UKatana noNonjana ngabangani abakhulu.Bagqiba uba bavakatshele umngani wabo uNkunkhu. Olu hambo heliqhutywa kukuba uNkukhu hezoba nomjadu wokugcobela usuku lwakhe lokuzalwa.UNkukhu hehlala kwilali ekude lee, futhi yayithatha iintsuku ezimbini zohambo.

Bobabini hebengabangani abakhulu hebehlukene kakhulu.UNonjana hekuthanda ukulala, ukudla engathembeki.Kanti yena uKatana helungile, enokubele futhi engumngani ongamthemba.Yeyonto eyadalukuba batshube kwelokuba bayolalisa kwaNonjana, khonukuze baxele ngohambo lwabo.

Wathi uNonjana, “Mna ndizophatha ukudla kwemini yokuqala.”“Mna ndophatha ukudla kwemini yesibini,” watsho uKatana evuma.Baabhala oko phantsi khonukuze bangaliballi.

“Kuzobamandi kusasa masimbona umngani wethu uNkukhu, kaade samtshubela,” watsho uNonjana ekhapha umnganakhe ejika ebuyela endlinakhe.“Ndiyabonga ngokundikhapha mngan’am,” kutsho uKatana.

Ekuseni baayiqala indlela.

Endleleni hebejabule, becula amaculo bedantsa.

Baafika emthini bachopha phantsi. “Chake ndilambile,” watsho uKatana kuNonjana.

UNonjana waakhipha umxhafuxhafu wokudla.
Wakhipha izikotile ezimbini waqala ukuchaka ukudla loo nyavunyavu ngokutshetsha.

‘’Kukudla kwethu oku?” waabuza uKatana ecunuka ngenyani. Zeyimtshincile into yoba umnganakhe ephule izigqibo. Waaphutsha ke ngoku yilento.

“Ulindeni?” waabuza uNonjana eqalisa esidla. “Kutheni wathwala ukudla kwakho wedwa?” waacunuka watsho uKatana.UNonjana waqhubeka wadla. Esadla kanjalo, nangenxa yokuphanga namafutha ayegcwele isandla sakhe, satshibilika isikotile sawa phantsi.Ukudla konke kwachitheka kowo mhlaba bebehleli kuwo.

“Kulungile ke mnganam,” watsho uKatana.UKatana waakhipha amakhekhe amahle kweyakhe ingxiwa wadla.Ngoyonkxetsha, uNonjana hebheke ukudla kuka Katana ngamehlo arhalayo.Xa uKatana egqibile ukudla wapakisha. “Singaqhubeka nendlela?”

Ukususela ngoko ke beemka bedle imu kolo hambo lonke. Isisu sikaNonjana sasifundekela.Ngobo busuku, uKatana wazichakela ukudla kwakhe walala, egcobile kuba eziphathele ukudla okwaneleyo.UNonjana walala engadlanga.

Ngosuku olulandelayo, uKatana wadla intwana yokudla phambi koba bahambe. UNonjana herhala engakwazi nokuzigola emana ebheka ukudla kukaKatana.UKatana wabuye watshona engxiweni yakhe. “Naku ukudla,” watsho uKatana.“Yhoo, undixolele. Ndenze kabi,” watsho uNonjana.“Masidle,” watsho uKatana. Bachopha phantsi aba bangani badla.

Besotshuba baaqhubeka nohambo baabuye badlala futhi ngathi aange baxabane.Baafika kwamngani wabo liselihle iwatshi.“Nihambe kanjani bangani bam?” watsho uNkukhu.“Sihambe kahle kakhulu,” baaphendula batsho ngankxetsha bencumelene.

Kwaaba ngumgubho omkhulu wokuzalwa.Baacula! Badantsa! Badla!