Lalilodwa ibhasi elihamba emphakathini wakubo kaZweli. Lalilikhulu futhi liluhlaza okwesibhakabhaka. Lalinomsindo omkhulu.
Ngelinye ilanga umama kaZweli wathi, "Kusasa sizoya edolobheni siyothenga umfaniswano wakho."
UZweli wajabula kakhulu. Babezohamba ngebhasi elikhulu eliluhlaza okwesibhakabhaka. Kwakungavumi ukuba alale ebusuku.
UZweli wayesegqokile lapho umama wakhe engena ezomvusa.
UZweli nomama wakhe baya esitobhini. Balindela ibhasi elikhulu eliluhlaza okwesibhakabhaka. Kodwa do ibhasi!
Abanye abantu bafika esitobhini. Babekhononda ngoba ibhasi lalingasigcinanga isikhathi. "Ngabe ibhasi lisishiyile?" bebuzana bodwa.
UZweli wakhathazeka. "Ngeke sikwazi ukuya edolobheni. Ngeke ngikwazi ukuthola umfaniswano wami," ecabanga.
Abanye abantu baduba babuyela emakhaya. Kodwa uZweli wayekhala engafuni ukuya ekhaya. Umama wakhe wayemduduza ethi, "Sizolinda isikhashana."
Masishane, bezwa umsindo. Babona izintuli emoyeni. Laliza ibhasi!
Kodwa leli bhasi lalingeluhlaza. Leli bhasi lalibomvu futhi lilincane. Abantu ababelindile bavela balibuka leli bhasi. Abazange bagibele.
"Ngenani! Ngenani! Sishiywe isikhathi," kumemeza umshayeli.
UZweli nomama wakhe bangena kuqala. Ngokushesha bonke abantu bangena ebhasini.
Lapho uZweli elunguza ngefasitela, wabona abantu abaningi esitobhini.
Abanye babegijima bejahe ukugibela ibhasi. Kodwa ibhasi lase ligcwele. Naliya ibhasi elibomvu liya edolobheni.
"Liphi ibhasi elikhulu eliluhlaza?" kubuza umama ka Zweli. "Lifile," kuphendula umshayeli. "Siyalilungisa, lizoba khona kusasa," kusho umshayeli.
UZweli wayengenandaba nombala webhasi. Wayengenandaba nobukhulu bebhasi. Wayejabuliswa ukuthi laliya edolobheni.
Adaptation - Pumla Mdontswa, Zanele Zuma
Illustration - Mango Tree
Language - isiZulu
Level - First paragraphs
Creative Commons: Attribution 4.0
Source www.africanstorybook.org
Original source
