“Usuku lokuzalwa lukaBaba namhlanje,” kusho uMama.
O, ngifuna ukumtholela isipho!” kusho u-Alex. “Ngingamnikani, Mama?”
“Kumele siye esitolo siyothenga ufulawa wekhekhe losuku lokuzalwa lukaBaba,” kusho uMama. “Sizozama ukucabanga ngesipho sikaBaba endleleni eya esitolo.”
“Kulungile! Ngizophatha isikhwama sokuphatha izimpahla ezithengiwe,” kusho u-Alex.
Ngakho-ke bahamba o-Alex nomama wakhe. U-Alex wagijima washiya umama wakhe ehamba endleleni esivuthiwe. Kwakuwusuku oluhle. Ilanga lalikhanya phakathi kwezihlahla zephayini, kanye namanathi ephayini ayewele phansi. U-Alex wacosha elilodwa.
“Buka, Mama. Kuyini lokhu?” kubuza yena.
“Yinathi lephayini,” kusho uMama.
“Libukeka sengathi linephiko,” kusho u-Alex.
“Lokhu kwenzelwa ukuthi likwazi ukuntanta emoyeni bese lithola indawo ekahle yokukhula libe ngesinye isihlahla sephayini,” kusho uMama. ” Wonke la manathi aphansi awe ephuma kumakhoni ephayini asezihlahleni.”
“Ngabe ngingalizwa ukuthi linambitheka kanjani?” kubuza u-Alex.
“Yebo, kodwa kumele silikhiphe egobolondweni lalo kuqala,” kusho uMama, wase elishaya ehlephula igobolondo ngetshe.
“Nanti,” kusho uMama, wase enika u-Alex inathi elincane.
“Limnandi!” kusho yena. “Ngabe ucabanga ukuthi uBaba uzowathokozela amanathi ephayini osukwini lwakhe lokuzalwa, Mama?”
“Mhlawumbe,” kusho uMama.
Ngakho u-Alex wacosha amanathi ephayini amaningi wawafaka esikhwameni sokufaka izinto ezithengiwe. Ngesikhathi beqhubeka nendlela, u-Alex wabona ilanga likhanyisa amanye amatshe. Wase ecosha elilodwa.
“Bheka leli litshe elinsundu, Mama,” kusho yena. “Libusheshelezi kakhulu. Ngabe ucabanga ukuthi uBaba angalithanda njengesipho sosuku lwakhe lokuzalwa?” kubuza u-Alex.
“Mhlawumbe,” kusho uMama.
Ngakho-ke u-Alex wafaka itshe elinsundu esikhwameni sakhe sokufaka izinto ezithengiwe base beqhubeka nendlela. U-Alex wabe esebona izimbali zasendle eziluhlaza okwesibhakabhaka eduze kwendlela yezinyawo.
“Bheka lezi zimbali, Mama,” kusho u-Alex. “Ziwumbala ofanayo nesibhakabhaka.”
“Yizimbali ezincane zasendle, kanti-ke zibheke elangeni,” kusho uMama.
U-Alex wacosha eyodwa. “Ngabe ucabanga ukuthi uBaba uzozithanda izimbali zasendle eziluhlaza okwesibhakabhaka njengesipho sosuku lwakhe lokuzalwa, Mama?” kusho yena.
“Mhlawumbe,” kusho uMama.
U-Alex wafaka imbali encane eluhlaza okwesibhakabhaka esikhwameni sakhe sokufaka izinto ezithengiwe.