Emandulo, kwakukhona umfana owayemubi. Wayengathandwa muntu, ngisho nabazali bakhe imbala.

Nasekhaya lakubo, wayezihlalela yedwa endlini yakhe uma umndeni ubukela umabonakude.

Esikoleni wawumthola ehlezi yedwa ngesikhathi ezinye izingane zidlala ngaphandle.

Uma kulandwa izinkomo, wayehamba yedwa emuva. Abanye abafana babengafuni ukuhambisana naye.

Ngelinye ilanga, wahamba waya lapho ayengazi khona. Wahamba waze wafika kwelikhulu ihlathi.

Waqala ukwesaba kodwa waziduduza ngokuthi vele akukho muntu ozomkhulumisa.

Wathi esezongena ehlathini, kwaqhamuka isalukazi esingcolile futhi esibi. Sambingelela sambuza ukuthi ufunani ehlathini elisabeka kangaka. 

Umfanyana kwammangaza ukubona ekhulunyiswa isalukazi. Wasixoxela ukuthi uya lapho engazi khona ngoba akathandwa muntu.

Isalukazi sathi, "Ngabe uyafuna ngikusize?" Waphendula ngokushesha umfana wathi, "Yebo gogo."

Isalukazi sathi, "Ngaphambi kokuba ngikusize, ngifuna ungikhothe la ebusweni ngize ngibe muhle."

Umfanyana wacabanga ukuthi akhothe ubhici lwesalukazi ukuze asizakale.

Waqala wasikhotha izimbici saze saba sihle.

Sabonga isalukazi sathi kumfana, "Uyabona-ke, hamba ungene kuleli hlathi. Uma ufika phakathi uzobona izinto eziningi ezinhle, kodwa ungathathi lutho, uthathe impande kuphela uyilethe kumina."

Wagijima umfana esejahe ukubona ukuthi yini azoyifica ehlathini.

Engakangeni phakathi, sammemeza isalukazi sathi, "Mfana wami, ungizwe kahle nje ukuthi ngithe uzofica izinto eziningi ezinhle kodwa ungathathi lutho, uthathe impande kuphela uze nayo la?" Wavuma umfana. Wathi uyezwa.

Uthe esethi uyangena ehlathini wezwa isalukazi simemeza sithi, "Mfana, woza la!" Waqala ukudideka umfana ukuthi ngabe isalukazi simbizelani manje.

Waphindela emuva. Isalukazi sathi, "Mfana wami, sengathi awungizwa kahle. Ngithi uzobona izinto eziningi ezinhle kodwa ungathathi lutho, uthathe impande kuphela uze nayo la."

Sambiza futhi, "Mfana wami angikwethembi, sengathi ngeke uyenze into engikutshele yona. Ngithe uzobona izinto eziningi ezinhle, kodwa ungathathi lutho, uthathe impande kuphela uyilethe kumina."

Umfana waqala ukucikeka ukulokhu ebizwa. Wagijima kakhulu waze wangena phakathi ehlathini.

Uthe angangena wabona isitsha esigcwele imali, wasidumela wafaka imali emakhukhwini.

Manjalo, wacabanga ukuthi isalukazi sithe angathathi lutho. Wayikhipha ngokushesha imali wayiphindisela esitsheni.

Wathi qala qala wabona izingubo ezinhle ezintsha. Wakhumula akugqokile wagqoka izingubo ezintsha.

Wakhumbula amazwi esalukazi, wazikhumula ngokushesha.

Waphinda waqalaza wabona impande eyabe isibunile ishiswe yilanga. Wazibuza ukuthi, "Ngabe lesalukazi besithi ngithathe into enje, ngizoyenzani mina impande?"

Eduze kwempande kwakukhona isitsha esinokudla okunuka kamnandi. Umfana wabe eselambile. Akakwazanga ukuzibamba. Wakudla ukudla.

Uthe eseqedile wakhumbula amazwi esalukazi ukuthi sithe athathe impande kuphela. Wathi uyayiqalaza impande, lutho.

Waphindela emuva edumele, ukuyotshela isalukazi ngento emehlele. Akabange esasifica lapho ayesishiye khona.