Читать книгу Imibala Yothando - Dumisani Hlatswayo - Страница 5

KwakunguMsombuluko wenyanga kaMbasa ekuseni. Amazinga okushisa elingene nje. Usukasihambe wemoto eyiRange Rover emnyama, ize inyonyoba kancane ngesitaladi uZamakulungisa. Abafundi babonakala behamba ngababili, kanti abanye bahamba bewuquqabana, bayidedele imoto lena. Inyonyobe imoto ize iyokuma ngasesangweni lesikole eKuphakameni High School. Isicabha sakwesokunxele sithi khaxa, sivuleke kanye. Kwehle intombazane efake inyufomu yaseKuphakameni, ishethi eliluphuzi nebhulukwe elimnyama. Iyakhanya ngebala, yelukile ekhanda, ithi mayibe nomzimba wonobuhle. Nomshayeli wale moto ehle: ngumlisa nje olishiyile igabade kanti futhi wondlekile.

“Uhambe kahle, Baba.” Isho intombazane maqede imamatheke.

“Nawe ufunde kahle, themba lamathemba ami.” Asho lawo bese eyiwola kanye indodakazi yakhe, ayinkonkoshele lo mlisa.

Intombazane ivule isicabha esingemuva ikhiphe isikhwama sezincwadi. Isigaxe ehlombe bese ithi: “Sengathi ne-video shoot yakho ingahamba kahle, Baba.”

“Izohamba kahle noma kanjani, themba lamathemba ami.” Asho bese aphinde angene emotweni. Gwiqiqi, abafundi basondele ngasemotweni. Bayingunge kanye imoto. “Hawu, nampo futhi laba bangani bakho sebezongi-…” kusho lo mlisa ehlahle amehlo.

“Baba Mashikisha! Baba Mashikisha!” Abafundi bakhiphe amaselula abo baqalise ukuthwebula izithombe. “Baba Mashikisha besicela ukushutha nawe futhi!”

Aphinde ehle emotweni uMashikisha. “Ku-… kulungile bantabami. Wozani-ke sishutheni ngokushesha. Nawe sondela, Sinenhlanhla …” esho eqalaza uSinenhlanhla owayengasafaniswa nangalukhalo. “Sne! Useshonephi manje futhi lo?” Kungabi bikho omphendulayo. Kube ngububhanyabhanya lapho abafundi bededelana ngokuthwebula izithombe ngamaselula abo. Eme njengesigxobo baze baqede abafundi. Banele baqede, asho emotweni ayishaye izule.

USinenhlanhla wayeseyokuma esangweni lesikole elincane elalixhunywe umshini wokusesha izikhali. Unogada abheke kumathangeni ukuthi uSinenhlanhla akanaso yini isikhali. Kuthi lapho unogada eseqinisekile ukuthi uSinenhlanhla akanasikhali, achofoze inkinobho yokuvula isango. Likhamise isango. Asho phakathi emagcekeni esikole uSinenhlanhla . Kuthi lapho edlula ngaseviyweni labafana, omunye wabafana abingelele, kuthi omunye azwakale eseviyoza. Amehlo abafana alandele isithombe sikaSinenhlanhla size siyosithela. Ahambe njalo aze ayosho phakathi ekilasini u-Grade 9 A. Yize sekuyinyanga yakhe yesine efunda eKuphakameni kodwa bambalwa abafundi asebajwayele lapha. Unomngani oyedwa vo: uThando Mabhena.

Uyasithanda ngempela isikole sakhe lesi esisha ngoba asifani neze nesikole umfowabo omdala uThemba abephakamise ukuthi ayofunda kuso kulo nyaka. Leso phela kwakuyisikole nje esixube izinhlanga. Kulesi sikole kukwitizwa isiNgisi nje kuphela. Kuthe lapho uSinenhlanhla eseyohlungelwa ukwamukelwa kwathiwa usengakakwazi ukuqhashisa kahle isiNgisi ngamakhala. Kuhlongozwe-ke ukuthi aphindiselwe ku-Grade 8. Ukuphinda ibanga elilodwa kabili kanti kuyintanga kabani? Imibandela nemigomo engathi shu akahambisani neze nayo. Ufuna ukusheshe aphothule izifundo zakhe.

Njengoba ebusiswe ngephimbo elimtoti nje, ufuna ukucula aze ayofinyelela lapho uyise engakaze afinyelele khona, agibele ngisho indiza eyoculela izihlwele ngaphasheya kwezilwandle. Futhi useyazi ukuthi yena Sinenhlanhla uyoqala ecula umculo wokholo bese kuthi esekhulile acule umculo we-jazz. Okusamphazamisa manje ukuthi akakakwazi ukudlala isigingci njengoZahara. Usizamile bandla ukusidlala isigingci sikayise kodwa kwasho ukuthi isandla sakhe sisaqinile. Kwale noma uMashikisha ezama ukumbonisa ukuthi sidlalwa kanjani kodwa kwavele kwathi ngci lapha esandleni. Iminwe lena yagoqana into angakaze wayibona. Isigingci savele sandwindwizela, ubungaphika uthi umniniso ubesidlala ngonyawo. Mhlawumbe kofanele uSinenhlanhla acele abazali bamthumele esikoleni sopiyano!

IKuphakameni yisona sikole esivele samamukela ngaphandle kwemibandela nemigomo engathi shu. Iningi lothisha limkhonzile ngenxa yengqondo yakhe ekhaliphile. Okumjabulisa du ngeKuphakameni ukuthi asikho isidingo sokuthi athwale umqulu wezincwadi. Abafundi balapha baphatha nje izincwajana ezimbalwa zokubhala kuphela. Phela kulesi sikole kusetshenziswa amathebhulethi. Isango lakhona livulwa ngekhadi likanogada kodwa kuthiwa ngonyaka ozayo wonke umfundi usezokwazi ukuvula ngokucindezela umunwe wakhe kuphela. Futhi nothisha balapha abasabhali ngomsizi kodwa babhala ngosiba esihenqweni esibonisa lokho abakubhalile esibukweni esikhulu esixhunywe odongeni. Lapha eSoweto yisona sikole sokuqala ngqa esakhelwa isiziba sokubhukuda. Isikole lesi sidume ngokukhiqiza imiphumela emihle kaMatekuletsheni, kanti nezimboni ezinkulu zivamisele ukuxhasa abafundi bakulesi sikole. Umnyango wezemfundo uyaziqhenya kakhulu ngezinga lemfundo yakulesi sikole.

Kuthi lapho engena ekilasini afice abanye abafundi sebekhona. Basahemuza ezempelasonto. Abanye sebekhiphe amathabhulethi abo bashwishwiliza ngeminwe, befunda izincwadi zabo zesikole. Bakhona-ke abamatasa ngamaselula abo, bayawagcofoza baphinde bashwishwilize ngeminwe, babheka wena Facebook, baphinde bangene ku-Whatsapp. Baphinde bathwebulane izithombe. Kuyahlekwa kuphinde kupanswanwe. Kuthi lapho esathi ubeka isikhwama edesikini lakhe uSinenhlanhla ezwe omunye umfundi esemthinta ehlombe. Ngumfana nje onomzimba omncane. Indlela azace ngayo ubungaphika uthi usenezinsuku engasakuthi mbibi okuya ethunjini. USinenhlanhla athi uzama ukukhumbula igama lakhe kepha livele lithi shazi. Abingelele umfana, avumele phansi uSinenhlanhla. Kusho ukuthi umfana lona ubulawa ngamahloni, alibale ukuzinwaya ekhanda kuphela. USinenhlanhla amgqolozele njengomfundi egqolozele iphepha lesivivinyo angazilungiselelanga sona.

Athi uyakhuluma umfana ulimi luvele lugcwale umlomo. “E . . . e … bengi-…”

“Uthini?” NguSinenhlanhla esijolozele lesi sinaphungana somfana.

“Hha … hhayi bengikubingelela nje kuphela.”

“Ingani bese ngivumile nje?”

Aphinde azinwaye ikhanda umfana: “Hhayi, u … ukuthi nje … wo ngaze ngakhumbula: kunjani ukuba nobaba odumile?” Konje sekungumfundi wesithathu waseKuphakameni ombuza lembudane. Kuvele kuthi xhifi kuSinenhlanhla. Imibuzo enje iyamcika kakhulu.

“Kuyefana nje,” kububula uSinenhlanhla.

“Kuyefana kanjani?”

Aphendule ngesankahlu uSinenhlanhla: “Hheyi, uBaba uyefana nabanye obaba, wena!” Useswacile ebusweni manje, kuthi lapho ehlala phansi avele athi dinsi eseziphonsa nje. Kube sengathi umfana uyaphenduleka kancane. Naye engabe esanda kakhulu ngemibuzo yakhe engathi shu, kodwa avele akhethe ukuma athi phuhle okomthakathi obambekile lapha eceleni kukaSinenhlanhla. Kuthi lapho uSinenhlanhla emuthi janti ngeso lengulube, umfana aqhubeke nokuba yisigxobo esinganyakaziyo. Hawu, kanti ngempela mfana ufunani?” USinenhlanhla abone kungcono amzibe lo mfana ngokuthi akhiphe ithebhulethi. Bala ayihoshe ithabhulethi lakhe uSinenhlanhla naye aqalise ukushwishwiliza ngomunwe. Nangu phela umfana akanyakazi namanje. Nanso imihlola bo!

“Unemali ubaba wakho, sani?” Manje sekubuza intombazane esho ngomzimba omkhulu nje. Le ntombazane igqokisa okwabafana kanti nalapho ikhuluma ungaphika uthi ngumfana okhulumayo. Lapha emlonyeni ihlome uthi lometshisi. Uma uyibukisisa kahle lapha emehlweni ubona ungatshelwe muntu ukuthi iyabhema. Izinduna ezisesiphongo sayo zibomvu wena owabona otamatisi abancane. Igama layo alikhumbule uSinenhlanhla. NguLolo. Uyesatshwa kakhulu uLolo lona. Ngisho nabafana imbala babala amagama lapho bekhuluma noLolo. Bonke abangani bakaLolo ngabafana, kanti futhi ubonakala ehamba nabo abafana, khathisimbe uphinde umbone exoshana nabo. Noma uphinde umbone esekhahlela ibhola. Ukuthi uyintombazane uyokubona lapho usumbukisisa kahle.

ULolo lona udume ngokubamba umfana ngobhongwane angamdedeli engakaxolisi. Ngisho kwasibhakela esivutha amalangabi iyasidedela le ntombazane uma kufanele. Kusezifundweni zesikole lapho uLolo abonisa ukusalela emuva kakhulu khona. U-Grade 9 lona usemphinda okwesibili. Izifundo ezimhlupha kakhulu yiZibalo kanye nesiNgisi. Nothisha ababemfundisa lezi zifundo ngonyaka odlule baze bageza izandla. Noma kunjalo ulokhu enalo ilukuluku lokufunda. Futhi kwesinye isikhathi uLolo uzwakala encokola ethi: “Niyazi ukuthi ngingafunda nginedlule ngibe ngudokotela nina?” Kuthi lapho omunye wabafana ethi makayeke ukuphupha emini libalele, avele avuke umbhejazane uLolo. Aze amthembise nokumenza kabi lona omphikisayo. Ngakho-ke sebembalwa kakhulu abafana abanesibindi sokumngena emlonyeni lapho ekhuluma.

Nangu-ke namhlanje uLolo useme lapha eceleni kwedeski loSinenhlanhla.

“Hawu, ngikhuluma nawe, sani.” NguLolo ebukisisa uSinenhlanhla owayegqolozele ithebhulethi. Naye uSinenhlanhla aswele indlela angamcashela ngayo loLolo. Njengomfana wesinaphungana, naye akhethe ukumziba nje lo Lolo. USinenhlanhla uyawexwaya kakhulu amantombazane angophumasilwe. Futhi nje lolu hlobo oluphinde luphafuze nogwayi akalunambithisisi kahle. Kunokuthi aphendule uLolo avele akhethe ukuxoxisa umfana ozacile: “Konje wena ungubani I … e … ngisho igama lakho?”

Kube isiqome esokeni kusithothobala somfana, namahloni athi damu kanye. “W … wo, ee … mina nginguZakhele, kodwa bangibiza ngoMzeke lapha ekasi, uyabona.” ULolo avele asunduzele uMzekezeke eceleni. Naye uMzekezeke athi ntengentenge acishe angqubuze ideski elingemuva ngesiphongo: “Suka lapha wena Mzeke, awuboni ukuthi ngisakhuluma?” esho uLolo esikaza uMzekezeke ngempama. Avike uMzekezeke. Bome yinsini abafundi ababukele.

USinenhlanhla abheke eceleni. Asondele uLolo.

“Wena ngathi ngikubuza umbuzo wangiziba, yini vele ngawe? Zikhiphani ngawe sani?” NguLolo eqhukuluza uSinenhlanhla ehlombe. “Mxm, hheyi wena!” esho uLolo enyakazisa uSinenhlanhla ehlombe. “Umthetho wakho uyazibona sani, ne? Ucabanga ukuthi wena ungcono kunathi.”

“Wo, a … angizwanga. Ubuthini konje, Lolo? Eish, ukuthi kunomsindo la …”

“Yingoba awungazi ukuthi nginjani, sani?” Hhayi, kodwa nawe usazongifunda kahle. Vele nonke nifika lapha eSoweto nidelela kanje. Izophela yonke inkani, sani lapha kimi. Ngizoyivova yonke nya le nkani.” ULolo ahlale eceleni kukaSinenhlanhla. USinenhlanhla abingelelwe yiphunga lamakhwapha. Ahlehlele eceleni ngokushesha.

ULolo abuke uSinenhlanhla isikhathi eside bese ezwakala esethi: “Kusho ukuthi ekhaya kini ninemali sani, ne?”

“I-… imali? Kungani usho kanjalo?”

“Ya, ubaba wakho phela uMashikisha uvela nasema-TV, futhi ngizwile nokuthi unamabhisinisi, kanti umama wakho yena uhola imali eningi. Uyajabula wena, sani, osenabazali, mina ebami sebashona kudala eyish …” Asho eze ezishikisha esiphongo okomfana uLolo. “Hhayi, fede, kuzolunga.”

Adabuke uSinenhlanhla: “Ngi-… ngiyadabuka kakhulu ngalokho Lolo. Be- … bengingazi ngabazali bakho. Yinto eyenzeka nini leyo?”

“Yinto yakudala, eyish! Kungcono siyiyeke le ndaba.” Avele aphelelwe ngamagama uSinenhlanhla. Nephunga lamakhwapha kaLolo kube sengathi akasalizwa nhlobo. Avele akhophozele nje. NoLolo naye kube sengathi uthonyekile, alibale ukuzinwaya isiphongo. Ngesikade asukume uLolo bese ethi: “Ubaqaphele laba bafana bezikhothane. Maningi amantombazane amahle njengawe abawakhohlisile. Ngikhuluma nje enye intombazane enhle njengawe ishiye isikole ngonyaka odlule. Uvule amehlo.”

“Bese kwenzenjani, Lolo?”

Asineke uLolo: “He! Uthi bese kwenzenjani? Phela bese kwenzeka lokho abafana abafuna kwenzeke.”

“Kanti benzani laba bafana, Lolo?”

Asondeze ubuso bakhe ngakuSinenhlanhla: “Uyabona mina, sani …” Uyahlebeza manje. Njengoba ekhuluma kuphinde kuthi fuqu nephunga likagwayi eliphuma lapha emlonyeni. “. . . uyabona, uma ufuna ukuvikeleka kahle lapha esikoleni, vele uvumele mina ngikuphathe ntofontofo.”

Aguqule amehlo uSinenhlanhla abheke phezulu: “Hhayi bo!” Wena Lolo uzophatha mina ntofontofo uma sekwenzenjani-ke?” Agegetheke uSinenhlanhla. Ashaye izandla. “Hhayi angiyizwa le nto oyishoyo!”

“Hhayi ungahleki, phela angidlali sani. Uyabona, uma uphethe mina akekho umfana ongakuthinta. Ngingambamba kanje …” ULolo asho elinganisa ngezandla zakhe zombili entanyeni yakhe. Aze avale amehlo okomuntu oklinyekayo. Kumkitaze futhi lokhu uSinenhlanhla. Agegetheke kakhulu.

“Hehehehe! Uthini Lolo? Uthi umfana ungamenzenjani? Yenza futhi …” Aphinde enze futhi uLolo. Agegetheke kuze kuvele elomhlathi uSinenhlanhla.

“Wena nje uma ungaba yi-…” Esho ezikhomba amabele akhe omabili ngesandla uLolu. Kuthi lapho ebona uSinenhlanhla ehlahle amehlo, asondele ngakuSinenhlanhla, athi. “… uma ungaba nguLettie wami sani. Uyayizwa leyo nto?”

“Hhayi Lolo, usuthini manje?” Ahlahle amehlo uSinenhlanhla: “Mina ngibe ngu-… ngumuntu wakho kanjani?”

“Ukuthi nje ngiyakuthanda, futhi angizenzisi.” Acife iso uLolo: “Ukuthi nawe uyashisa, sani.”

Anximfe uSinenhlanhla. Akhulumele phezulu ukuze abaseduzane bezwe: “Usuyahlanya-ke manje Lolo. Angiyiso isitabani; ungibheke kahle mina!”

Ahwaqabale ebusweni uLolo: “Shhhh. Khulumela phansi wena; ufuna bonke abantu bezwe ukuthi ngiyakweshela manje?” Usho usephakamise nesandla okomuntu oselungele ukuvala umlomo omkhulu kaSinenhlanhla ngempama.

“Ok, kulungile-ke, ngizozama ukukhulumela phansi kodwa mina Lolo angi-…”

“Wena yani Sne?” Mina ngifuna ukukuphatha ntofontofo kuphela. Uma ungangiqoma akekho umfana ozokuthinta, futhi nje mina angeke ngakuyekisa isikole. Futhi angisoze ngakuklinya . . .” Amamatheke uLolo kuvele amazinyo akwakungathi yizinhlamvu zommbila. “Uthini-ke lapho, sani?” Bengicela uvume ukuba ngumuntu wami nje. Angisoze ngakuphoxa.”

Anikine uSinenhlanhla. “Hha … hhayi Lolo, eyi angazi ngoba mina ngi-…”

“Ungesabi lutho, yonke into ngizokufundisa yona kahle. Wena nje vuma ukuthi sithandane kuphela. Uzobona ukuthi ngizokuphatha kahle kanjani.” ULolo aze aphulule uSinenhlanhla esihlathini, uSinenhlanhla asisuse ngokushesha isandla sakhe:

“Eyi, Lolo, kungcono manje uhambe uye edeskini lakho.”

“Manje le ndaba yami uthi uzoyicabangisisa kahle, angithi?” Mina nje ngifuna sibe kanje kuphela, ayikho enye into engaphezu kwalokho. Asho aze alinganise ngeminwe uLolo. “Futhi akekho nje umfana ozokuthinta uma unami.”

Aqudule umlomo uSinenhlanhla. Iyamthukuthelisa le nto kaLolo. Selokhu kwathi nhlo ayikho intombazane esike yamkhulumela lo mbhedo.

“Kulungile ngisahamba. Ucabange mina kuphela namhlanje, uyezwa?”

Acife iso futhi uLolo maqede asukume ayohlala edesikini lakhe emuva.

Kufike uThando Mabhena lona osengamathe nolimi noSinenhlanhla. Usho ngezimbumbulu zamehlo amakhulu okwakungathi ayezovele aqathakele phansi yinoma nini nje. UThando wayengomunye wabafundi ababezizonda kakhulu iZibalo. Isifundo ayesithokozela kakhulu yisiNgisi. Wayesithokozela kufanele ngoba phela sasibuye siqhashe kahle ngamakhala lapha kuye. Phela yingoba useke wafunda nasesikoleni esixube izinhlanga. Uzithole eselapha eKuphakameni ngenxa yokungabi namandla emali kwabazali bakhe. Umdlalo ayewukhonze kakhulu wukubhukuda. Ukubhukuda lokhu wakufunda khona esikoleni ayefunda kuso, lapha eKuphakameni wayesengomunye wabafundi abaqokelwe ukuyomela isikole eTshwane kulo nyaka. NoSinenhlanhla ugcine esengene eqenjini lokubhukuda lalabo abasafufusa ngenxa kaThando. Babingelelane abangani ngokwangana. Bonkonkoshelane isikhathi eside.

“Eyi, Thando, ubulibelephi sonke lesi sikhathi? Futhi nje namhlanje, nango phela noLolo uthi ufuna ngibe ngumuntu wakhe. Cabanga nje, mina!” Aze azithinte esifubeni uSinenhlanhla.

Ahleke uThando: “He-he-he! Ini? Nawe useyakweshela? Itheni-ke wena, Sne?”

“Ngivele nga-… eyi futhi nje, uyabona lapha ekhanda likaLolo sengathi kuya-…” Asho uSinenhlanhla ebonisa ngokuzungezisa ngomunwe lapha ngasekhanda lakhe.

“Hhayi, uyahlanya vele uLolo. Ucabanga ukuthi wena ungavuma ukuba yintombi yakhe kanjani?” UThando abesejeqeza abuke ngakoLolo. “Hheyi, ake uhlukane nomngani wami wena, Lolo!” Abafana abahlala noLolo emuva bavele bagegetheke kakhulu.

“Mxm, awuzwe ukuthi bahleka kanjani. Uyazi, kofanele sitshele uthisha ngale nto, Sne,” kusho uThando esesukuma, kodwa uSinenhlanhla amdonsele phansi.

“Shhh, myeke, Thando!”

“Sne, uLolo wenziwa yila madimoni amphethe, nasenkonzweni bebesikhuza ngezinkonkoni ngeSonto.”

Ahlahle amehlo uSinenhlanhla: “Ini? Ngamadimoni ani lawo, Thando?”

“Awazi yini wena ukuthi amantombazane athanda amanye amantombazane asebenzela uSathane?”

USinenhlanhla naye akhumbule kancane ukuthi useke wawezwa lawo mahemuhemu kodwa kusho ukuthi akayiqondisisi kahle lena eyamadimoni. Kuthi lapho ethi uzama ukuyicabangisisa ezwe esengenwa ngamanzi emadolweni. Abone kungcono ukuthi basale sebexoxa ngokunye, phela izinto ezinje sezingaze zimlethele namaphupho amabi ebusuku.

Akhulumele phansi uThando: “Uyazi ukuthi maningi amantombazane asebenzela uSathane kulesi sikole, Sne?”

“Eyi, Thando, kungcono siyiyeke le nto kaSathane, phela isiyangesabisa mina manje.”

UThando avele athi swayi, akhiphe ithebulethi yakhe abhekane nomsebenzi wesikole. Uthisha weZibalo usengangena yinoma nini. Lesi yisona sifundo esimphazamisa kakhulu uThando. USinenhlanhla yena ngakolunye uhlangothi wayezibona iZibalo. Njalo nje uqinisekisa ukuthi uhamba phambili kunothisha, lapho aphazamiseka khona unina, uMaMthethwa wayebuye amsize.

Kusenjalo kungene uthisha weZibalo, uMnumzane Masondo. Ngobude ulingene, bese esho ngomzimba omkhulu. Uyakhanya ngebala. Adishazele aze ayokuma phambi kwabafundi. Umsindo uvele uthi swayi sengathi kukhona ochofoza inkinobho yokuvala umsindo. Sekuyisikhathi seZibalo manje. Lesi yisifundo iningi labafundi elisizondayo. Ubona abanye sebephefumulela phezulu.

“Hheyi, sanibonani bafundi bakwa-Grade 9 A!” Bavumele phansi abafundi. Engabe esachitha sikhathi uthisha avele agibele phezu kwaso isifundo. Ufundisa kanjena nje usephawulile ukuthi bambalwa abafundi abazizwisisayo iZibalo. Amehlo kathisha alokhu evakashela abafundi abenza kahle eZibalweni. USinenhlanhla ungomunye walaba bafundi.

Kuthi lapho eseqedile ukufundisa ezwakale esethi uthisha: “Ake nisho bafundi bami, njengoba iZibalo nizizonde kangaka, ngempela nifuna ukufundela ukuba yini lapho seniphothule u-Grade 12?” Kuke kwathi cwaka umzuzwana bese abafundi bethi ukuxokozela. Isandla sikaLolo siphakame kanye.

“O, yebo Lolo,” kusho uthisha eqhweba uLolo.

Asukume uLolo, ulokhu ehlikihla izandla njalo. “Yebo, mina angisiboni isidingo sokufundana ne-Maths!”

“Kungani usho kanjalo, Lolo?”

“Ukuba ngumrepha angeke kudinge ukuthi ngibe ne-Maths.”

Uthisha uMasondo abambelele esilevini isikhashana, adle amathambo engqondo bese ebuza: “Kanti wena ufuna ukuba ngumrepha kuphela yini, Lolo?”

“Sengiqalile ukurepha nabanye omrepha eDobsie!” Ngifuna ukufana no-AKA, noCassper Nyovest noma u-Emtee. Ngifuna ukuba nemali!”

“Noma kunjalo akusho ukuthi akufanele ufunde iZibalo. Phela enyuvesi uma usu-…”

“Ugogo wami angeke akwazi ukungikhokhela eyunivesithi, Sir. Futhi nje nothisha we-Maths wangonyaka odlule u-… uthe mina …” Abindeke uLolo, ahlikihle izandla kakhudlwana manje.

Abuze ngomoya ophansi uthisha uMasondo: “Utheni uthisha wongonyaka odlule, Lolo?”

“Uthe mina ngiyisidomu esingeke sayizwisisa i-Maths.” Kuqhume uhleko ekilasini.

Uthisha uMasondo anikine ikhanda. “Kahleni ukuhleka nina.” Asondele ngakuLolo uthisha. Afike athinte uLolo ehlombe. “Lolo, ngicabanga ukuthi kufanele sixoxe sinawe ngale nto. Mina angicabangi ukuthi wena uyisidomu. I-Mathematics ibalulekile kakhulu mntanami. Ngisho noma kuthiwa uzosebenza ukugcwalisana iThe Dome njengoCassper Nyovest, kofanele ufunde i-Maths. Phela iZibalo zingakwazi nokukusiza ukuxazulula ezinye izinkinga zempilo kanye nezebhisinisi.”

Ahlale phansi uLolo. “Eyi angazi ukuthi ngizoyizwisisa kanjani mina.”

“Ungakhathazeki, nawe uzoyizwisisa, i-Maths iba lula uma uyizwisisa kahle.”

Kusenjalo kusukume umfana ohleli eceleni kukaLolo, uBhejasi, uma ekhuluma kuvela izinyo legolide: “Uyabona mina, Sir, ngizoba yisangoma nje kuphela!” Bagegetheke kakhulu abafundi. NoSinenhlanhla noThando imbala bangakwazi ukuyibamba insini. Bagegetheke baze babheke phezulu.

“Bhejasi, njengoba wena udlala kangaka nje kanti uzikhohlise ngokuthi uzoba yisangoma? Ngubani okutshele ukuthi uma uyisangoma asikho isidingo sokuthi ufunde?”

“Kanti izangoma zikufundelaphi ukuba yizangoma? Noma likhona ikholeji elifundisa ubungoma?”

“Iningi lezangoma ozibonayo namhlanje zifundile. Ezinye zingodokotela imbala. Ukuba yisanusi kuyibizelo labaphansi, hhayi into yokudlala.”

“Zifundele ubungoma yini?” Bagegetheke futhi abafundi.

“Bhejasi, kungcono uhlale phansi manje. Ngiyabona ukuthi usuyabheda manje.” Ahlale phansi uBhejasi.

Kuthi ngesikhathi sokudla uSinenhlanhla athathe isikhwama sakhe ayothi cu otshanini obungaphansi kwesihlahla esikhulu. Akhiphe ukudla kwakhe naye adle. NoThando eze azohlala lapha eceleni kwakhe.

“Hawu, Sne, awusasho kimi uma uza lapha?” Asho uThando bese emuthi laphalazi uSinenhlanhla.

“Ngikhohliwe, mngani.”

“Kulungile-ke, mngani.” Kuphinde kuthi cwaka. Amantombazane ahlephule isinkwa kancane kancane bese ehlisa ngejusi eyayingasabandi. Imiqondo yabo ijubalale. Icabanga lokhu ibuye icabange lokhuya. USinenhlanhla aze azicabange esengumculi wokholo, ehleli erestorenti, edla izibiliboco ezifiswa yinhliziyo yakhe, egqoke econsa. Lo mcabango uze umenze amamatheke yedwa.

Ngalowo mzuzu sekuzotheleka uBhejasi. Lo mfana odume ngokuthi ‘uyisikhothane’ esigqoka siconse. Onyaweni akafakile izicathulo zesikole kodwa ufake ezimpofu ezibizwa nge-Arbiter. Ungumfana ohlobe ngemilengalenga kanye nobukhazikhazi. Umnyama khwishi sengathi ukhuza izulu. Kuthi lapho emamatheka ubone kuvela izingovolo zamazinyokazi ayegobise okwezimfologo zikaSathane. Ikhalakazi leli elikhulu ungaphika uthi yindlu yezinyosi. Yize umfana wakwaKhoza lona embanyana enje kodwa wayeyiqhathanzipho. Izinwele zakhe lezi zihlala zincwelwe kahle njalo nje. Futhi nje nenyufomu yakhe yesikole ibukeka iseyintsha njalo nje. Wayezichela ngamakha asetshenziswa ngothisha kuphela. Kanti iselula ye-iPhone 6 ayiphathayo abanye othisha abanayo. Uhlonishwa kakhulu ngomswenko. Bathi lapho bemhaya bathi nje: “Nkosi yomswenko, Sikhothakhothane samakhasitedi esingahlalwa mpukane.” Lapho ekhona nje ubona ngentombazane lapha eceleni.

“Hello, zingane.” Abingelele uBhejasi maqede amamatheke, kuvele izinyo lakhe legolide, nezingovolo zithi lungu kanye. Iso lakhe alisuki lapha kuSinenhlanhla.

“Uyazi, ngiyaqala ukubona intombazane enhle njengawe lapha esikoleni. Umuhle njengomuntu owakhelwe ukuhlobisa umhlaba. Ubuhle bakho yibona obungenza ngivuke ekuseni ngize lapha esikoleni.” USinenhlanhla noThando babukane maqede banikine amakhanda kanyekanye. UBhejasi angakushayi mkhuba lokhu kwenza kwabo. “Ngiyazi njengoba bathi uvela lena emakhaya, awubethembi abafana balapha ekasi. Kanti mina angifani nalaba bafana abaphatha amantombazane kabi.”

Abhocobale ebusweni uSinenhlanhla. “Ngubani okutshele ukuthi ngidinga ukuphathwa kahle wuwena? Mina angizelanga lokho lapha esikoleni.”

Ahleke uBhejasi: “Ngiyakwazi lokho, kodwa indlela omuhle ngayo isho ukuthi ufanelwe ukuphathwa njengenkosazane: uphathwe ntofontofo.”

“Inkosazane yani?”

Athule isikhashana uBhejasi, bese ekhumbula: “Ngiyabona ukuthi akekho umfana oseke wakhuluma kanjena nawe. Kanti vele nami angikaze ngikhulume nentombazane ngale ndlela. Angizenzi Sne.”

USinenhlanhla abuke uBhejasi amqale phansi aye phezulu: “Vele akekho umfana oseke wangikhulumela lo mbhedo wakho!”

Ahleke uBhejasi: “Sengiyabona ukuthi kusemnyama lapha ekhaya. Kodwa kuyoze kuse.” Asho bese eshingila, ahambe.

“Hheyi Sne, yini sengathi bonke abafana lapha esikoleni bayakufuna!”

“Mina, Thando, umfana omubi njengoBhejasi ngizomenzenjani? Hhayi, angimfuni lo mfana!”

Athule isikhashana uThando, bese ethi: “UBhejasi kubo banemali, bathi lesi sicathulo asigqokayo ngese-R3000. Cabanga nje, nothisha uMasondo akasigqoki leso sicathulo. Usuke wayibona iselula ayiphathayo?” UThando abuze izandla ezenekile.

“Hheyi, angimfuni mina, mubi. Futhi angibafuni abafana balapha mina!”

“Akhona amantombazane amfunayo lapha esikoleni, Sne.”

USinenhlanhla aqhathanise lo Bhejasi nalo mfana okhangisa iJungle Oats ayezifela ngaye, bese ezwakale esethi: “Akaye kulabo abamfunayo, ahlukane nami-ke. Angifuni ukuzobhedelwa yizikhothane mina.” Noma sekuthiwa abafana abahle baphele bonke emhlabeni akasoze alenza iphutha lokuqoma uBhejasi.

Incencethe insimbi eyayisho ukuthi isikhathi sokudla sesiphelile. Basukume oSinenhlanhla noThando baphinde bagaxe izikhwama zabo bayongena ekilasini.