Dolobheni laseMahikeng, kwakuhlala umfana omncane ogama lakhe kwakunguKabelo. Akukho okunye ayekuthanda ngaphezu kokupheka. Wayepheka ukudla okumnandi okwakuthokozelwa yiwo wonke umuntu emndenini wakhe. UKabelo futhi wayebhaka kahle. Wayebhaka amakhekhe nezinkwa. Wayebuye enze nesobho enzela abantu abangenamakhaya emphakathini wakhe.
Langa limbe ekuseni esikoleni, uNkk Ramaila, uthisha kaKabelo, wacela wonke umuntu ekilasini ukuthi asho ukuthi ufuna ukwenzani lapho eseqedile esikoleni.
Intombazane yasukuma. “Ngifuna ukuba yi-astronothi, ngishone le emkhathini,” kwasho yona.
“Ngingathanda ukuba wudokotela,” kwasho omunye wabafana.
Emva kwalokho kwasukuma uKabelo. “Ngingathanda ukuphila ngokupheka,” kwasho yena. “Ngifuna ukuba ngumpheki.”
Zonke izingane zethuka. Zaqale zamgqolozela uKabelo emva kwalokho zaqala ukuhleka.
“Kodwa ukupheka yinto yamantombazane,” kuhleka enye yamantombazane.
UNkk Ramaila watshela wonke umuntu ukuthi athule du. “Ungaba yinoma yini ofuna ukuba yiyo, Kabelo,” esho ngomusa. “Ungabalaleli.” Kodwa imizwa kaKabelo yayisivele ithintekile.
Esesendleleni eya ekhaya ebuya esikoleni…
