“Indzaba yami imente wativa ancono,” Sisanda watjela mkhulu wakhe nakefika ekhaya.

Sisanda bekavakashela lendlulamitsi lencane tintsambama letinyenti nangetimphelansontfo. Ngaso sonkhe sikhatsi nakaya kuye, bekahamba nendzaba latawabelana naye ngayo. Labangani labasha lababili bebabukeka bakahle nabandzawonye ngisho netivakashi lebetendlula betibatfwebula titfombe.

Kancane kancane lendlulamitsi lencane yacala kubanemandla. Bantfu kulesichiwi bebamnakekela kahle kakhulu futsi nalo lonkhe lutsandvo lwemngani wakhe lomusha, Sisanda, lwenta timanga.

Ngalelinye lilanga umphatsi wesichiwi wacela Sisanda kutsi etse lomngani wakhe lomusha ligama.

“Ngicabanga kutsi Thokozani ligama lelikahle,” kwasho Sisanda.

Ngakusasa umphatsi wesichiwi washayela thishla waSisanda lucingo. Wamema bonkhe bantfwana labafundza naSisanda eklasini kutsi bete batewubona Thokozani. Lendlulamitsi lenhle beseyikhule yaba yindze yabuye futsi yaba nemandla etinyangeni letintsatfu nje kusukela ngekuvakasha kwaSisanda kwekucala.

Ngelilanga lekuvakasha, bebangemashumi lamane bantfwana belibanga le-3 labebalindze ngekulangatelela kutsi kuvulwe emagede esichiwi. Sisanda-ke lapho wabahola bonkhe ngekutichenya wayobakhombisa Thokozani. Labanye balabantfwana babuka lendlulamitsi ngekumangala. Labanye bagigitseka ngekwesaba. Thishela wabo, Nks. Khanyile, wavele nje wamamatseka.