Endulo, kwakukhona inkosikazi eyayihlala nomndeni wayo emzini oseMbusweni wakwaZulu. Umndeni wawehlela olwandle olukhulu njalo ngeSonto. Izingane zazigubha isihlabathi futhi zidlale nasemagagasini. Inkosikazi yayipheka phansi ngesikhathi umyeni wayo eyobheka izinkuni ezikhishelwe ngaphandle ulwandle ukuze abaze izinto ezinhle: izinyoni, abantu, kanye nazo zonke izinhlobo zezilwane.
Phakathi nesonto umndeni wawusebenza kanzima bese uhlala eduze nomlilo ebusuku. Kwakuba mnyama kakhulu ukuthi bangasebenza noma badlale noma babaze, futhi sasisuke sisekude isikhathi sokulala. Kanti lesi kwakuba yisikhathi izingane ezicela ngaso umama wazo ukuthi azixoxele indaba.
“Mama,” besho bemncenga, “sifuna izindaba. Sicela usixoxele indaba.”
Kodwa noma wayezama kakhulu kangakanani ukucabanga indaba, wayengakwazi ukuyicabanga. Kwakungekho phakathi kwakhe nomyeni wakhe owayenezindaba azozixoxa.
Ngelinye ilanga, inkosikazi yacela usizo komakhelwane.
“Ngabe zikhona izindaba eninazo?” ibuza.
“Cha-a-a-a,” benikina amakhanda abo, “asinazo.”
Kwakungekho zindaba. Kwakungekho maphupho … futhi kungekho zinsumansumane.
Umyeni wakhe wenza isiphakamiso wathi, “Nkosikazi, ngicabanga ukuthi kumele uyofuna izindaba. Ngizozinakekela izingane zethu nendlu. Thola izindaba bese ubuya nazo.”