Kwakukhona intombazane eyayibizwa ngoZimkhitha eyayingazange yayeka ukuhleka. Wayecasula ubaba wakhe. Ngelinye ilanga wayemhambisa ekhaya besuka esikoleni. Ngesikhathi efika ekuqaleni komgwaqo wabo, wayengasakwazi ukumelana nalokhu! Wamisa imoto.

“Ngabe uzoyeka ukuhleka noma uzoya ekhaya ngezinyawo?” kubuza yena. Kodwa uZimkhitha wahleka kakhulu kunakuqala.

“Kulungile,” kusho yena, “ungaya ekhaya ngezinyawo.” Wamehlisa emotweni wahamba ngemoto waya ekhaya.

“Uphi uZimkhitha?” kubuza umama wakhe ngesikhathi ubaba wakhe engena ngomnyango ongaphambili. “Ngimphekela isidlo sakusihlwa asithandayo.”

“Mamo,” kusho ubaba wakhe. “Ngimenze weza ekhaya ngezinyawo esuka ekhoneni ngoba ubengayeki ukuhleka.”

“Awu Nkosi yami, ngabe kwenzekeni kumntanami?” kukhala umama kaZimkhitha. “Wenze umntanami weza ekhaya ngezinyawo? Yedwa nje? Kuzomele siyomfuna simthole.” Bafuna, bafuna, kodwa uZimkhitha wayengabonakali nangalukhalo.

“Umshiye kuphi kanti?” kubuza uMama. “Ukuphi, Ron?”

“Mamo,” kungundaza ubaba kaZimkhitha, ebheka ngaphansi kwesikhotha ngasinye naphezu kwesihlahla ngasinye.

“Zimkhitha,” kumemeza umama wakhe. “Zimkhitha, ukuphi?”

Owesifazane wamisa imoto yakhe. “Ngabe nginganisiza?” kubuza yena.

“Silahlekelwe intombazanyana yethu,” kusho umama kaZimkhitha. “Ngabe uke wayibona?”