Yebo nebatali bakhe bebahlala ehlatsini.Endzaweni lefanako, bekuhlala Zim-zim, sidlakela.Zim-zim bekadvume ngekutsi udla bantfwana.

Sikwebu, babe waYebo bekangumtingeli. Nakafika ekhaya, bekamemeta atsi, “Yebo! Yebo! Wota utongihlangabeta mntfwanami.”Yebo bekatsi kumake wakhe, “Babe uyangibita. Kufanele ngiyomhlangabeta.”Zim-zim bekakubukela konkhe loko.

Zim-zim wetama kulingisa Sikwebu, “Yebo! Yebo! Wota utongihlangabeta mntfwanami.”Bekati kutsi livi lakhe belingafanani nelaSikwebu.“Ngingalishintja kanjani livi lami?” watibuta.

Zim-zim wafuna lusito kumgololo.“Ngingalishintja njani livi lami lifanane nelemuntfu?” wabuta.“Shisa lizembe lidzimate libe bovu tju, bese uyaligwinya lonkhe,” umgololo wameluleka.

Zim-zim waya ekhaya wafike wagwinya lizembe lelishisako.Ngemuva kwaloko wamemeta watsi, “Yebo! Yebo! Wota utongihlangabeta mntfwanami.”Cha! Livi lakhe belingafanani nelivi laSikwebu. Belilikhulu kakhulu.

Zim-zim abedvumatekile futsi wabuyela kumgololo.“Kufanele ngenteni kute ngibe nelivi lelincane, lemuntfu?” wabuta.“Nyalo, shisa lizembe busuku bonkhe bese kutsi ekuseni, uligwinye lonkhe,” kwaphendvula umgololo.

Nasakwentile loko latjelwe kona, Zim-zim wahamba wafike wamemeta, “Yebo! Yebo! Wota utongihlangabeta mntfwanami.”Livi lakhe beselifanana ncamashi nelaSikwebu.Yebo wagijima waya ngephandle.Kepha bekungasuye babe wakhe.

Yebo wabona sekwephutile kutsi bekente liphutsa!Wetama kugijima abuyele ekhatsi endlini, kepha Zim-zim wavele wambamba kamelula.Wetjatsa Yebo shengatsi uphetse lugodvo waya naye ekhatsi ehlatsini.

Ngemuva kwaloko, Sikwebu wefika ekhaya wamemeta watsi, “Yebo! Yebo! Wota utongihlangabeta mntfwanami.”Kepha Yebo akazange achamuke. Make wakhe waphendvula watsi, “Angitsi besewuvele umbitile.”Kwabacacela kutsi umntfwanabo bekatsatfwe nguZim-zim.

Sikwebu watsatsa indvuku yakhe yekutingela waya ehlatsini ayofuna indvodzana yakhe.Asekhashane, wabona Zim-zim alele zwi eceleni kwemfula. Eceleni kwakhe bekunelisaka lelikhulu.

Sikwebu wanyonyoba wasondzela kuZim-zim. Nasekasedvute, waphakamisa lendvuku lendze washaya Zim-zim.Zim-zim wagcuma avuka ebutfongweni adidekile wase uyabaleka.Sikwebu wavula lisaka wakhipha indvodzana yakhe.

Sikwebu wagaca indvodzana yakhe, ajabulile ngekuphindze ayibone. Yebo wajabula kubona babe wakhe.Bayekela kucabanga ngaZim-zim babuyela ekhaya.