Ngomunye uLwesihlanu, uyise kaSisanda washeshe wabuya emsebenzini. Wayebukeka ethukuthele egane unwabu.

“Kwenzekeni, Baba?” kubuza uSisanda.

“Namhlanje iqulo lezinyosi litinyele umama undlulamithi,” kuchaza uyise kaSisanda. “Ikhanda lakhe belivuvuke kakhulu ngenxa yokutinyelwa, kwaze kwavaleka amehlo akhe amahle. Sizame konke okusemandleni ukumsiza, kodwa kwaba nhlanga zimuka nomoya – waze wafa. Into ebuhlungu kakhulu ukuthi ubenenkonyane encane ebisamdinga.”

“Awu hhe!” kusho uSisanda eqala ukukhala. “Ngifisa sengathi bekungaba khona into ebengingakwazi ukuyenza. Kufanele ukuthi inkonyane yendlulamithi ikhala njengami.”

USisanda wakhala, wakhala. Unina wazama ukumduduza. Waze wafundela noSisanda enye indaba ukuze amsize ukuthi akhohlwe ukuthi wayeyizwela kanjani inkonyane yendlulamithi. Ekugcineni, uSisanda wagcina esezumekile elokhu elalele iphimbo likanina.