“Namahlanje lusuku lokuzalwa kukaTata,” utshilo uMama.
“Ewe, ndifuna ukumnika isipho!” watsho u-Alex. “Ingaba ndingamnika ntoni, Mama?”
“Kufuneka siye evenkileni sithenge umgubo wengqolowa wokubhaka ikeyiki yosuku lokuzalwa kukaTata,” watsho uMama. “Siza kuzama ukucinga ngesipho sikaTata endleleni eya evenkileni.”
“Kulungile! Ndiza kuphatha isingxobo sokufaka izinto esizithengileyo,” watsho u-Alex.
Wahamba ke u-Alex nomama wakhe ukuya evenkileni. U-Alex wayebaleka phambili kumama wakhe kulo ndledlana sele ide yombeka kukuhanjwa. Yayilusuku olumnandi kakhulu olu. Ilanga lalivelile ngaphaya kwaloo mithi yompayini, liqaqambisa amandongomane embewu yawo ewele phantsi emhlabeni. U-Alex wachola enye yaloo mbewu.
“Jonga, Mama. Yintoni le?” wabuza umama wakhe.
“Ngamandongomane embewu yompayini,” watsho uMama.
“Akhangeleka ngathi aneempiko,” watsho u-Alex.
“Oko kwenzelwe ukuze imbewu ikwazi ukubhabha emoyeni, iye kufumana indawo efanelekileyo ize ikhule apho ukuze ibe ngomnye umthi wompayini,” watsho uMama. “Onke la mandongomane ayimbewu asemhlabeni awe esuka kwimibhumbulu yemithi yompayini.”
“Ndingangcamla elinye lawo?” wabuza u-Alex.
“Ewe, kodwa kufuneka silikhuphe eqokobheni lalo kuqala,” watsho uMama, waza waligximfa ngelitye iqokobhe.
“Nalo ke,” watsho uMama, waza wanika u-Alex indongomane elincinane.
“Linencasa emnandi!” watsho. “Ucinga ukuba uTata angawathanda amandongomane njengesipho sosuku lwakhe lokuzalwa, Mama?”
“Mhlawumbi,” watsho uMama.
Waza ke u-Alex wachola amandongomane ompayini amaninzi wawafaka engxoweni yokufaka izinto ezithengiweyo. Njengokuba behamba nje, u-Alex waqaphela ukuba ilanga likhazimlisa amanye aloo matye. Waza wachola lalinye kuwo.
“Jonga eli litye limdaka ngombala, Mama,” utshilo. “Ligude kakhulu. Ucinga ukuba uTata angalithanda njengesipho sosuku lwakhe lokuzalwa?” wabuza u-Alex.
“Mhlawumbi,” watsho uMama.
Wathi ke ngoko u-Alex wafaka ilitye eligudileyo nelimdaka ngebala engxoweni yokufaka izinto ezithengiweyo, baza baqhubeka nohambo. Bathe besahamba, u-Alex wabona iintyatyambo zasendle ezizuba ecaleni kwendledlana.
“Jonga ezi ntyatyambo, Mama,” watsho u-Alex. “Zifana nqwa nesibhakabhaka.”
“Ziintyatyambo ezincinane zasendle, kwaye zijonge ngqo elangeni,” watsho uMama.
U-Alex wakha yanye. “Ucinga ukuba uTata angayithanda le ntyatyambo izuba njengesipho sosuku lwakhe lokuzalwa, Mama?” wabuza.
“Mhlawumbi,” watsho uMama.
U-Alex wafaka intyatyambo ezuba kwingxowa yokufaka izinto ezithengiweyo.