Yayiyeyona mvakwemini eshushu kakhulu ngoMgqibelo kuDisemba. Wonke umntu wayequmbile. "Bontle noMpho noLerato phumani phandle niyokudlala!" Umama watsho kuthi. "Andinifuni endleleni yam." Sabaleka saphuma endlwini. "Masiyeni emlanjeni," watsho uLerato. "Kupholile phaya." "Kodwa utata wasixelela ukuba singaqubhi emlanjeni," watsho uBontle.

"Asiz'ukuqubha," waphendula uLerato. "Siza kudlala nje emthunzini ecaleni kwamanzi." Kodwa ukudlala 'ulibeke' ngumsebenzi obilisayo, nokuba uphantsi kwemithi ecaleni komlambo.

Okokuqala sakhulula izihlangu zethu. Kodwa sasiseshushu. Saza sakhulula iziketi neeblawuzi. Kodwa sasiseshushu.

Safaka iinyawo zethu emlanjeni ukuzipholisa. Saza satshizana, ngokukhawuleza saba manzi tixi.

"O-o! Yizani! Masiqubheni," watsho uMpho. "Utata akasoze ayazi." Saqubha, saqubha, salibala ngexesha.

Ilanga laqalisa ukuya ezantsi, saziva sigodola. Zaziphi iimpahla zethu?

Sakhangela phantsi kwemithi. Sakhangela emahlahleni. Sakhangela kwindawo yonke.

Kwakukho iimazi zeenkomo kufutshane nomlambo, zonwabele ingca enambithekayo. UBontle wajonga phezulu, "Jonga kulaa mazi yenkomo! Yintoni esemlonyeni yayo?" "Itya intyantyambo ebomvu," wakhwaza uMpho.

"Yiblawuzi yakho!" Saza sajonga kwenye imazi yenkomo. Ihlafuna into eblowu. "Sisiketi sam!" watsho uBontle. Saya ekhaya ngeepenti zethu, siqhaqhazela.

Kodwa ingasukuba kwakupholile. "Yayiziimazi zenkomo," Sakhala. "Iimazi zenkomo zitye iimpahla zethu." Kodwa umama ngaba wasikholelwa? Ngokukhawuleza imizimba yethu yaba shushu kakhulu. Kwaye obo bushushu babungaveli elangeni.