Palesa’s wedding was a wonderful affair. Palesa looked like an angel in her frothy white dress, and her new husband, Liau, looked so handsome that Refiloe wished she could marry him too.

Those chickens did not get up off the roof to join in when Liauarrived in a smart white car, and all the bridesmaid ladies danced with him into the yard.

Not one of them stirred when the church choir that had come all the way from Mafetengsang in their loudest, sweetest voices. So loudly and sweetly did they sing that Small-Dog-Big-Noise joined in with her most deafening bark, and had to be taken away to the neighbour.

The chickens were still lying on the roof when the priest gave his sermon about how new husbands and wives should behave.

They did not even twitch a feather when the pigs and Refiloe’sgrandfather all snored so loudly in the middle of the sermon that the priest had to stop for a moment.

Not one foot of those chickens trembled when the aunts and nieces from Mafetengscreamed at the sheep wandering into the tent.

The sheep ate fifteen napkins and two bowls of flowers, and trampled all over the ladies’ feet, nearly knocking over the wedding cake before they were removed, but those chickens lay as still as could be.

It was only when the groom’s father was halfway through his speech that things started to change on that roof.

Ntate Lesome was an excellent man, although a little boastful, and he spoke very well. But there was one small problem with his speeches; he just didn’t know when to stop.