UYebo nabazali bakhe babehlala ehlathini.Kule ndawo ababehlala kuyo, kwakuhlala uZim-zim, owayeyizimuzimu.UZim-zim wayedume ngokudla izingane.

USikhwebu, ubaba kaYebo, wayengumzingeli. Wayethi uma ebuya ukuyozingela amemeze, “Yebo! Yebo! Woza uzongihlangabeza mntanami.”UYebo wayethi kumama wakhe, “Ubaba uyangibiza. Kufanele ngiyomhlangabeza.”UZim-zim wakubona konke lokhu.

UZim-zim wazama ukuzenza uSikhwebu, “Yebo! Yebo! Woza uzongihlangabeza mntanami.”Wayazi ukuthi izwi lakhe alifani nelikaSikhwebu.“Ngingalishintsha kanjani izwi lami?” uyazibuza.

UZim-zim wacela usizo kumthakathi.“Ngingalishintsha kanjani izwi lami lifane nelabantu?” uyabuza.“Shisa imbazo ize ibe bomvu, bese uyigwinya iphelele,” kusho umthakathi emcebisa.

UZim-zim waphindela ekhaya, wagwinya imbazo eshisa bhe.Wase ememeza, “Yebo! Yebo! Woza uzongihlangabeza mntanami.”Lutho! Izwi lakhe lalingafani nelikaSikhwebu. Lalilikhulu kakhulu.

Waphindela kumthakathi engeneme neze uZim-zim.“Ngingenza kanjani ukuze ngibe nezwi elincane, labantu?” wabuza.“Kulokhu kuzomele uyishise ubusuku bonke imbazo, kuthi ekuseni, uyigwinye iphelele,” kuphendula umthakathi.

Emuva kokwenza abekutsheliwe, uZim-zim wahamba wayomemeza, “Yebo! Yebo! Woza uzongihlangabeza mntanami.”Izwi lakhe lalifana ncamashi, nelikaSikhwebu.UYebo waphumela phandle ejahile.Kodwa kwakungeyena uyise.

UYebo wabona iphutha lakhe singasekho isikhathi.Wazama ukubaleka angene endlini, kodwa uZim-zim wambamba kalula.Wathwala uYebo njengogodo wayombeka phakathi ehlathini.

Masishane, uSikhwebu wafika ekhaya wamemeza, “Yebo! Yebo! Woza uzongihlangabeza mntanami.”Kodwa uYebo akazange aphume. Umama wakhe waphendula wathi, “Ubusumbizile nje.”Babona ukuthi ingane yabo ithathwe nguZim-zim.

USikhwebu wathatha induku yakhe yokuzingela, waphikelela ehlathini ukuyofuna indodana yakhe.Esaqhamuka, wabona uZim-zim elele ngasemfuleni. Wayebeke isaka elikhulu phambi kwakhe.

USikhwebu wanyonyobela uZim-zim. Wathi esesondele, wadonsa induku yakhe ende, washaya uZim-zim.UZim-zim wagxuma, evuka ebuthongweni edidekile. Wabaleka.USikhwebu wavula isaka wadedela indodana yakhe.

USikhwebu wagona indodana yakhe, ejabulile ukuthi batholene. UYebo naye wayejabulile ukubona uyise.Bakhohlwa nguZim-zim, baphindela ekhaya.