Kudaladala, kwakukho umfazi owayehlala nosapho lwakhe elalini ekumhlaba wobuKumkani bamaZulu. Rhoqo ngeCawe olu sapho lwalusihla luye kulwandlekazi olukhulu olwalukufuphi apho. Abantwana babesomba imingxuma entlabathini baze badlale nasemazeni. Lo mfazi wayepheka ukutya emlilweni lo gama umyeni wakhe wayekhangela iinkuni ezityekezwe lulwandle, ukuze aziqingqe enze izinto ezintle: iintaka, abantu nazo zonke iintlobo zezilwanyana.
Phakathi evekini usapho lonke lwalusebenza nzima luze ukutshona kwelanga luhlale ngasemlilweni. Ngeli xesha kwakumnyama kakhulu ukuba basebenze okanye badlale okanye bachwele kwaye lalingekafiki nexesha lokuba balale. Kungeli xesha kanye ke apho abantwana bathi bacela umama wabo ukuba ababalisele ibali.
“Mama,” babongoze ngelitshoyo “sifuna amabali. Nceda usibalisele libe linye.”
Kodwa wathi akuzama ukucinga ngebali, akatsho ukuza nalo. Wayengekho phakathi kwakhe nomyeni wakhe owayenebali anokubalisela abantwana.
Ngenye imini, lo mfazi wagqiba kwelokuba acele uncedo kubamelwane bakhe.
“Ingaba akho amabali eninawo?” wababuza.
“Ha-a-ayi,” bahlunguzela iintloko, “asinawo.”
Kwakungekho mabali. Kwakungekho maphupha … nto leyo ethetha ukuba kwakungekho mabali anemilingo.
Umyeni wakhe ucebise ngelithi, “Mfazi, ndicinga ukuba uhambe uyokukhangela amabali. Mna ndiza kubajonga abantwana nendlu le. Hamba uyokufuna amabali, ze uthi wakuwafumana ubuye nawo.”