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UNkukhu noSongololo
Chicken and Millipede
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UNkukhu noSongololo babengabahlobo. Kodwa babesoloko bekhuphisana. Ngenye imini bagqiba ekubeni badlale ibhola ukuze babone ukuba ngubani umdlali ogqwesileyo.
Chicken and Millipede were friends. But they were always competing with each other. One day they decided to play football to see who the best player was.
Baya ebaleni lebhola baqalisa umdlalo. UNkukhu wayekhawuleza kodwa uSongololo wayekhawuleza kakhulu. UNkukhu wayekhabela kude, kodwa uSongololo wayekhabela kude kakhulu. UNkukhu waqalisa ukubanengcwangu.
They went to the football field and started their game. Chicken was fast, but Millipede was faster. Chicken kicked far, but Millipede kicked further. Chicken started to feel grumpy.
Bagqiba ekubeni badlale ipenalthi. Okokuqala uSongololo wayengunozinti. UNkukhu wafaka inqaku lalinye kuphela. Emva koko yabalityeli likaNkukhu lokubangunozinti.
They decided to play a penalty shoot-out. First Millipede was goal keeper. Chicken scored only one goal. Then it was the chicken’s turn to defend the goal.
USongololo wayikhaba ibhola yangena emnatheni. USongololo waphinyaphinyeza ibhola yangena emnatheni. USongololo wangquba ibhola ngentloko yangena emnatheni. USongololo wafaka amanqaku amahlanu.
Millipede kicked the ball and scored.
Millipede dribbled the ball and scored. Millipede headed the ball and scored. Millipede scored five goals.
UNkukhu wayelugcwabevu ngumsindo wokuba engaphumelelanga. Wayengumntu ongafuni ukwamkela ukohlulwa. USongololo waqala ukuhleka ukuba umhlobo wakhe ade abenomsindo ongako.
Chicken was furious that she lost. She was a very bad loser. Millipede started laughing because his friend was making such a fuss.
UNkukhu wayecaphuka kakhulu wade wavula umlomo wakhe kakhulu waze waginya uSongololo.
Chicken was so angry that she opened her beak wide and swallowed the millipede.
Njengokuba uNkukhu wayegoduka, wadibana noMama uSongololo. UMama uSongololo wabuza, “Ubukhe wambona umntwana wam?” UNkukhu zange athethe kwanto. UMama uSongololo wayexhalabile.
As Chicken was walking home, she met Mother Millipede. Mother Millipede asked, “Have you seen my child?” Chicken didn’t say anything.
Mother Millipede was worried.
Emva koko uMama uSongololo weva ilizwi elincinci. “Ndincede mama!” lakhala ilizwi. UMama uSongololo walaqaza ebhekabheka waze wamamelo ngononophelo. Ilizwi lalisuka ngaphakathi enkukhwini.
Then Mother Millipede heard a tiny voice. “Help me mom!” cried the voice. Mother Millipede looked around and listened carefully. The voice came from inside the chicken.
UMama uSongololo wakhwaza, “Sebenzisa amandla wakho akhethekileyo mntwana wam!” Amasongololo ayakwazi ukwenza ivumba elinuka kakubi nelingcamleka kakubi. UNkukhu waqalisa ukuziva engaphilanga.
Mother Millipede shouted, “Use your special power my child!” Millipedes can make a bad smell and a terrible taste. Chicken began to feel ill.
UNkukhu wabhodla. Emva koko waginya waze wathufa. Wathimla waze wakhohlela. Wakhohlela. Isongololo lalisonyanyeka!
Chicken burped. Then she swallowed and spat. Then she sneezed and coughed. And coughed. The millipede was disgusting!
UNkukhu wakhohlela de wakhohlela kwaphuma isongololo ebelisesiswini sakhe. UMama uSongololo nomntwana wakhe barhubuluza banyuka umthi ukuze bazimele.
Chicken coughed until she coughed out the millipede that was in her stomach. Mother Millipede and her child crawled up a tree to hide.
Ukusukela ngelo xesha, iinkukhu namasongololo ziziintshaba.
From that time, chickens and millipedes were enemies.
Written by: Winny AsaraIllustrated by: Magriet BrinkTranslated by: Bukiwe Tiyane
