Kwakukho ibhasi enye qha kwilali kaEbei. Yayinkulu kwaye imzuba. Yayingxola kakhulu.

"Sizakuya edolophini ngomso," watsho umama kaEbei. "Sizakuthenga iyunifom yakho yesikolo."

Wavuya kakhulu u-Ebei. Babezohamba ngebhasi enkulu emzuba. Akazange akwazi ukulala ngobobusuku.

Wathi xa umama wakhe ezekumvusa, wabe sele enxibile u-Ebei.

U-Ebei nomama wakhe baya esikhululweni sebhasi. Balinda ibhasi enkulu emzuba. Kodwa ayizange ifike ibhasi.

Abanye abantu bafika esikhululweni sebhasi. Bakhalaza ngoba ibhasi ayizange ifike ngexesha. "Iphi ibhasi?" babuza.

Wayekhathazekile u-Ebei. "Asizukwazi ukuya edolophini," wacinga. "Andizukwazi ukufumana iyunifom yam."

Abanye abantu banikezela baze bagoduka. Walila u-Ebei. Wayengafuni ukugoduka. "Sizakulinda okwexeshana," watsho umama wakhe.

Ngesaquphe, beva ingxolo. Babona uthuli emoyeni. Yayisiza ibhasi!

Kodwa le bhasi yayingekho mzuba. Yayingekho nkulu. Yayibomvu kwaye incinci. Abantu babengafuni ukuyikhwela lebhasi.

"Khwelani! Khwelani!" wakhwaza umqhubi. "Sishiyiwe lixesha namhlanje," wakhwaza.

U-Ebei nomama wakhe bakhwela kuqala. Kungekudala nabanye bakhwela ibhasi encinci ebomvu.

U-Ebei wajonga efestileni. Wabona kusekho abanye abantu esikhululweni sebhasi.

Igquba labantu laleqa ibhasi. Kodwa babeshiywe lixesha. Ibhasi ebomvu yayigcwele. Yahamba isiya edolophini.

"Iphi ibhasi enkulu emzuba?" wabuza umama kaEbei. "Imoshakele," waphendula umqhubi. "Siyayilungisa. Iza kuza ngomso."

U-Ebei wayenganankathalo ngombala webhasi. Wayengakhathalelanga bungakanani bayo. Le bhasi yayisiya edolophini!