Look at all the food! Mama has made my
favourites – spinach and sweetcorn and pumpkin and mealie pap and gravy and her special bread. Everything is
from our garden.

“Happy birthday, Zingisile! Mini emnandi kuwe, Zingisile!
How old are you now?”

“I’m five years old now!” I sing back.
My papa picks me up and spins me around.
“My Zing-star! You’re so old you’re
almost a teacher!”

Mama lets me pick the biggest piece of chicken.
She dishes for me first. I dip my delicious bread in
the gravy and I smile. I can’t wait for my next birthday!