UMakhulu Mapula wayejolise amehlo kuloo mfumba yamakhaphetshu eyayingakumnyango wakhe wangaphambili.Wasebenza nzima elondoloza isitiya sakhe. Ngoku yayilixesha lokuba makasithengise isivuno sakhe emarikeni.“Ndiza kufuna uncedo ekuwabaleni nasekuwafumbeni ndawonye la makhaphetshu,” wacinga ngolo hlobo uMakhulu.

UJabu, uDineo noDimpho babehamba begqitha kwindlu kaMakhulu ngeli xesha yena wayemi emnyango. Wavuya akubabona.“Yizani nindincede ndifake esi sivuno sam kwezi bhokisi,” wabacela esitsho abo bantwana.Wayebazi uMakhulu ukuba babhadlile kwaye bayakuthanda ukunceda.

Abantwana babonisana ngendlela yokuwafumba amakhaphetshu.“La makhaphetshu masiwabaleni size siwabeke ngokwamaqela azizibini,” watsho uDineo.“La makhaphetshu masiwabaleni size siwabeke ngokwamaqela azizine,” watsho uJabu.“La makhaphetshu masiwabaleni size siwabeke ngokwamaqela azizithathu,” watsho uDimpho.

Abantwana bagqiba ekubeni ukuwabala la makhaphetshu ngokwamaqela azizine kuyeyona ndlela ikhawulezayo yokuwafumba ezibhokisini.“Kungena amakhaphetshu alishumi elinesibini ebhokisini nganye,” watsho uDineo.“Niqhube kakuhle, kunjalo nikhawulezisile!” watsho uMakhulu encumile. “Ngoku uMnu. Jonas angawathatha awase emarikeni.”

“Ikhaphetshu elinye liza kuba yimalini?” wabuza uDineo.“Ndiyanazi niza kukwazi ukuyibala. Ibhokisi enye liyiR60 ixabiso layo,” watsho uMakhulu.“Ukuba ibhokisi ixabisa R60, apho kuyo kukho amakhaphetshu alishumi elinesibini, simele ukwahlula amashumi amathandathu ngeshumi elinesibini,” watsho uDineo.

“Ndiyifumene!” utsho uJabu. “Ikhaphetshu elinye lakuba yiR5.”Waphendula uDimpho, “Kunjalo kanye!”Abancedi bakaMakhulu bawafumba onke amakhaphetshu.Wavuya uMnu. Jonas ngoba kwakungasekho msebenzi mninzi wawujongene naye. “Ndiza kuqinisekisa ukuba ayathengiswa onke la makhaphetshu emarikeni,” watsho.

Abantwana bahlala phantsi komthi apho esitiyeni baphumla. Bambona uMakhulu efihla into phantsi kwefaskoti yakhe.“Yintoni leyo?” wabuza uDineo.“Yinto yokubulela kuni ngokusebenza nzima. Nangona kunjalo kufuneka nahlulelane ngokulinganayo,” watsho uMakhulu.

Abantwana benza ingxolo benemincili. UMakhulu Mapula wabapha imfumba yama-apile anencasa.“Akhangeleka emnandi,” watsho uDineo emunca umlomo wakhe.“Ngawethu onke la ma-apile?” wabuza uDimpho emangalisiwe.“Ewe ngawenu, nikhumbule ukuwaba ngokulinganayo!” watsho uMakhulu.

“Masiwabaleni la ma-apile,” watsho uDimpho.Bawabala ngokwamaqela azizibini.“Asibhozo amaqela azizibini zama-apile, likhona elinye elingumnqakathi. Ewonke, ngama-apile alishumi elinesixhenxe,” watsho uDimpho.Lilonke kufuneka sahlulele thina sobathathu la maapile alishumi elinesixhenxe,” watsho uJabu.

Emnye kwabo bantwana wazibalela ama-apile amahlanu, mabini awasalayo.Baxakwa ukuba bangawahlula njani ama apile amabini.“La ma-apile mabini, lilinye masilisike libe sisiqingatha,” watsho uDimpho.“La ma-apile mabini, lilinye masilisike libe ziikota,” watsho uJabu.

“Sisobathathu asinakuzahlula ngokulinganayo iziqingatha neekota,” wakhalaza uDineo.“La aseleyo masiwanike uMakhulu noMnu. Jonas!” wacebisa ngolo hlobo uDineo.“Ndiyavuma ngoba nguMakhulu olime amakhaphetshu,” watsho uJabu.“Kwaye uMnu. Jonas nguye ose ama-apile emarikeni,” wongeza watsho uDimpho.

Wabuya emarikeni uMnu. Jonas emva kokuwathengisa onke amakhaphetshu.Aseleyo uDimpho wawahlulela uMnu. Jonas noMakhulu Mapula.Abo bancedi bakrelekrele baba nebhongo ngeziqu zabo.Basebenzisa ulwazi ababeluzuze esikolweni banceda uMakhulu nasekwabeni ngokulinganayo.