UNkukhu noShongololo babengabangani. Babehlala bencintisana. Ngelinye ilanga banquma ukudlala ibhola lezinyawo befuna ukubona ukuthi ubani owayengumpetha.

Baya enkundleni yebhola base beqala umdlalo wabo. UNkukhu wayeshesha, kodwa uShongololo wayeshesha kakhulu. UNkukhu wayelikhahlela liye kude, kodwa elikaShongololo laliya kude kakhulu, uNkukhu waqala manje ukukhononda.

Base benquma ukukhahlela amaphenathi. Kwaqala uShongololo ukuba avimbe emapalini. UNkukhu wafaka igoli elilodwa. Emva kwalokho kwasekuba ithuba likaNkukhu ukuvimba.

UShongololo wakhahlela. Lasho ezintini. Wapheceza ejika nebhola, waphinda waliqulela phakathi. Wabuye walishaya ngekhanda, langena ezintini. UShongololo washaya amagoli amahlanu.

Kwamthukuthelisa kakhulu uNkukhu ukuthi wehluliwe. Wayengakubekezeleli ukwehlulwa. UShongololo wavele wamhleka ngoba umngane wakhe wayesethukuthele.

UNkukhu wayesethukuthele kakhulu kangangoba waze wamgwinya uShongololo.

Eseya ekhaya uNkukhu wahlangana noMama Shongololo. UMama Shongololo wathi kuye, "Uke wayibona ingane yami?" UNkukhu akaphendulanga. UMama Shongololo wakhathazeka.

UMama Shongololo wezwa izwi elincane lithi. "Ngelekelele Mama!" UMama Shongololo waqalaza, elalelisisa. Izwi lalivela ngaphakathi enkukhwini.

UMama Shongololo wamemeza, "Sebenzisa wonke amandla akho mntanami!" Amashongololo akwazi ukukhipha iphunga elibi elinambitheka kabi. Ngokushesha uNkukhu wafikelwa ukucanuzela kwenhliziyo.

UNkukhu wagonyuluka, wagwinya, wakhafula. Wathimula, wakhwehlela kaningi. Ishongololo lalenyanyeka!

UNkukhu wakhwehlela wakhwehlela laze laphuma laqhasha ishongololo elalisesiswini sakhe. UMama Shongololo nengane yakhe banwabuzela bekhuphuka ngesihlahla beyocasha.

Kusukela ngalelo langa, izinkukhu namashongololo bayizitha.