yalo yangemuva eqinile, ladonsa, ladonsa, ladonsa. Kodwa ingwenya yangalidedela.

Ikhala lenkonyane lendlovu lanwebeka, lanwebeka, lanwebeka laze. "Didli!" lawa inkonyane lendlovu lashayeka ngomhlane. Ingwenya yashibilika yaphindela emanzini.

Inkonyane lendlovu labuka ikhala lalo. Kodwa langakwazi ukubona lapho ligcina khona!

Labe selilide kangangoba lase likwazi ukukha isithelo egatsheni eliphezulu esihlahleni. Kusukela ngalelo langa, zonke izindlovu zinomboko omude olusizo kuzona.