take a break with a book! -...
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This supplement is available during term times in the following Times Media newspapers: The Times in the Western Cape, The Sowetan in the Free State, Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal; The Daily Dispatch and The Herald in the Eastern Cape.
Read to me. Explore a story.
Ndifundele. Masichubelane ngebali.
Drive your imagination
Edition 53 IsiXhosa, English
Take a break with a book!
Kufutshane nje kuza kuqala iiholide zokuphela konyaka – ixesha lokuphumla nokuchitha ixesha nosapho kunye nabahlobo. Ewe kakade, iiholide zisinika ixesha elithe chatha lokufunda nokwabelana ngamabali. Nazi ezinye iingcebiso zeholide zokukugcina wena nabantwana bakho ninamabali oneleyo kude kube phakathi kowama-2014!1. Khangela amabali eninokuwafunda
kunye. Boleka iincwadi kwithala leencwadi ezibhalwe ngababhali ongazange wakufunda abakubhalileyo, okanye uboleke iincwadi eziliqela ezibhalwe ngabona babhali ubathandayo. Funda amabali ethu ku-www.nalibali.org naku-www.nalibali.mobi.
2. Qamba amabali. Qalisa ukubalisela usapho lwakho ibali oliqambileyo. Emva koko, yongeza kwelo bali iziqendwana esitsha mihla le ukuze liqhubeke phambili. Ninganikana amathuba xa ninonke, ingulowo esongeza isiqendwana lide liphele ibali elo.
3. Yilani ikona yokufunda. Khuthaza abantwana bakho bafumane indawo abanokuyenza ikona yokufunda yeeholide ekhaya. Bavumele ukuba
basebenzise imiqamelo neengubo ukuyenza ibe ntofontofo ikona leyo. Yihombise ngemizobo yabo kunye neminye imifanekiso, ngokufanayo nepowusta yeholide yethu ekhethekileyo ekwiphepha lesi-8!
4. Tshintsha ixesha lemisebenzi yasekhaya libe lixesha lokubalisa amabali. Cela ilungu losapho ukuba lifunde ngokuvakalayo kweyona ncwadi liyithandayo lo gama abanye belungisa izidlo okanye beqoshelisa emva kwesidlo. Nikanani amathuba okufunda ngokuvakalayo.
5. Yilani imenyu. Yiba nomfanekiso-ngqondweni wokutya abona balinganiswa obathandayo abanokukuthanda, nize nibhale imenyu yamaxoki-xoki yesidlo sangokuhlwa eninokubamemela kuso.
6. Bhala ibali. Yenza iincwadi ngokudibanisa ngesiteyipla amaphepha angabhalwanga nto, uze ubhale amabali nabantwana bakho. Abantwana abancinane bangazoba imifanekiso. Babhalele loo magama bakuxelela wona, kodwa bakhuthaze ukuba bazibhalele ngokwabo. Vumela abantwana abadalana ukuba bazizobele baze bazibhalele ngokwabo bona. Fundelanani iincwadi zenu – nizifundele nabantwana abanindwendweleyo!
7. Ixesha lemidlalo yeqonga. Khetha ibali elithandwa kakhulu nelinabalinganiswa abanomdla. Ukunye nabantwana bakho, bhalani phantsi okuthethwa ngumlinganiswa ngamnye, uze ubayeke bazikhethele ukuba bafuna ukuba ngoobani na kwaba balinganiswa! Banike izinto zokuhombisa eqongeni ezifana namalaphu, iminqwazi, izihlangu okanye iimpahla, nize ke nidlale elo bali eqongeni.
8. Iindawo zokufunda. Zingaphi iindawo ezohlukileyo onokufunda okanye ubalise amabali kuzo ngexesha leeholide? Kunjani ukwenze oko emotweni okanye ebhasini, phantsi komthi, okanye ngaselwandle? Gcina uluhlu uze ekupheleni kweeholide, wabelane nathi ngalo ngokulubhala kuFacebook: www.facebook.com/nalibaliSA. Kananjalo sixelele nezihloko zamabali oye wawonwabela!
Nibe neeholide ezimyoli ezizele ngamabali!
Thatha ikhefu ngencwadi!
Soon it will be the end-of-year holidays – time to relax and spend time with family and friends. And, of course, holidays give us more time to read and share stories. Here are some holiday ideas to keep you and your children stocked up on stories well into 2014!1. Find stories to read together. Borrow library books
by authors that you have never read before, or borrow more books by your favourite authors. Read our stories on www.nalibali.org and on www.nalibali.mobi.
2. Make up stories. Start telling your family a story that you have made up. Then add another instalment each day to continue your story. You can all take turns adding each day’s instalment until the story ends.
3. Create a reading corner. Encourage your children to find a place at home that they can make into a holiday reading corner. Let them use cushions and blankets to make it comfortable. Decorate it with their drawings and other pictures, like our special holiday poster on page 8!
4. Change chore time into story time. Let a family member read aloud from their favourite book while others are preparing meals or cleaning up afterwards. Take turns being the person who reads aloud.
5. Create a menu. Imagine the foods your favourite story characters would like and write a pretend menu for a supper you would invite them to.
6. Write a story. Make books by stapling blank sheets of paper together and write stories with your children. Younger children can draw the pictures. Offer to write the words they tell you, but also encourage them to write for themselves. Let older children draw and write on their own. Read your books to each other – and to children who visit!
7. Theatre time. Choose a well-loved story with exciting characters. With your children, write down what each character says and let them choose who they want to be! Provide props like pieces of fabric, hats, shoes or clothes and act out the story.
8. Reading places. How many different places can you read or tell stories in during the holidays? How about in a car or bus, under a tree, or on the beach? Keep a list and at the end of the holidays, share your list by posting it on Facebook: www.facebook.com/nalibaliSA. Tell us the names of the stories you enjoyed too!
Have a fabulous story-filled holiday!
For more ideas on sharing stories with children, visit www.nalibali.org or www.nalibali.mobi.
Ukuze ufumane iinkcukacha ezithe vetshe ngokwabelana ngamabali nabantwana, ndwendwela ku-www.nalibali.org okanye ku-www.nalibali.mobi.
We will be
taking a break until the last week of January 2014.
Join us then for more Nal’ibali reading magic!
Siza kuthi nqumama, khe sithathe ikhefu kude kube yiveki
yokugqibela kweyoMqungu kowama-2014. Sijoyine ngelo xesha ukuze ufumane obunye
ubunewunewu beNal’ibali!
2
Drive your imagination
Get story active!With your children, enjoy reading the story, Zebra and Crocodile on page 4. It’s best to read the story in your children’s mother tongue/s before reading it in the other language provided. Here are some ideas for you to try out before, during and after reading the story.
Before• Let your children tell you what they know about zebras and crocodiles. Then
take a quick look at the pictures and guess what the story is about.
• Ask older children to think about what kind of character a zebra and a crocodile might be in a story. For example, do they think a crocodile would be sly and mean, or shy and kind? Why?
During• As you read, help develop children’s prediction skills by asking, “What do
you think will happen next?” after you have read frame 4 of the story.
• Ask your children to find the smaller animals in some of the pictures and comment on what they are doing.
• If your children can already read, let them read the words of Zebra and/or Crocodile if they want to.
After• Talk about the story with your children. Do they think the zebra or the
crocodile was the cleverest, and why? What do you think Crocodile might have said after Zebra got away at the end of the story?
• Let your children have fun retelling the story or telling their own story using the Zebra and Crocodile puppets on this page.
Yenza ibali linike umdla! Wena nabantwana bakho, yonwabelani ukufunda ibali elithi, UQwarhashe kunye noNgwenya kwiphepha lesi-4. Kungcono ukulifunda ibali ngolwimi lwasekhaya lomntwana phambi kokulifunda ngolunye ulwimi elibhalwe ngalo. Nazi ezinye iingcebiso onokuzizama phambi kokufunda, ngexesha ulifunda nasemva kokuba ulifundile ibali.
Phambi kokuba ufunde• Vumela abantwana bakho bakuxelele abakwaziyo ngamaqwarhashe neengwenya.
Emva koko jongani emifanekisweni nize niqashele ukuba lingantoni na ibali.• Buza abantwana abadalana ukuba bacinga ukuba iqwarhashe nengwenya zizakuba
ngabalinganiswa abanjani ebalini. Umzekelo, ingaba bacinga ukuba ingwenya izakuba namaqhinga nenkohlakalo, okanye izakuba neentloni nobubele? Ngoba kutheni?
Xa ufunda• Lo gama kufundwayo, nceda ekuphuhliseni izakhono zabantwana bakho zokuxela
kwangenx’ engaphambili ngokubabuza wenjenje, “Nicinga ukuba kuza kwenzeka ntoni emva koku?” emva kokuba ufunde isakhelo sesi-4 ebalini.
• Cela abantwana bakho ukuba bafune izilwanyana ezincinane kweminye yemifanekiso baze benze amagqabantshintshi ngoko zikwenzayo.
• Ukuba abantwana bakho sele bekwazi ukufunda, bavumele bafunde amazwi kaQwarhashe kunye/okanye nakaNgwenya.
Emva kokufunda• Ncokola ngebali kunye nabantwana bakho. Ingaba bacinga ukuba yeyiphi eyona
ibonakalise ubukrelekrele phakathi kukaQwarhashe noNgwenya, kutheni becinga njalo? Bacinga ukuba uNgwenya ushiyeke esithini, emva kokuba uQwarhashe ephuncukile ekupheleni kwebali?
• Vumela abantwana bakho bazonwabise ngokubalisa kwakhona ibali okanye babalise awabo amabali besebenzisa ipapethi kaQwarhashe nekaNgwenya ezikweli phepha.
Thank you!A big, Nal’ibali thank you to Wimpy for sponsoring our Story Stars feature in 2013! Wimpy provided meal vouchers to individuals and organisations selected as Story Stars between May and November 2013 in appreciation of what they are doing to make reading and writing part of children’s daily lives.
Maz’ enethole!AbakwaNal’ibali benza umbulelo ongazenzisiyo kwabakwaWimpy ngokuxhasa inqaku lethu eliphambili leeMbalasane zamaBali ngowama-2013! AbakwaWimpy babonelele ngeevawutsha zokutya kubantu nemibutho ekhethwe njengeeMbalasane zamaBali phakathi kwekaCanzibe neyeNkanga kowama-2013, ukubabulela ngabakwenzayo ukwenza ukufunda nokubhala kube yinxalenye yobomi bemihla ngemihla babantwana.
Enjoy listening to stories in isiXhosa and in English on Nal‘ibali's radio show:
Umhlobo Wenene FM on Monday to Wednesday from 9.30 a.m. to 9.40 a.m.
SAfm on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 1.50 p.m. to 2.00 p.m.
Nal’ibali on radio! UNal’ibali kunomathotholo!Yonwabela ukuphulaphula amabali ngesiXhosa nangesiNgesi kwinkqubo kanomathotholo yeNal‘ibali:
Umhlobo Wenene FM ngoMvulo ukuya kuLwesithathu kusasa, ukususela ngo-9.30 ukuya ngo-9.40.
SAfm ngoMvulo, ngoLwesithathu nangoLwesihlanu emini, ukususela ngo-1.50 ukuya ngo-2.00.
How to make the puppets
1. Cut along the black lines and use glue to paste the pictures onto a sheet of paper or thin cardboard.
2. Cut carefully along the red dotted lines.3. Tape the story characters to thin sticks or
drinking straws to make puppets.
Indlela yokwenza iipapethi
1. Sika ulandela imigca emnyama uze usebenzise iglu ukuncamathisela imifanekiso kuxwebhu lwephepha okanye kwikhadibhodi ebhityileyo.
2. Sika ngobunono ulandela imigca engamachaphaza abomvu.
3. Ncamathisela ngeteyiphu abalinganiswa kwizinti ezibhityileyo okanye kwimfunxa zokusela ukuze wenze iipapethi.
3
Drive your imagination
Making a Nal'ibali differenceEvery day, in six provinces around South Africa, Nal’ibali’s Cluster Mentors inspire and support others to run reading clubs in which children can experience the joy of reading for pleasure. Here’s your chance to meet them!
Ukwenza umahluko ngeNal'ibaliYonke imihla, kumaphondo amathandathu aseMzantsi Afrika, abaCebisi bamaQela eNal’ibali bavuselela kwaye baxhase abanye ukuba baqhube iiklabhu zokufunda, apho abantwana bafumana amava obuncwane bokufundela ukuzonwabisa. Eli lithuba lakho lokuhlangana nabo!
Story stars Iimbalasane zamabali
Number of clubs: 12
Favourite reading place: the library or any quiet place
Reading is … life!
UGcinumuzi Radebe (waseKZN)
Inani leeklabhu: li-12
Eyona ndawo ayithandayo yokufunda: lithala leencwadi okanye nakuyiphi na indawo ezolileyo
Ukufunda … bubomi!
David Jeffery (Western Cape)
Number of clubs: 24
Favourite childhood book: The Enormous Crocodile by Roald Dahl
Reading is … an adventure.
UDavid Jeffery (waseNtshona Koloni)
Inani leeklabhu: ngama-24
Eyona ncwadi yabantwana ayithandayo: ngu-The Enormous Crocodile ngokubhalwe nguRoald Dahl
Ukufunda … kukuba lidelakufa nokuzungeza.
Tsepiso Nzayo (Eastern Cape)Number of clubs: 10Favourite children’s book: Umazanendaba by Gcina Mhlophe
Favourite reading place: my bedroomUTsepiso Nzayo (waseMpuma Koloni)Inani leeklabhu: li-10Eyona ncwadi yabantwana
ayithandayo: ngu-Umazanendaba ngokubhalwe nguGcina MhlopheEyona ndawo ayithandayo yokufunda: ligumbi lam lokulala
Malusi Puwe (Eastern Cape)
Number of clubs: 22
Favourite reading place: outside
Reading is … essential.
UMalusi Puwe (waseMpuma Koloni)
Inani leeklabhu: ngama-22
Eyona ndawo ayithandayo yokufunda: kuphandle
Ukufunda … ngundoqo.
Sithembiso Nhlapo (Free State)Number of clubs: 14Favourite children’s story: Three friends in a taxi by Maryanne and Shayle BesterReading is … a key to understanding your world.USithembiso Nhlapo (waseFreyistata)Inani leeklabhu: li-14Elona bali labantwana alithandayo: ngu-Three friends in a taxi ngokubhalwe nguMaryanne noShayle BesterUkufunda … sisitshixo sokuqonda ihlabathi lakho.
Gcinumuzi Radebe (KZN)
Rinae Sikhwari (Limpopo)
Number of clubs: 22
Favourite reading place: school library
Reading is … amazing and adventurous!
URinae Sikhwari (waseLimpopo)
Inani leeklabhu: ngama-22
Eyona ndawo yokufunda ayithandayo:
lithala leencwadi lasesikolweni
Ukufunda … kuyamangalisa kwaye
ludelokufa nozungezo!
Bongani Godide (Gauteng)Number of clubs: 30 Favourite childhood story: Tselane, a Sesotho tale from long agoFavourite reading places: reading club and at home
UBongani Godide (waseGauteng)Inani leeklabhu: ngama-30 Elona bali alithandayo lasebuntwaneni bakhe: ngu-Tselane, ibali leSesotho lakudaladala
Ezona ndawo azithandayo zokufunda: yiklabhu yokufunda nasekhaya
4
12
Josh
ua S
. Mad
umul
laA
rnol
d Bi
rung
i
Zebr
a an
d Cr
ocod
ile w
ere
grea
t frie
nds.
Cr
ocod
ile li
ved
in th
e ca
ves
of R
uaha
Riv
er.
UQ
war
hash
e ku
nye
noN
gwen
ya
babe
ngab
ahlo
bo a
bakh
ulu.
UN
gwen
ya
way
ehla
la k
wim
iqol
omba
eph
ezu
kom
lam
bo iR
uaha
.
Zebr
a liv
ed a
mon
g th
e bu
shes
and
th
e te
nder
, sw
eet g
rass
.
UQ
war
hash
e w
ayeh
lala
kum
atyh
olo
anen
gca
esw
iti n
etha
mbi
leyo
.
Afte
r som
e tim
e, C
roco
dile
not
iced
that
Ze
bra
look
ed fa
t and
juic
y. S
udde
nly,
he
felt
rath
er h
ungr
y.
Ekuh
ambe
ni k
wex
esha
, uN
gwen
ya
waq
wal
asel
a uk
uba
uQw
arha
she
way
etye
be n
gend
lela
evu
zisa
am
athe
. N
goku
khaw
ulez
a w
aziv
a eb
ulam
ba.
Zebr
a of
ten
wen
t do
wn
to th
e riv
er
to v
isit
her f
riend
Cr
ocod
ile a
nd
to d
rink
the
fresh
rive
r w
ater
.
UQ
war
hash
e w
ayet
hand
a uk
uham
bela
um
hlob
o w
akhe
em
lanj
eni a
sele
am
anzi
am
yoli
omla
mbo
iRua
ha.
1.
2.3.
4.
Wat
hi x
a ep
hind
a uQ
war
hash
e et
yele
la
uNgw
enya
, wab
e en
gafu
man
eki n
daw
o um
hlob
o w
akhe
. “N
ceda
ni, n
ceda
ni!
Ndi
yarh
axw
a!” s
atsh
o is
ikha
lo s
ivel
a em
lanj
eni.
Whe
n Ze
bra
next
vis
ited
Croc
odile
, her
fri
end
was
now
here
to b
e se
en. “
Hel
p,
help
! I a
m d
row
ning
!” c
ame
a cr
y fro
m
the
river
.
UQ
war
hash
e w
aziju
la e
mla
njen
i uku
ya
kuhl
angu
la u
siza
na lo
mhl
obo
wak
he
oway
esifa
. “H
ahah
ahaa
aa! M
mm
mm
! M
nand
i! N
goku
ndi
za k
ukut
ya!”
w
ahle
ka u
Ngw
enya
.
Zebr
a th
rew
her
self
into
the
river
to
resc
ue h
er p
oor d
ying
frie
nd.
“Hah
ahah
aaaa
! Yum
! Now
I am
goi
ng to
ea
t you
!” la
ughe
d Cr
ocod
ile.
“Ow
u! H
ayi k
hona
, aw
usok
uze
mhl
obon
dini
on
galu
ngan
ga!”
wak
hwaz
a uQ
war
hash
e nj
engo
ko e
khab
a uN
gwen
ya k
abuh
lung
u ez
intla
funw
eni.
“Yhu
! Ndi
sind
e ce
bets
hu,”
wak
hefu
zela
uQ
war
hash
e, e
qhuq
ha e
sim
ka.
“Oh
no y
ou a
re n
ot, b
ad fr
iend
!” s
hout
ed Z
ebra
as
she
kic
ked
Croc
odile
har
d on
his
long
jaw
. “P
hew
, tha
t was
a n
arro
w e
scap
e!”
pant
ed Z
ebra
, tro
tting
aw
ay.
5.6. 8.
7.
UQ
war
hash
e ku
nye
noN
gwen
ya
Zeb
ra a
nd C
roco
dile
5
Drive your imagination
Supplement produced by The Project for the Study of Alternative Education in South Africa (PRAESA) and Times Media Education. Translated by Nobuntu Stengile. Nal’ibali character illustrations by Rico.
Can you find the names of the Nal'ibali characters in this word search?
Ungakwazi ukufumana amagama abalinganiswa beNal'ibali ngokuwakhangela kule phazili yamagama?
NEO
BELLA
GOGO
HOPE
NOODLE
MBALI
AFRIKA
DINTLE
MME WA AFRIKA
JOSH
C G O G O M X H I M BA D E O O B L D O S OA F R I K A M I N H LJ N O O D L E N A O LO K N P Q I R T S P AS T B E L L A L U E RH W M Y Z A N E O I PM M E W A A F R I K A
Nal'ibali fun! Ebumnandini kwaNal'ibali!Can you find six dif ferences between these two pictures?
Help Noodle find his way to Bella!
Ingaba ungazifumana izinto ezintandathu eyohluke ngazo le mifanekiso mibini?
Nceda uNoodle ukuba afumane indlela eya kuBella!
A B
6
The
amaz
ing
tale
of f
loat
ing
Zim
khith
a“O
ne, t
wo,
thre
e, a
ltoge
ther
now
…”
orde
red
the
ki
nd w
oman
.
And
with
that
, the
cro
wd
poin
ted
into
the
sky
and
roar
ed,
“Hey
, Zim
khith
a! W
e ca
n se
e up
you
r dre
ss!”
Far
up
in
the
clou
ds Z
imkh
itha
hear
d th
em. S
he lo
oked
dow
n an
d sa
w fi
ve h
undr
ed p
eopl
e po
intin
g at
her
dre
ss, a
nd sh
e st
oppe
d la
ughi
ng.
Dow
n sh
e flo
ated
. But
as s
he c
ame
dow
n th
e cl
ouds
tic
kled
her
, and
she
thou
ght h
ow fu
nny
it w
as to
be
so fa
r up
whi
le e
very
one
else
was
dow
n th
ere.
And
she
bega
n to
laug
h ag
ain.
“Oh
dear
,” sa
id h
er d
ad. “
That
did
n’t w
ork.
”
“I k
now
!” sa
id h
er m
om. “
Tell
her w
e ca
n se
e he
r sp
otte
d pa
ntie
s.”
So th
e cr
owd
took
a
deep
bre
ath
and
shou
ted
at th
e to
p of
thei
r lun
gs,
“Hey
, Zim
khith
a!
We
can
see
your
sp
otty
pan
ties!
”
And
Zim
khith
a st
oppe
d la
ughi
ng a
nd fl
oate
d do
wn
fifty
met
res.
But
as
she
look
ed a
t the
hu
ge tr
affic
jam
and
th
e TV
cre
w a
nd th
e th
ousa
nds o
f peo
ple
wat
chin
g he
r, sh
e st
arte
d to
laug
h ag
ain.
And
up
she
wen
t aga
in.
The
kind
wom
an sh
ook
her h
ead.
“W
e’re
goi
ng to
hav
e to
be
a lit
tle b
it m
eane
r,” sh
e sa
id fi
rmly
. “A
ny m
inut
e no
w th
e w
ind
will
cat
ch h
er, a
nd sh
e w
ill fl
oat a
way
fo
reve
r. W
hat i
s the
wor
st th
ing
you
can
thin
k of
to sa
y to
her
?”
They
all
put t
heir
head
s tog
ethe
r and
thou
ght a
nd th
ough
t an
d th
ough
t. Fi
nally
they
had
it.
“Alto
geth
er n
ow,”
cal
led
Zim
khith
a’s d
ad, s
tand
ing
on th
e ro
of o
f a M
erce
des B
enz.
“Ev
eryb
ody
shou
t as
loud
ly a
s you
can
, all
at o
nce.
”
And
the
who
le c
row
d of
four
thou
sand
peo
ple,
and
th
e ye
llow
dog
, and
the
blac
k ca
t, an
d th
e m
an se
lling
ba
nana
s all
shou
ted
at o
nce,
“H
EY Z
IMK
HIT
HA
!
Zim
khith
a’s d
ad lo
oked
up,
and
ther
e Zi
mkh
itha
was
, floa
ting
high
, hig
h in
the
sky
abov
e th
em, l
ike
a bi
g pi
nk b
allo
on.
“Oh
my
wor
d!”
excl
aim
ed M
om. “
How
in th
e w
orld
did
she
get
up th
ere?
”
The
kind
wom
an st
ared
up
into
the
sky,
wat
chin
g Zi
mkh
itha
bobb
ing
abou
t in
the
clou
ds. “
Is sh
e …
laug
hing
?” sh
e as
ked.
“Zim
khith
a al
way
s lau
ghs,”
said
her
mom
and
dad
toge
ther
. “W
e ca
n’t s
top
her.
List
en.”
Fro
m h
igh,
hig
h up
in th
e sk
y Zi
mkh
itha’
s lau
gh c
ame
tinkl
ing
dow
n lik
e a
little
bel
l.
“Oh
no!”
crie
d he
r mom
, wrin
ging
her
han
ds. “
She
mig
ht fa
ll in
to th
e se
a.”
“Or,
onto
a ro
se b
ush,
” gr
oane
d he
r dad
.
“I a
m a
scie
ntis
t,” sa
id th
e ki
nd w
oman
, “an
d on
e of
the
first
th
ings
we
lear
n is
that
air
float
s. Sh
e m
ust h
ave
swal
low
ed so
m
uch
air f
rom
laug
hing
that
she
has fl
oate
d up
like
a b
allo
on.”
“Oh,
oh,
oh,
” cr
ied
Zim
khith
a’s p
aren
ts.
“The
re’s
onl
y on
e w
ay to
get
her
dow
n,”
said
the
kind
wom
an.
“We’
ll ha
ve to
mak
e he
r cry
.”
“Oh
dear
,” sa
id h
er m
othe
r. “T
hat’s
not
eas
y. S
he’s
such
a
gigg
ling
child
.”
“We’
ll ha
ve to
shou
t som
ethi
ng h
orrib
le to
her
,” sa
id
Zim
khith
a’s d
ad, s
obbi
ng in
to h
is h
andk
erch
ief.
“We
need
lots
and
lots
of p
eopl
e to
all
shou
t at o
nce,
” sa
id
the
wom
an. “
She’
ll ne
ver h
ear j
ust t
he th
ree
of u
s.” S
o th
ey
rang
all
the
door
bells
, and
ask
ed th
e pe
ople
to c
ome
outs
ide.
Zi
mkh
itha’
s dad
stop
ped
the
traffi
c an
d as
ked
ever
yone
to
com
e an
d he
lp. S
oon
a bi
g cr
owd
had
gath
ered
, and
they
wer
e po
intin
g an
d w
avin
g an
d fil
min
g Zi
mkh
itha
on th
eir c
ellp
hone
s.
Zim
khith
a la
ughe
d an
d la
ughe
d. It
was
the
funn
iest
thin
g sh
e ha
d ev
er se
en.
“Wha
t are
we
goin
g to
say
to m
ake
her c
ry?”
ask
ed th
e
kind
wom
an.
“I k
now
!” sa
id Z
imkh
itha’
s dad
, and
he
told
them
wha
t to
say.
WE
CA
N
SEE
YO
UR
PA
NTI
ES,
AN
D T
HER
E’S
A H
OLE
IN
THEM
!”
And
Zim
khith
a st
oppe
d la
ughi
ng.
Dow
n sh
e ca
me.
D
own,
dow
n,
dow
n. E
ven
furth
er d
own,
and
fu
rther
dow
n an
d fu
rther
dow
n,
until
fina
lly sh
e
was
alm
ost o
n
the
grou
nd.
“My
prec
ious
bab
y!”
crie
d he
r mom
, gra
bbin
g he
r leg
s and
pu
lling
her
bac
k to
Ear
th. “
Than
k go
odne
ss y
ou’r
e sa
fe!”
Zim
khith
a lo
oked
at t
he c
row
d of
peo
ple
all c
heer
ing
and
laug
hing
and
cla
ppin
g th
eir h
ands
. She
was
so e
mba
rras
sed
that
she
cove
red
her f
ace
and
ran
hom
e.
“Oh
dear
,” sa
id h
er d
ad. “
We’
ve h
urt h
er fe
elin
gs. S
he’s
ve
ry u
pset
.”
So th
e pe
ople
put
thei
r hea
ds to
geth
er a
gain
and
thou
ght o
f th
e rig
ht th
ing
to sa
y to
che
er h
er u
p.
“Alto
geth
er n
ow,”
cal
led
her m
om.
And
they
shou
ted,
“H
EY, Z
IMK
HIT
HA
! WE
WER
E O
NLY
JOK
ING
!”
Zim
khith
a st
oppe
d ru
nnin
g.
“WE
PRO
MIS
E Y
OU
!” th
ey a
ll sh
oute
d. “
WE
CO
ULD
N’T
R
EALL
Y S
EE Y
OU
R P
AN
TIES
, BEC
AU
SE Y
OU
’RE
WEA
RIN
G P
INK
TR
OU
SER
S!”
And
Zim
khith
a st
arte
d to
laug
h.
“Oop
s, gr
ab h
er q
uick
ly,”
shou
ted
her m
om.
And
they
did
. Jus
t in
time.
12
Stor
y by
Hel
en B
rain
Illus
tratio
ns b
y M
agrie
t Brin
k
There
was
onc
e a
girl
nam
ed Z
imkh
itha
who
nev
er
stop
ped
laug
hing
. She
mad
e he
r dad
mad
. One
day
he
was
driv
ing
her h
ome
from
scho
ol. W
hen
he re
ache
d th
e be
ginn
ing
of th
eir r
oad,
he’
d ha
d en
ough
! He
stop
ped
th
e ca
r.
“Are
you
goi
ng
to st
op la
ughi
ng
or a
re y
ou g
oing
to
wal
k ho
me?
” he
ask
ed. B
ut
Zim
khith
a ju
st
laug
hed
loud
er.
“Rig
ht,”
he
said
, “y
ou c
an w
alk
hom
e.”
He
mad
e he
r get
out
of
the
car a
nd h
e dr
ove
hom
e.
“Whe
re’s
Zim
khith
a?”
aske
d he
r mom
whe
n he
r dad
wal
ked
in
the
fron
t doo
r. “I
’m c
ooki
ng h
er fa
vour
ite d
inne
r.”
“Oh
dear
,” h
er d
ad sa
id. “
I mad
e he
r wal
k ho
me
from
the
corn
er b
ecau
se sh
e w
ould
n’t s
top
laug
hing
.”
“My
prec
ious
bab
y?”
crie
d Zi
mkh
itha’
s mom
. “Yo
u m
ade
my
prec
ious
bab
y w
alk
hom
e? A
ll al
one?
We’
d be
tter g
o an
d fin
d he
r.” T
hey
look
ed a
nd lo
oked
, but
ther
e w
as n
o si
gn o
f Zi
mkh
itha.
“Whe
re d
id y
ou le
ave
her?
” as
ked
Mom
. “W
here
is sh
e, R
on?”
“Oh
dear
,” m
utte
red
Zim
khith
a’s d
ad, c
heck
ing
unde
r eve
ry
bush
and
up
ever
y tre
e.
“Zim
khith
a,”
calle
d he
r mom
. “W
here
are
you
?”
A w
oman
stop
ped
her c
ar. “
Can
I he
lp y
ou?”
she
aske
d.
“We’
ve lo
st o
ur li
ttle
girl,
” sa
id Z
imkh
itha’
s mom
. “H
ave
yo
u se
en h
er?”
The
wom
an d
rove
roun
d th
e bl
ock
and
cam
e ba
ck to
repo
rt,
“I sa
w a
bla
ck c
at, a
nd a
yel
low
dog
, and
a m
an se
lling
ba
nana
s. B
ut I
didn
’t se
e a
little
girl
any
whe
re.”
7
12
Ibali elimangalisayo likaZim
khitha owayebhabha
“Ndiyazi!,” w
atsho utata kaZimkhitha, w
aza wabaxelela ukuba
bathini.
“Inye, zimbini, zintathu, m
asitsho sonke sithi …” kuyalela
umfazi onobubele.
Ngalo m
yalelo, isihlwele solatha esibhakabhakeni saza sadum
a, “W
e Zimkhitha! Siyabona ngaphantsi kw
elokhwe yakho!”
Phezulu emafini uZim
khitha wabeva. W
ajonga ezantsi, wabona
abantu abangamakhulu am
ahlanu bolathe ilokhwe yakhe, w
aze w
ayeka ukuhleka.
Wehlela ngezantsi. K
odwa njengokuba esihla nje, am
afu am
nyumbaza, w
aza wacinga ukuba kuyahlekisa ukuba phezulu
kangako, lo gama w
onke umntu esezantsi. W
aze waqalisa
ukuhleka kwakhona.
“Ow
u Nkosi yam
,” watsho utata w
akhe. “Le nto ayisebenzanga.”
“Ndiyazi!” w
atsho um
ama w
akhe. “M
asimxelele ukuba
siyayibona ipenti yakhe enam
achokoza.”
Ngoko ke isihlw
ele saphefum
la kakhulu saza sakhw
aza kangangoko sinakho sathi, “W
e Zimkhitha!
Siyayibona ipenti yakho enam
achokoza!”
UZim
khitha wayeka
ukuhleka, waza w
ehlela ezantsi kangangeem
itha ezingam
ashumi
amahlanu. K
odwa uthe xa ejonga um
ngcelele weem
oto neentatheli zikam
abonwakude nam
awakaw
aka abantu abam
bukeleyo, waqalisa ukuhleka kw
akhona. Wasuka w
anyuka kw
akhona.
Um
fazi onobubele wahlunguzela intloko. “K
uza kufuneka sibe ngathi sithetha kakubi ukodlula oku,” w
atsho, egxininisisa. “N
gawo naw
uphi na umzuzu um
oya ungavuka aze abhabhe em
ke umphelo. Yeyiphi eyona nto im
bi eniyicingayo esinokuyithetha kuye?”
Bahlanganisa iintloko bacinga, bacinga, bacinga. Ekugqibeleni bayifum
ana.
“Sisonke ke ngoku,” wakhw
aza utata kaZimkhitha, ekhw
ele phezulu kw
iMercedes Benz. “W
onke umntu m
akakhwaze
kangangoko anakho, ngaxeshanye.”
Utata kaZim
khitha waphakam
isa amehlo w
ambona, nankuya
uZimkhitha, ebhabha phezulu, phezulu esibhakabhakeni,
njengebhaloni epinki.
“Ow
u bantu bakuthi,” kukhuza uMam
a. “Ufikelele njani
phaya phezulu?”
Um
fazi onobubele wajonga phezulu esibhakabhakeni, ebukele
uZimkhitha ebhabha em
afini. “Ingaba ... u-u-u-yahleka?” w
abuza.
“UZim
khitha wasoloko ehleka,” batsho bobabini um
ama
notata wakhe. “A
sikwazi ukum
enza angahleki. Mam
ela.” Iphum
a phezulu esibhakabhakeni intsini kaZimkhitha,
yayivakala ngathi yintsimbi ekhenkcezayo.
“Ow
u hayini!” ukhale watsho um
ama w
akhe, ethwele izandla
entloko. “Mhlaw
umbi uzakuw
ela elwandle.”
“Okanye kw
imithana enam
eva,” kuncwina utata w
akhe.
“Ndingusonzululw
azi,” watsho um
fazi onobubele, “enye yezinto zokuqala esizifundileyo yeyokuba um
oya uyabhabha. Inoba uginye um
oya omninzi ngexesha ebehleka w
atsho w
abhabha njengebhaloni.”
“Yho, yho, yho, yho” bakhala njalo abazali bakaZim
khitha.
“Inye kuphela indlela esingamthoba ngayo,” w
atsho umfazi
onobubele. “Kufuneka sim
enze alile.”
“Ow
u Nkosi,” kutsho um
ama w
akhe. “Oko akulula.
Yintombazana ehlala igigitheka leya.”
“Kufuneka sikhw
aze, simazise ngento em
bi,” watsho utata
kaZimkhitha, elilela kw
itshefu yakhe.
“Kufuneka sifum
ane abantu abaninzi, size sikhwaze sonke
ngaxeshanye,” utshilo umfazi onobubele. “A
kasoze asive thina sobathathu.” N
goko ke bankqonkqoza kuzo zonke izindlu ezikufutshane, bacela abantu ukuba baphum
e phandle. Utata
kaZimkhitha w
amisa zonke iim
oto, wacela w
onke umntu
ukuba aze kunceda. Ngethutyana nje elingephi kw
akuzele kunyakazela ngabantu ababesolatha, bew
angawangisa, befota
uZimkhitha ngeeselula zabo.
UZim
khitha wahleka, w
ahleka. Le, yayiyeyona nto ihlekisayo w
akhe wayibona.
“Siza kuthini ukuze simenze alile?” kubuza um
fazi onobubele.
Sonke eso sihlwele sam
awaka am
ane abantu nenja emthubi,
ikati emnyam
a kunye nendoda ethengisa iibhanana sakhwaza
ngaxeshanye, “WE ZIM
KH
ITHA
! SIYAYIBO
NA IPEN
TI YA
KH
O, K
WAY
E INO
MG
QO
BHO
!”
UZim
khitha wayeka kw
a oko ukuhleka.
Nanko esihla. W
ehla, wehla, w
ehla. Wehla ngakum
bi nangakum
bi wada ekugqibeleni w
asondela kakhulu emhlabeni.
“Um
ntwana w
am
endimthandayo!”
wakhala um
ama
wakhe, em
thi nqaku ngem
ilenze em
tsalela eMhlabeni.
“Ndibulela ukuba
ungenzakalanga!”
UZim
khitha wajonga
elo gquba labantu laliyiyizela lihleka lim
qhwabela izandla.
Wayeneentloni
kangangokuba w
azigquma, ubuso
wabaleka w
agoduka.
“Ow
u Nkosi yam
,” watsho utata w
akhe. “Simkhathazile.
Ngoku uqum
bile.”
Ngoko ke abantu baphinda badibanisa iintloko bacinga into
efanelekileyo abanokuyithetha, ukumenza angaqum
bi.
“Masitsho sonke ngoku,” w
akhwaza um
ama w
akhe.
Bonke baduma besithi, “W
E ZIMK
HITH
A!
BESIKU
QH
ULA
!”
UZim
khitha wem
a, wayeka ukubaleka.
“SINYA
NISILE!” bakhw
aza bonke. “BESIN
GEN
AK
UY
IBON
I IPENTI YA
KH
O, K
UBA
U
NX
IBE IBHU
LUK
HW
E EPINK
I!”
Waza ke uZim
khitha waqala ukuhleka.
“Yho, m
bambe kam
sinyane,” wakhw
aza umam
a wakhe.
Bamthi nqaku bam
bamba. K
anye ngexesha elifanelekileyo.
Ibali nguHelen B
rainIm
ifanekiso nguMagriet B
rink
Kw
aye kukho intombazana egam
a linguZimkhitha
eyayikuthanda kakhulu ukuhleka. Kw
akumcaphukisa
kakhulu utata wakhe oku kuhleka. N
genye imini
wayem
godusa ngemoto, bevela esikolw
eni. Bathi xa befika ekuqaleni kw
esitalato sabo, wabe sele edikw
e nyhani! Wem
isa im
oto.
“Uza kude uyeke
ukuhleka okanye uza kugoduka ngeenyaw
o?” w
abuza. Kodw
a uZim
khitha wanga
uyaqinisa ukuhleka.
“Kulungile ke,”
utshilo, “hamba
ngeenyawo ugoduke.”
Wam
khupha emotw
eni w
aza waqhuba yena
wagoduka, em
shiya apho.
“Uphi uZim
khitha?” w
abuza umam
a wakhe
ukungena kukatata w
akhe. “Ndipheka okona kutya akuthandayo.”
“E-e, S’thandwa,” w
atsho utata wakhe. “N
dithe makaham
be ngeenyaw
o ukusuka phaya ekoneni kuba ebengayeki ukuhleka.”
“Usana lw
am?” w
akhala wenjenjalo um
ama kaZim
khitha. “U
the usana lwam
malugoduke ngeenyaw
o? Lodwa? M
asiye kum
khangela.” Bakhangela, bakhangela, kodwa w
ayengabonakali ndaw
o uZimkhitha.
“Um
shiye phi?” wabuza uM
ama. “U
phi Ron umntw
an’am?”
“Ow
u madoda,” w
ambom
bozela ngesingqala njalo utata kaZim
khitha, ekhangela ezicithini nasemithini.
“Zimkhitha,” w
akhwaza um
ama w
akhe. “Zimkhitha, uphi?”
Mfazi uthile w
emisa im
oto yakhe. “Ndinganinceda?” w
abuza.
“Silahlekelwe yintom
bi yethu encinane,” watsho um
ama
kaZimkhitha. “U
khe wayibona?”
Lo mfazi w
ajikeleza isitalato ngemoto w
abuya wazisa ingxelo,
“Ndibone ikati em
nyama, inja etyheli nendoda ethengisa ibhanana.
Kodw
a andibonanga ntombazana naphi na.”
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