BUKA indlela lomfana laphatseke kabi ngayo. Ligama lakhe nguJosefa. Bomnakabo basandza kumtsengisa kulamadvodza lasendleleni leya eGibhithe. Kulelo live Josefa abeyowentiwa sigcili. Kodvwa bomnakabo bayentelani intfo lembi kangaka? Kungoba bebamdlela umona.

Babe wabo Jakobe abemtsandza kakhulu Josefa, futsi loko wakukhombisa ngekumtfungela ingubo lenhle lenemikhono lemidze. Bomnakabo labadzala labangu-10 nababona kutsi Jakobe abemtsandza, bacala baba nemona futsi bamtondza. Kodvwa bekunalesinye sizatfu lesabenta bamtondza.

Josefa waba nemaphupho lamabili, futsi kuwo omabili abebhudza bomnakabo bamkhotsamela. Watsi nakabatjela lamaphupho, bamtondza kakhulu.

Kwatsi ngalelinye lilanga bomnakabo bahambile bayowelusa timvu tababe wabo, Jakobe watfuma Josefa kutsi ayobabuka kutsi basekahle yini. Batsi nje kube bambone achamuka, labanye babo batsi: ‘Asimbulaleni!’ Kepha Rubeni umnakabo lomdzala watsi: ‘Cha, asingambulali!’ Esikhundleni sekumbulala, bambamba bamfaka emgodzini lote emanti. Bahlala bacabanga kutsi bamente njani.

Ngaso leso sikhatsi basacabanga, kwachamuka emadvodza ema-Ishmayeli. Juda wavele watsi kubomnakabo: ‘Asimtsengise kunakha ema-Ishmayeli.’ Bonkhe bavumelana. Bamtsengisa ngetinhlavu tesiliva letingu-20. Cabanga nje ngesento sekungabi namusa lesinjena!

Bebatawutsini bomnakaboJosefa kubabe wabo? Besuka babulala imbuti babese benya lengubo lenhle yaJosefa engatini yayo. Batsatsa lengubo baya nayo ekhaya. Nabefika kuJakobe batsi: ‘Naku lesikutfolile. Ase ubuke kutsi akusiyo yini ingubo yaJosefa lena.’

Jakobe wavele wayibona kutsi ngiyo. Wakhala watsi: ‘Silwane lesibi simbulele Josefa.’ BomnakaboJosefa bebafuna kutsi acabange loko. Jakobe weva buhlungu kakhulu. Wakhala emalanga lamanyenti, akhalela indvodzana yakhe. Kodvwa Josefa abengakafi. Ase sibone kutsi yini leyenteka kuye lapho ayiswa khona.