The next day the sun rose in good time for the wedding. The whole family was up early, but Refiloe was the first. She bounced out of bed and went to see how her chickens were doing.

‘Oh good,’ she said when she saw that they were no longer lying on the grass, ‘they must be nicely dry by now. I’m sure they have gone to look for their breakfast. I’ll put on my new bridesmaid dress before I feed them, then I can show them how pretty it is,’ and off she went.

She had just finished tying her new white hair ribbons, and putting on her socks with frills around the top and her new white sandals with the silver buckles, when her father came to ask, ‘where are your chickens Refiloe? I hope they are not anywhere near that tent.’

‘Oh no, they are dry now after their bath, ’ Refiloe told him.

He looked very surprised, ‘bath?’ he said.

‘Yes,’ she said, ‘I gave my chickens a good wash so that they can be clean and tidy for Palesa’s wedding,’ Refiloe told him.

‘You what?’ he exclaimed.

‘I washed them,’ said Refiloe, ‘they all had a very nice bath, ready for the wedding. Mme will be very pleased.’

Her father was too surprised to be angry. He just shook his head and went off to check on the gentlemen’s beer.