Ngomnye uLwesihlanu, utata kaSisanda wabuya emsebenzini phambi kwexesha. Wayebonakala ekhathazeke kakhulu.

“Ingaba kukho into embi, Tata? wabuza njalo uSisanda.

“Namhlanje ibubu leenyosi lihlasele laluma imazi yendlulamthi,” ucacise watsho utata kaSisanda. “Intloko yayo ibidumbe kokuya kutyiwa ziinyosi kangangokuba amehlo ayo amahle ebevaleke ngci. Sizame yonke into ukuyisindisa, kodwa oko akuncedanga nto – iye yafa. Eyona nto ibuhlungu kukuba isenenkonyana elincinane elidinga ukuba nonina walo.”

“Owu bethuna! watsho uSisanda eqalisa ukulila. “Akwaba bekukho into endinokukwazi ukuyenza. Elo nkonyana lendlulamthi inokuba lilila njengam lo.”

USisanda walila ixesha elide. Umama wakhe wazama ukumthuthuzela. Wade wazama nokumfundela ibali lesibini ngexesha lokulala ukuzama ukumnceda ukuba alibale ngendlela awayeyisizela ngayo inkonyana yendlulamthi. Ekugqibeleni, uSisanda wade wabiwa bubuthongo ethuthuzelwa sisandi selizwi likamama wakhe.