Читать книгу Imibala Yothando - Dumisani Hlatswayo - Страница 6

Yanele yakhala insimbi yokuphuma kwesikole, abafundi baphuma kanyekanye. Basakazeka nxazonke. Bakhona abaphuma beshesha bephuthuma emakhaya. Kanti abanye babehola izinyawo, bezihudula nje. Babenyathela kancane sengathi ubungafunga ukuthi baphikelele endaweni abangafuni ukufinyelela kuyona. Kuyaxokozela nje. Kubona lobu buxokoxoko nangu uBhejasi eyophuma ngesango. Uyakhabuzela. Ngemuva ulandelwa yisixongololo sabafana bakhe bezikhothane. Bazibiza ngamaDiamonds. Indaba egudwini ngeyokuqhudelana kwezikhothane okwakuhlelwe ukuba khona. Njengoba abafana laba bekhabuzela kanjena nje, baphikelele kudekude eJabulani Mall nokuyilapho kuyoqhudelwana khona. Impahla ababezoqhudelana ngayo isiyothengwa khona ezitolo. Namhlanje kufanele kucace ukuthi amakhosi obukhothani angobani lapha eSoweto.

“Sne, kufanele nathi sihambe siyobona laba bafana bezikhothane ukuthi bakhothana kanjani.” Kuhlongoze uThando. Babukane benoSinenhlanhla. Kuthi lapho amehlo abo enqwamana kuvele kucace ukuthi sebevumelene. Hhayi-ke, nabo babe sezithendeni zoquqaba lwabafundi ababelandela oBhejasi. Bonke bafuna ukuwubona lo mdlalo wokukhothana. Balandelwa kanjena nje abafana bezikhothane, nabo abayivalile imilomo. Uzwa omunye wabo esethi nje: “Khotha!” Omunye umuzwe esethi: “Phela siyashisa thina!” Bese ekhipha imali yephepha ezisula ngayo ebusweni. Uyasuka uyithi fonqofonqo, aphinde ayifake ekhukhwini. Kuhlekwe.

Kuhanjwa kanjena nje abafana bamaDiamonds balokhu bezikhombe njalo izicathulo zabo ezibizayo. Baze basho nokuthi zazibiza malini. Abanye baze bakhumule namahembe esikole, ngaphansi kuvele amanye amahembe anemidwebo yezimbali. Nawo amahembe lawo basho ukuthi awemali eshisiwe. Abafundi abalandela ngemuva kwabo bezwakale sebenanela. Abanye baze bashaye ihlombe. Kodwa kube khona obuzayo: “Kodwa nithi niyabazi ngempela abafana bamaTaliyana, ngisho phela amaBlingstas, ukuthi bagqokani?”

Lapho kuvele kuphendule uBhejasi mathupha: “Abafana bamaBlingstas babanda mpo.” Baqhumuke bahleke abafundi. Aze asho nokuthi abafana labo babegqoka amayikayika nje. Bayihambe indlela eqonde khona ngaseJabulani Mall. Yize iyibangana nje kepha ngenxa yengevu kanye namancoko ingezwakali.

Batheleka emagcekeni enxanxatheka yezitolo zaseJabulani Mall, nazi izikhothane zendawo sezilindile. Zime zafola ngasepakini yezimoto. Zonke zisonge imikhono ziyababuka. Zifake izibuko ezimnyama. Eceleni kwalaba bafana kumi inqola egcwele phama izibiliboco. Enqoleni kulunguze wena jusi, wena namanedi, wena khekhe, wena shokoleti, wena yogathi, kanti nekhasitedi ayisalanga nangephutha. Abawufakile umfaniselwano wesikole kodwa bashaye amahembe abo amibalabala. Amabhulukwe kube ngaluhlaza sasibhakabhaka. Onyaweni kunyathelwa ngesicathulo esibomvu esifanayo. Kuthi lapho oBhejasi namaDiamonds sebesondela kubo, kusuke ubungqayingqayi. Kukhonjwane ngeminwe. Kubhuqwane. UBhejasi ayalele abafana beqembu lakhe ukuthi make nabo bayothenga. Bala bangene ezitolo. Bathenge bese bephuma nenqola egcwele phama. Bayidudule nayo ize izokuma epakini.

Nabanye abathengi bahogele umoyana wokuthi izikhothane zendawo zase zizoqhudelana manje. Basondele ukuzobuka. Abanye basondela benethenjana lokuthi kungenzeka abafana laba baphonse okuthile emoyeni bese bezicoshele njalo okucoshekayo. Kulaba bantu ababezobuka kukhona nomfana owayengundingasithebeni owayewuhlwibi nje. Uma usumbukisisa wawuvele uzibonele ukuthi wayebhuqwe yiwunga. Uzwakala elokhu ethi: “Bengicela ningiphe phela leyo khasithedi kengizizwise nami!” Kanti zike zamnaka yini izikhothane zakomhlolo? Kwasuka isidumo lapho sekuqhudelwana. Umfana wamaBlingstas avule ibhodlela likajusi. Basondele ngaphambili oSinenhlanhla noThando ukuzobuka kahle. “Thando, kanti kwenziwani ngempela lapha? Futhi yini lena abazoyiwina?”

“Sne, thula ubuke wena. Uzozibona kahle izikhothane namhlanje ukuthi zinemali kanjani.”

Ijusi imthele ihembe abe manzi phici uBhejasi. Akathule umfana, ulokhu ezwakala ethi: “Uyabanda wena. Yini yona lena oyigqokile?” Abafana bamaBlingstas bafe yinsini.

UBhejasi ahlomeke enhla nasezansi. Agcine esefike qathatha enqoleni yabo. Kube ngubugunqugunqu lapho esekhuculula. Usemanzi phici manje lapha esufubeni. Naye adonse eyabo ijusi yakwaWoolworths. Ayivule. Babaze abantu. Abanye bakhale ngokoma kanti abanye bakhale ngokubiza kwale jusi.

“Hawu, bantabami uthi kodwa ningadlala ngokudla silambe sinje, bheka nenyanga ayikapheli? Kungani kodwa ningasiphi khona lokho kudla uma kunehlula?” Sekubuza omunye nje unguboziyeweni. Bake bamnaka yini? UBhejasi naye ayithi chithi ijusi kumfana wamaBlingstas kwenanele isixuku. Abe manzi te umfana. Bayibuke abantu ijusi yemali ichithekela phansi. Abancela izithupha banyiphe lapho bebona kudlalwa ngokudla. Iqembu lamaDiamonds lenanele kakhulu. Abanye baze bezwakale sebethi. “Mbhabhathize mfana. Mgeze izono zakhe zobufongukhongo!” Lapho-ke uBhejasi uke wathi ukuthwala amahlombe kancane, esebona ukuthi isichwensi lesi samaBlingsta usesibeke endaweni yaso.

Kanti wayekhe phansi uBhejasi. Umfana wamaBlingsta athathe ikhekhe bese esakaza uBhejasi ngalo ebusweni. Ikhekhe livele lithi phahla ebusweni bukaBhejasi. Ubuso bukaBhejasi busale bunamfuzela ikhekhe elimhlophe. Bafe yinsini abantu lapho sebebona uBhejasi ezama ukuzesula. Abanye bezwakale sebethi: “Khotha! Awulikhothi ngani ikhekhe we sikhothane?”

“Uyabona nje ukuthi ubanda kanjani wena? Awuzibheke ukuthi usunjani manje.” Amcunule ngokunye la magama alo mfana uBhejasi. Aqonde ngasenqoleni yabo esekhabuzela. Namehlo awasaboni kahle manje. Kuthi lapho ethi ususa ikhekhe ezinkopheni, kuvele kube sengathi uzixhopha kakhulu ngalo. Omunye weqembu lakhe aze amlamulele ngokuthi amesule. Kuthi lapho isitaputapu sekhekhe sesisukile ebusweni aphindele empini. Sekwelakanyene izinhlonze ebusweni, usemubi ngokunye umfo kaKhoza. Ukungahlonishwa ukuphela kwento angekwazi ukuyibekezelela. Abafana bamaBlingstas laba okuthiwa bathola imali ngokuqola abantu ufuna ukubafundisa namhlanje. Yena Bhejasi akaveli khona emndenini ontulayo. Uyise unamatekisi amabili.

Abuye esephethe elabo ikhekhe. Ulivulile. Aqalaze abantu. Kube khona abancincizayo kanti abanye benanele. Kuso lesi sixuku usebona nobuso obuhle bukaSinenhlanhla. Ukuba khona kukaSinenhlanhla kube sengathi kumfakela omunye umfutho. Uthe esuka wayeseshintsha nohambo. Nango esenyathelisa okwesigelekeqe esimidwayidwa, eqhwashaza kancane. Athi ulijikijela kumfana wamaBlingstas ikhekhe, ashone lena umfana ikhekhe livele lithi daxa lapha eceleni kwakhe. Nalapho baphinde bahleke abantu.

“Angeke usenze lutho wena. SingamaTaliyana thina. Bheka nje ukuthi ngigqokeni. Bheka neselula engiyiphathayo. Yi-iPhone lena, baba.” Aze ayikhiphe umfana ukuze uBhejasi ayibone. Bese eyiluma nangamazinyo. “Nina niyizilambi. Aninamali. Nigqoka impahla eyodwa njalo nje.”

“Hhayi bo, nina zingane, ngiyanikhuza njalo.” Kusakhuza unguboziyeweni ngezwi eselithanda ukudondobala. “Uthi amakhanda enu asebenza kahle nje nina? Nakubonaphi ukuthi abantu bashayane ngamakhekhe ngale ndlela? Anazi yini ukuthi ukudlala ngokudla ngumbangandlala? Niyokukhumbula lokhu kudla ngolunye usuku.” Nalapho bangamshayi mkhuba abafana. Omunye wabafana owayethi makabe ngumdudla nje eze azokuma phambi kwalo ikhehla. Alibuke ngamehlo ayethi ‘ake uphinde uthi nkente phela khehla ngikubonise’. Kuvele kuhlwe emini kunguboziyeweni. Kuthe lapho ikhehla lingabona ukuthi amagama alo ayefelwe ngamathe, livele lithi qala qala maqede libone elalize ngayo. Umqhudelwano usale uqhubekela phambili. Umfana ongundingasithebeni abonakale esezicoshela ikhekhe eliphaxazwe phansi. Alifake emlonyeni adle.

“Hheyi, suka lapha wena Mazaza!” Abafana bamaBlingstas basho ukumqeda undingasithebeni. Naye anyobozele adede nezandla ezigcwele izimvuthuluka zekhekhe. Usale uqhubeka umqhudelwano. Kuchithwe wena ziphuzo, wena khasithedi wenani. Onogada baze baqhamuke sebephethe izinduku zabo. Nabo sebebizwa ngumsindo wabantu.

“Hheyi, nina bafana! Aniboni ukuthi niyangcolisa lapha?” kubuza omunye unogada oyisiguqa nje. Bathi abafana bazama ukuchaza abakhombe isango leJabulani Mall.

“Niyangcolisa ngale nto yenu. Nisuke ningekho uma sekuqoqwa lezi zinto zenu.”

Omunye unogada ezwakale esebuza: “Kodwa lo mdlalo wenu wokudlala ngokudla nawufundiswa ngubani?” Kanti ukhona yini umfana oke waphendula? Bonke abafana babonakala beqalaza isikhala sokucela empunzini.

Kube yilapho isixuku ebesibuka izikhothane sihlakazeka khona. Nabafana bezikhothane babone abeze ngayo.

Bahlakazeka a kanjena nje inhliziyo kaBhejasi isafutha. Usafuna ukuziphindisela kumfana wamaBlingsta. Usaphethe ibhokisana lekhasitedi ayethi uyithela ekhanda lomfana. Kusho-ke ukuthi abafana bamaBlingstas yibona abadle umhlanganiso. Baphume phambili ngomswenko nangokuchitha imali. Bheka ngoba ukudla abakuchitha phansi ngalolu suku kwakwenza inkulungwane eyodwa namakhulu amahlanu amarandi. Kanti okoBhejasi kuyinkulungwane namakhulu amathathu kuphela.

Indaba yalo mqhudelwano ibe ngundabamlonyeni. Ezinkundleni zokuxhumana, u-Facebook no-Twitter zigcwale izithombe zikaBhejasi. Isithombe esasikitaza abantu kakhulu yilesi sobuso bakhe obabugcwele ikhekhe. Ngalolu suku akazange nje abuthi quthu, elokhu ephenduphenduka embhedeni. Kuthi lapho ecabanga ukuthi abafana bamaBlingsta bamphoxa phambi kukaSinenhlanhla, ezwe inhliziyo yakhe isifutha ngokunye.

***

USinenhlanhla namhlanje uzilungiselela ukuyokwenza izifundo zakhe zokubhukuda. Kwesinye isikhathi uma kufanele ayobhukuda uvele ahudule izinyawo nje. Njenganamhlanje. Ukuthi ukubhukuda kusamesabisa kuyobe kungukwengula phezulu nje. Kumphendula ugodo uqobo. Uthisha obalolongela ukubhukuda, umnumzane Mudau, unemithetho eminingi nje. Eminye yale mithetho ayithi shu kuSinenhlanhla. Njengalo mthetho owawuthi: Qiniseka ukuthi awuhlafuni ishingamu echibini lokubhukudela. Uma uyintombazane efake lezi zinwele ezixhunywayo, qiniseka ukuthi izinwele zakho uzibophe kahle. Phela izinwele lezi zaziphinde zizimonyuke zigcine sezibonakala zintaza emanzini. Abanikazi bezinwele babephinde beswele ngisho igodi lokucasha lapho uthisha uMudau esebabhuqa ngalezi zinwele zabo ezithengwayo. Uthisha wayezibiza ngokuthi: ‘Uboya bezilwane’. Khathi simbe umuzwe esizibiza ngokuthi ‘uboya bekati’.

Eminye yemithetho kathisha yayithi: Ungadleli amaswidi echibini lokubhukuda, qiniseka ukuthi uphatha ithawula elihlanzekile zikhathi zonke. Ungangeni emanzini ngemuva kokuphuza amaphilisi okwelapha, izidakwamizwa noma udle ngokweqile. Ungenzi lokhu noma lokhuya. Cishe njalo ngosuku lokubhukuda kwakusengathi kuba nomthetho omusha. Kodwa umthetho ayengafuni wephulwe nangephutha ngowokuhlafuna ishingamu. Sebathathu abafundi asebekhonjwe umnyango ngenxa yokuphula kwabo umthetho lona.

Yize uthisha uMudau ethe ukuhogela nokuphumisa umoya izigamu eziyishumi kuyasiza ekwehliseni itwetwe, uSinenhlanhla usezejwayeze ukuhlafuna ishingamu lapho ezwa itwetwe selidlala ngaye kakhulu. Ukuzamile nokho ukuhogela nokuphimisa umoya kodwa ukuhlafuna ishingamu sengathi kumsebenzela kangcono. Ishingamu lena wayeyihlafuna esagqoka bese kuthi lapho eseyongena echibini lokubhukuda ayiphimise. Yize engakuthandisisi kahle ukubhukuda, kodwa akafuni ukuzithola esekhonjwa umnyango ngenxa yeshingamu nje kuphela. Ekhaya uMaMthethwa umgqugquzela njalo ukuthi aqhubeke nokufunda ukubhukuda. “Mntanami, ukwazi ukubhukuda kungasindisa ngisho impilo yakho ngolunye usuku. Lapha ekhaya akekho okwazi ukubhukuda, ngisho nomfowenu uThemba akakakwazi.” Ayikho into eyenza uSinenhlanhla abe neqholo njengokuba nekhono umfowabo angenalo.

Kanti-ke naye uthisha uMudau uvamisile ukuthi uSinenhlanhla ungomunye wabafundi ababonisa ukuba nekhono lokubhukuda. Yena Sinenhlanhla abe nekhono lokubhukuda? La magama uthisha amthopha ngawo akakaze awathathele phansi. Kodwa kwesinye isikhathi unezinsolo zokuthi uthisha umgqugquzela ngoba engafuni ukuzithola esesele nabafundi abambalwa. Kodwa noma kunjalo, ukugqugquzelwa ngale ndlela kwakumnikeza umfutho uSinenhlanhla.

Ababhukudi abafufusayo baqale bengamashumi amabili, kuyimanje nje sebeyishumi nje kuphela. Kubona kwakukhona nabafundi okwavele kwacaca njengesibhakabhaka ehlobo ukuthi abasoze bakwazi ukubhukuda noma bengazama kangakanani. Labo kwangungabafundi uthisha ayevamise ukubahlenga sebeminza nje impela. Uthisha uMudau ubatomule ngamunye ngamunye njengokhula kwaze kwasala laba abayishumi abethembisayo. Abanye balaba bafundi bakhalelwa yizembe ngenxa yokungalandeli kwabo imithetho.

Namhlanje umqondo kaSinenhlanhla uthikamezwe yingxoxo abe nayo noThando. Ulapha endlini yokushintsha uyayibuyekeza le ngxoxo yabo.

“Uyazi kodwa, girl, ukuthi ayikho intombazane engala uBhejasi bese kugcina yona. UBhejasi uqinisekisa ukuthi kugcina yena njalo nje.” UThando uze wambalela namagama amantombazane agcina aseqome uBhejasi. “Wonke la mantombazane aqale ngokungamfuni …”

“Amantombazane lawo ebemthanda ngempela yini?”

“Enye yala mantombazane, uGrace ebesifunda naye ngonyaka odlule, naye ubekhuluma njengawe ethi akamthandi, kodwa ugcine esemqomile. Okungididayo ukuthi naye uGrace uthi akazi ukuthi umqome kanjani …”

La magama enze uSinenhlanhla aphakanyelwe ngamaphaphu.

“Mina Sne ngibona sengathi uBhejasi usebenzisa umuthi. Bengithi kungcono umqaphele …”

“UBhejasi usebenzisa umuthi, Thando?”

UThando unqekuzise ikhanda maqede wathi: “NoMlungisi useke wakusho lokho kimi. Kuthiwa umuthi wakhe u-… uwu-… angisakhumbuli kahle ukuthi kuthiwe uwutholaphi. Kodwa engikuzwile ukuthi umuthi lowo uyasebenza.”

“Manje ucabanga ukuthi lo muthi wakhe angawusebenzisa kimi usebenze, Thando?”

“Angakwenza lokho, Sne.”

“Manje uthi angenzenjani?” UThando umphendule ngokunyakazisa amahlombe.

Uphume endlini yokushintshela eseshesha uSinenhlanhla. Afice abanye abafundi abayisishiyagololunye sebefolile, kulindwe yena nje. Bheka ngoba kwashingamu yakhe useze walibala nokuyiphimisa andukuba angene lapha. Njengoba esemi lapha phambi kwesiziba sokubhukuda nje, ezwe uvalo lumuthi nke. Yize isiziba abalolongelwa kuso sasinamanzi angajulile, kodwa uSinenhlanhla usenakho ukwesaba. Ukubhukuda lokhu ukufunda ngenxa yomngani wakhe uThando. Uyena Thando omkhulumele nothisha uMudau okwathi ekuqaleni konyaka wamemezela ukuthi ufuna abafundi abazofunda ukubhukuda.

“Sondelani ngapha phela bafundi!” Lihaze izwi likathisha uMudau, insasa esho ngentshebe emahlikihliki. Ufake impahla yabatshuzi eluhlaza. Uma ubuka isakhiwo somzimba wakhe omkhulu ungacabanga ukuthi uzocwila emanzini, kanti phinde. Uthi angathi gxumbu emanzini uphenduka inhlanzi uqobo. Ashaye impempe yakhe maqede ababuke ngamunye ngamunye abafundi. Aqale entombazaneni ekwesobunxele aze ayogcina kuSinenhlanhla. “Nisakwesaba yini namanje ukubhukuda?”

Kuthi nya. Abafundi balibale ukugqolozela amanzi asesizibeni kwasengathi balindele wona ukuthi abaphendulele. “Ngithi nisakwesaba yini ukubhukuda?” Abanye baphendule ngokunikina amakhanda kuthi abanye banyenyeze bathi: “Cha.”

“Nonke nina enisele nibonisile ukuthi ninekhono, ikakhulukazi wena Njilo. Ngonyaka ozayo ngikubona usubhukuda neqembu labafundi abamela lesi sikole.” Kuke kwathi uSinenhlanhla akasho ukuthi yena wayengahlosile ukumela isikole, kodwa wakhetha ukuwagwinya lawo magama. Kusenjalo uthisha ababonise ukuntanta emanzini ubheke phezulu. Cishe bobayishumi sebayakwazi lokhu kuntanta bebhukudela emuva, ngukuguquka baphindela ekuqaleni kwesiziba okusabanikeza inkinga.

“Zamani-ke, kuzoqala wena Njilo. Sondela ungene.” Avele abe wugodo nje uSinenhlanhla, alibale ukuhlafuna ishingamu akhohlwe ukuyiphimisa engakafiki lapha.

“Njilo!”

Athi dlengelele uSinenhlanhla. “Y-yebo thisha?”

“Uthi akuyona ishingamu leyo oyihlafunayo?” esho ethatha amagxathu esondela kuye uthisha uMudau. “Uhlafuna ishingamu, Njilo?”

“Ngi- ngiya-…”

“Njilo! Yini lena oyenzayo manje?” Avele agqunqe abe mnyama uthisha uMudau. Agqolozele uSinenhlanhla. Ngalowo mzuzu uSinenhlanhla ezwe isifuba sakhe sesigubhuzela sengathi inhliziyo yayizophuma ngomlomo. Athule nje alindele lawo magama abanye abafundi abakhonjwa umnyango ngawo. Aphinde azicabange esebikela unina ngokuxoshwa kwakhe, ezwe esefikelwa yisilokozane sezinyembezi. Naye usadidekile ukuthi leli phutha lenzeke kanjani. Uma ngabe ubengacabangi ngalo Bhejasi konke lokhu bekungeke kwenzeke. Enze njani-ke bakithi? Ayigwinye le ntshingamu noma …?

“Nawe Njilo usufuna ngikukhombe umnyango?” Akhophozele uSinenhlanhla. Athi uyakhuluma lenqabe izwi. Elule isandla sakhe uthisha uMudau asisondeze ngasemlonyeni kaSinenhlanhla. “Phimisa leyo nto!” Enze kanjalo uSinenhlanhla. Onke amehlo abanye abafundi asethe njo kuSinenhlanhla. Bonke balindele ukuzwa ukuthi uthisha umkhomba umnyango, kepha kunalokho uthisha amkhombe esizibeni.

“Njilo, ngena wenze njengoba nginibonisile!” USinenhlanhla asondele ngasonqenqemeni lwesiziba. Alinde impempe kathisha. Ayishaye impempe uthisha. USinenhlanhla avele athi gxambu kanye phakathi emanzini bese elula imilenze antante njengekhasi emanzini. Uthisha aqhwebe abanye abafundi abahlanu. “Hheyi nina, nisalindeni? Ngenani nani!” Ashaye impempe kanye, bathi gxambu emanzini abafundi.

***

Sekuthi lapho isikole sesiphumile uSinenhlanhla athole umqhafazo ovela kuThando owawuthi nje: Tgal: Gal ngizohamba noMlu, c u 2morrow. Uthe angawufunda lo mqhafazo wavele wanyukubala ebusweni. Okusho ukuthi uthando seluvutha amalangabi adlobayo phakathi kukaThando noMlungisi?” Kuningi ayezimisele ukukuxoxa noThando namhlanje. Kanti ngokufanayo miningi nemibuzo ayezimisele ukumbuza yona. Kucace ukuthi akukho ukwenza ngokunye, isiyophinde ibonane futhi ngomuso. Agcofoze iselula ngezithupha lapho esephendula uThando. Kuthi angaqiniseka ukuthi akubhalile kwakungezona izinyoni zakhe, ebese ewuthumela kuThando umqhafazo othi.

Sinenhlanhla: C u 2morrow

Anele ayiphindisele esikhwameni iselula, avele asigaxe ehlombe isikhwama, abone indlela eya kwaNjilo. Uhamba kanjena nje nengqondo ayimile. Ayidedele ijubalale ize imlethele isithombe somfana omuhle okhangisa iJungle Oats ovame ukuvela kumabonakude. Lo mfana cishe uyintanga yakhe uSinenhlanhla, yize esikhangisweni ekhuluma isiNgisi kodwa uSinenhlanhla useyazi ukuthi lo mfana uyakwazi ukukhuluma isiZulu. Konje lona igama lalo mfana kungathiwa ngubani?” NguThemba noma Bheki? Akukhumbulayo ukuthi kulesi sikhangiso seJungle Oats lo mfana ubizwa ngoMike. Uthi kambe kungenzeka ukuthi kube yigama lakhe langempela lelo? USinenhlanhla azibone ngamehlo engqondo esehambisana noMike, bebambene ngezandla, abanye abafundi bebabuka ngeso lokuhaha. Kusenjalo uMike amuthi janti ngamehlo akhe amakhulu amhlophe qwa maqede amamatheke kuvele uthotho lwamazinyo nawo emhlophe qwa. Naye aze amamatheke ngempela uSinenhlanhla. Abese eshesha aqalaze ukuthi akekho yini umuntu ombonayo. Bangathini kodwa abantu sebembona emamatheka yedwa?

Kanti umamathekiswa ngumfana weJungle Oats nje usezobonwa nguMzekezeke. Banqwamane khona esangweni likanogada elase livulwe nge. UMzekezeke naye kumjabulise ukumamathekelwa yisimomondiya esinjengoSinenhlanhla. Bake bathi ukugqolozelana umzuzwana sengathi kukhona okubathonyile. Babingelelane futhi bese beyahambisana njalo. Bahambisana kanje isithombe somfana weJungle Oats sesithanda ukufiphala lapha engqondweni kaSinenhlanhla. Okusho ukuthi uMike lo wayesezonyamalala kancane kancane ukuze anikeze uSinenhlanhla ithuba lokuxoxa noMzekezeke? Namhlanje kwasengathi ulimi lukaMzekezeke luyasombuluka. Azithamunde.

“Ngizwa kuthiwa usufunda ukubhukuda.” Asho uMzekezeke bese elithi janti kanye iduku elimanzi lokubhukuda ayesalishuqulile uSinenhlanhla. “Uyakuthanda ngempela yini ukubhukuda wena Sne?”

“Uzwe ngobani ukuthi ngiyabhukuda wena Mzeke?”

“Ngizwile nje, Sne. Mina ngizamile ukuyobhukuda ngonyaka odlule kodwa eyi …” Bese egcizelela ngokuphakamisa amahlombe uMzekezeke. “Kona ngizamile ngempela, uyazi, kodwa nje …”

“Kodwa kwenzanjani, Mzeke?”

UMzekezeke abe esemlandisa indlela uthisha uMudau amhlenga ngayo eseminza. Asho nokuthi kusukela ngalolo suku useyakwesaba ukubhukuda.

“Kanti wena wacishe waminza ngempela vele Mzeke?” Ubuza uSinenhlanhla naye esesibona ngamehlo engqondo lesi sinaphungana sesiminza.

“Ukuthi amanzi vele ngiyawesaba mina, Sne.”

“Kodwa mhlawumbe ukuba awuzange usheshe uyeke ubuzokwazi ukubhukuda nawe. Nami ngisakwesaba ukubhukuda, kodwa uthisha uthi ngiza kahle.” Ingxoxo bayiphambukisele eZibalweni. Lesi yisona sifundo bobabili abasizwisisayo futhi abasithokozelayo.

“Mina nomfowethu omdala wayezishaya iZibalo. Ukuthi naye washeshe washiya isikole,” sekusho uMzeke.

“Mzeke, uyazi bengilokhu ngithi ngizokubuza, kungani bekubiza ukuthi unguMzeke?”

“Yingoba igama lami nginguZakhele nokuthi umfowethu …” Abindeke uMzekezeke.

“Nokuthini Mzeke?”

“Hhayi, ngizokutshela lokho ngolunye usuku, Sne.” Kudlule ingelosi. Kuzwakale umsindo wezicathulo kuphela lapho lowo nalowo esedla umgwaqo. Kube sengathi umbuzo kaSinenhlanhla uvele washabalalisa nomfutho wokuxoxa kuMzekezeke. USinenhlanhla azame ukuthola esinye isihloko ababengaxoxa ngaso, kodwa kuvele kuphinde kugqame isithombe sikaMike.

“Mzeke, uyayibuka iTV?”

“Yebo ngiyayibuka. Yini? Kwenzenjani?”

“Eee,” Abe namahlonyana uSinenhlanhla. Aphakule umlomo bese ethi: “Kunomfana lapha weJungle Oats lapha o …”

“Usho lomfana omuhle, uTshepo?”

Eme athi khimilili uSinenhlanhla. “Uyamazi yini kanti wena Mzeke?”

“Yebo ngiyamazi, uhlala eNaledi. Usefunda u-Grade 11 manje.”

“Ufunda kusiphi isikole?”

“Hmmm …” Azishaye esiphundu ngesandla uMzekezeke. “Konje bathi uTshepo ufundaphi nje?” Uyazi, ngiyalikhohlwa leli gama lesikole. Akhumbule. “Wo, ngaze ngakhumbula, ufunda eHyde Park Boys. Yena sasike sidlale ngama-skateboard sinaye. Futhi sasihamba nesonto elilodwa; ukuthi nami ngasuke ngayeka ukuyodlala nabo eNaledi. Mhlwawumbe nami ngabe e manje sengike ngavela kuTV.”

“Usahlala khona eNaledi?”

“Yebo, usahlala khona. Futhi ubaba wakhe kuthiwa ungumsakazi weLesedi FM, kanti umama wakhe usebenzela iphephandaba.”

“Muhle loya mfana, Mzeke.”

“Maningi amantombazane amthandayo uTshepo, kodwa yena sengathi akawathandi nje. Futhi angazi ukuthi uTshepo unjani, uyazi?”

“Ungakwazi ukungihambisa kuye, Mzeke?”

Aphefumulele phezulu uMzekezeke. “UTshepo utholakala kalula ngeMigqibelo kuphela, nakhona uma ngabe yena nabangani bakhe bengeke baye eMaponya Mall. Okusho ukuthi kofanele nathi siye eMaponya-ke.”

“Kanti kwenziwani eMaponya, Mzeke?”

“EMaponya phela kunendawo lapho kudlalwa khona ama-games. UTshepo uyawathanda kakhulu ama-games.” Bavumelane ngokuthi kulo Mgqibelo uSinenhlanhla noMzekezeke babezohamba beyohlangana noTshepo eNaledi.

Bahlukane lapho uMzekezeke esebamba indlela ebheke kubo.