UYebo nababelethi bakhe bebahlala ehlathini.Endaweni ebebahlala kiyo, bekuhlala uZim-zim oliZimuzimu.UZim-zim bekaziwa ngokudla abantwana.

USikwebu, uyise kaYebo bekumzumi. Nakabuyela ekhaya, wabiza uYebo, “Yebo! Yebo! Yewize uzongihlangabeza mntwanami.”UYebo bekazokuthi kunina, “Ubaba uyangibiza. Kufanele ngiyomhlangabeza.”UZim-zim wakubona koke lokhu.

UZim-zim wazama ukulingisela uSikwebu, “Yebo! Yebo! Yewize uzongihlangabeza mntwanami.”Bekazi bona akakhulumi njengoSikwebu.Ngingalitjhugulula njani ilizwi lami?” watjho azibuza.

UZim-zim wakhamba wayokufuna isizo kumloyi.“Mloyi, akhese utjho ngingalitjhugulula njani iphimbo lami?” kubuza uZim-zim.“Tjhisisa isimbi nasele itjhisa bhe, uyithathe uyiginye yoke njalo,” kutjho umloyi amyelelisa.

UZim-zim wakhamba waya ekhaya wafike waginya isimbi etjhisako.Ngemuva kwalokho wabiza wathi, “Yebo! Yebo! Yewize uzongihlangabeza mntwanami.”Awa! Ilizwi lakhe akhange lifane nelikaSikwebu. Belidege khulu.

UZim-zim ongakathabi wabuyela emuva emloyini.“Kufanele ngenzeni ukuthola ilizwi elincani elingelomuntu?” kubuza yena.“Uyabona-ke, okwanje tjhisisa isimbi ubusuku boke bese kuthi ekuseni, uyiginye yoke,” kuphendula umloyi.

Ngemuva kokwenza lokho atjelwe khona, uZim-zim wakhamba wamemeza wathi, “Yebo! Yebo! Yewize uzongihlangabeza mntwanami.”Ilizwi lakhe belifana patsiki nelakaSikwebu. UYebo weqa msinya waya ngaphandle.Kodwana bekungasuye uyise.

UYebo walemuka ngemuva kwesikhathi bona wenze iphoso!Wazama ukubalekela ngaphakathi, kodwana uZim-zim wamuthi bhi! Kanye wambamba.Wathwala uYebo wamqubula njengesigodo wangena naye ngaphakathi ehlathini.

Msinyazana, uSikwebu wabuya ekhaya wafika wamemeza, “Yebo! Yebo! Yewize uzongihlangabeza mntwanami.”Kodwana uYebo akhange avele. Unina waphendula wathi, “Angitjho sewumbizile.”Bathoma ukulemuka bona umntwana wabo uthethwe nguZim-zim.

USikwebu wadobha isigodo sakhe sokuzuma wakhamba watjhinga ehlathini wayokufuna indodana yakhe.Nakaseza kude, wabona uZim-zim alele aqale phasi magega nomlambo. Wabe athwele umgodla okhulu useqadi kwakhe.

USikwebu wakhokhobela uZim-zim. Nasele atjhidele kuye, wathatha isigodo wasiswaya wabetha ngaso uZim-zim.UZim-zim weqa avuka ebuthongweni ararekile nanguya wabaleka.USikwebu watjhaphulula umgodla wakhupha indodana yakhe.

USikwebu wasingatha indodana yakhe, wathabela ukuba nayo godu. UYebo wabe athabele ukubona uyise.Bakhohlwa ngoZim-zim bakhamba babuyela ekhaya.