Kwakukhona umfana owayengenamndeni futhi engenayo nendawo yokuhlala, ngakho abantu basemuzini oseduze bambiza ngokuthi uMolahlehi, okuchaza ukuthi “olahlekile”. Umfana wayengenandaba negama ababemqambe lona ngoba wayeqinisekile ukuthi ngelinye ilanga uyoba nekhaya kanye nomndeni.

Nsuku zonke uMolahlehi wayehla ayodoba izinhlanzi emfuleni ukuze abe nento azoyidla. Ngezinye izinsuku wayehlala amahora amaningi enethemba lokuthi kukhona azokubamba ngodobo lwakhe. Ngezinye izinsuku wayengabambi lutho. Wayabe esebheka izithelo kanye namajikijolo angakudla. Uma engatholanga lutho, wayelala ngendlala.

Ngelinye ilanga ehleli enethemba lokuthi angabamba inhlanzi ezoba yisidlo sakusihlwa, kwafika abesifazane abambalwa ababezowasha izingubo zabo emfuleni. Babuka ngaphesheya lapho ayehleli khona.

“Ake nibheke lowaya mfana,” kusho omunye wabesifazane. “Uzace ucishe alingane nothi aluphethe.” Waya kuMolahlehi wase ehlala eduze kwakhe.

“Ubukeka ulambile,” kusho yena. “Ngicela udle lolu phuthu olusendishini.”

Kwamjabulisa kakhulu uMolahlehi ukuthola ukudla. “Ngiyabonga,” kusho yena.

Ngemva kwalolo suku, njalo nje uma lo wesifazane ezowasha izingubo zakhe, lapho ebona uMolahlehi, wayeya kuye ayomnika indishi yophuthu.

“Ngiyabonga,” kusho uMolahlehi. “Ngelinye ilanga ngiyoyithola indlela yokukukhokhela ngalo musa wakho.”