“Cha, cha, cha!” kumemeza uBhuti uNogwaja. “Isisu sami sesingcono manje.”

“Hambani-ke lapha,” kusho uGogo, ebanikeza imiphako yesikole. “Nifike nifunde ngokuzimisela nibuye ekhaya senihlakaniphile.”

UBhuti uNogwaja wayehamba ezihudula ngemuva kukadewabo. Udadewabo wayegxuma, eqa futhi edansa indlela yonke ebheke esikoleni, kodwa umnewabo ezihudula nje emgwaqeni, ezizwa ethukuthele. “Angifuni ukuya esikoleni,” engundaza. “Ngifuna ukuzilalela nje.”

Ngokushesha bafika emasangweni esikole. “Usale kahle, Bhuti,” kumemeza uSisi uNogwaja, egijima engena ngaphakathi.

UBhuti Nogwaja waqalaza. Akekho owayembhekile. Ngokushesha wacasha ngemuva kwesihlahla. Wahlala lapho, ethule engathi nyaka, walinda kwaze kwakhala insimbi, wonke umuntu waba ngaphakathi esikoleni. Emva kwalokho wagijima wabuyela ekhaya. Wacasha wangena ngefasitela lasekamelweni lokulala, wazisonga embhedeni wakhe. Ngokushesha okukhulu wayeselele zwi ubuthongo, ehonqa.

Ngehora leshumi nanye uBhuti uNogwaja wayesezidelisile ngokulala. Wayesenesizungu nje. Walunguza emnyango wekamelo. Ngabe uGogo wayekuphi? Hawu! Wayehleli ekhishini, ephuza itiye noNkosikazi Mbila wakwamakhelwane. UBhuti uNogwaja waphefumulela phezulu. Kwakuyisicefe ukulala embhedeni usuku lonke.

Ngehora leshumi nambili uBhuti uNogwaja wayomile. Waphinda walunguza emnyango wekamelo lokulala. Ngabe wayekuphi uGogo? Wohhe! Wayebhaka isinkwa ekhishini. UBhuti uNogwaja waphefumulela phezulu. Wayefuna amanzi angawaphuza nothile nje angadlala naye.