Kwakukho ihlathi elimnyama.

Yayilihlathi elikhulu elimnyama. Kwakukho imithi emininzi nendlela emxinwa. Izilwanyana ezininzi neentaka zazihlala apha.

Ngenye imin, zonke izilwanyana zadibana. "Uvile?"wabuza uTota, isikhwenene. "Ewe" watsho uHirni, ixhama. "Intoni?" wabuza uDarpok, umvundla. "Sinesikolo ehlathini," Waphendula uZhoola, inkawu. UMota, indlovu yamangaliseka, "Hmph?" uLamboo, indlulamthi yathi, "Oo kulungile!" uDheema, inkumba yatswina, "Khawuleza, masihambe."

UTota, isikhwenene sabhabha phambili. UZhoola, inkawu yatsiba emthini ukuya komnye umthi. UPoorakha, irhamba larhubuluza ngokukhawuleza. "Apha!" wakhwaza uTota. "Ungafunda?" "Igqwethekile, ndiyacinga," watsho uZhoola ejinga esebeni. UPoorakha waqgibezela, "Si-i-i-i-i. Akukho mntu unokufunda."

Kwakamsinya, bonke abanye abahlobo baqhagamshelane nabo. ULamboo wajonga ngapha komthi. "Akukho mntu apha," watsho. UZhoola waphinda, "Akukho mntu apha." UTota wacebisa, "Jonga ngocoselelo!" UPilloo, ibhere elincinane wapapasha, "Ndifumene igumbi!"

"Ndifumene ujingi," wachaza uDheema. Zintoni ezi ziqobo?" UDarpok wafuna ukwazi. "Yintoni le?" Yayingumbuzo kaZhoola. UPoorakha wacacisa, "Ndiyakholwa ukuba yipensile le.

UMota noLamboo bafumana igumbi lokufundela. Babiza abanye, "Jonga, yintoni le!" Wonke ubani weza nobhaka. Baqalisa ukukhwaza, "Titshala! Titshala! Uphi utitshala wethu?" Akwabikho waziyo.

Baza beva umgqumo. Beva umgqumo omkhulu. Beva umgqumokazi. UPoorakha wakhathazeka. UDeema woyika. UTota wazimela emva kwebhodi. ULamboo noZhoola babedidekile.

Ngubani lo? "Hupu! Watsho uZhoola inkawu. Akwatheha nomnye. Bonke bajonga kutitshala. Phezulu naphantsi ngocoselelo. Baza bajongana omnye nomnye."

Utitshala wajika ukuba abhale ebhodini. "Xhuma," watsho uZhoola. "Bhabha!" watsho uTota. Ngqe-e, ngqe-e, ngqe-e, wabaleka uMota. "Baleka, baleka, baleka, ngokukhawuleza," wakhwaza uDheema. "Bhagoooo," bakhwaza bonke ngexesha elinye. Wathi akujika utitshala Kwakungekho nomnye eklasini.