Kwakukho ibhasi enye jwi elalilini ka-Ebei. Yayinkulu kwaye izuba ngombala. Yayingxola kakhulu.

Ngenye imini umama ka-Ebei wathi, "Kusasa ngomso sizokuya edolophini siyokuthenga iyunifomu yakho."

U-Ebei wavuya kakhulu. Babeza kuhamba ngebhasi enkulu ezuba ngombala. Wayengakwazi ukulala ebusuku luvuyo.

Wayesele enxibile ngelixa umama wakhe engena ezokumvusa.

U-Ebei nomama wakhe baya esitophini sebhasi. Balinda ibhasi enkulu embala uzuba. Kodwa ibhasi ayizange ifike.

Abanye abantu bafika nabo esitophini. Babekhalaza kuba ibhasi yayingalibambanga ixesha layo. "Ingaba ibhasi isishiyile?" Babebuza.

U-Ebei wakhathazeka. "Asizukwazi ukuya edolophini. Asizukwazi ukuyokuthenga iyunifomu yam," wacinga.

Abanye abantu bajika babuyela emakhaya. Kodwa u-Ebei wayekhala engafuni ukuya ekhaya. Umama wakhe wamthuthuzela wathi, "Siza kuqhubeka silinde."

Ngokukhawuleza beva ingxolo. Babona uthuli emoyeni. Yayisiza ibhasi!

Kodwa ibhasi yayingekho zuba. Yayingekho nkulu. Le bhasi yayibomvu yaye incinane. Abantu ababelindile bayijonga nje ibhasi. Abazange bakhwele.

"Ngenani! Ngenani!" wakhwaza umqhubi. "Sishiywe lixesha namhlanje," watsho.

U-Ebei nomama wakhe bangena kuqala. Ngomzuzwana wonke umntu wangena ebhasini ebomvu encinane.

U-Ebei wajonga phandle ngefestile. Wabona abanye abantu abaninzi esitophini.

Abanye abantu abaninzi babebaleka beleqa ukukhwela ibhasi. Kodwa babesele beshiywe lixesha. Ibhasi yayisele igcwele. Ibhasi ebomvu yahamba yaya edolophini.

"Iphi ibhasi enkulu ezuba ngombala?" Kwabuza umama ka-Ebei. "Yonakele," waphendula umqhubi. "Siyayilungisa, iza kuba khona ngomso," watsho umqhubi.

U-Ebei wayengenaxesha lombala webhasi. Wayengenaxesha lobukhulu bebhasi. Wayevuyiswa kukuba wayesiya edolophini.