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Inkhukhu nelishongololo Chicken and Millipede

Winny Asara

Magriet Brink

Nombuso Mbele, Mthokozisi Zwane

Swati

Level 3

The audio for this story is currently not available.

Inkhukhu nelishongololo bebabangani labakhulu. Kodvwa bebatsandza kucudzelana. Ngalelinye lilanga bavumelana ngekutsi badlale libhola letinyawo kute babone kutsi ngubani longumpetsa.

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 enkhundleni yetemidlalo lapho bafike bacala khona umdlalo wabo. Inkhukhu beyidlala ngekuphangisa, kodvwa lishongololo beliphangisa kakhulu. Inkhukhu beyikhahlelela ekudzeni, kodvwa lishongololo belikhahlelela ekudzeni kakhulu. Ngulapho inkhukhu yacala khona kutfukutsela.

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.

Bavumelana ngekutsi kuyiwe emlotseni. Lishongololo laba lekucala kuvimba emapalini ngalesikhatsi inkhukhu ishaya linye vo ligoli. Inkhukhu nayo yatfola litfuba lekuvimba emapalini kute ivikele ligoli layo.

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.

Lishongololo lakhahlela libhola kwangena ligoli. Lashaya titayela kwabuye kwangena lelinye. Aba sihlanu emagoli langeniswa lishongololo emapalini.

Millipede kicked the ball and scored. Millipede dribbled the ball and scored. Millipede headed the ball and scored. Millipede scored five goals.

Kwayitfukutselisa inkhukhu kwehlulwa lishongololo. Yabonakala njengesehluleki lesicakile ngemuva kwekuhlulwa. Lafa laphela lishongololo ngekubona umngani walo akhatsatekile.

Chicken was furious that she lost. She was a very bad loser. Millipede started laughing because his friend was making such a fuss.

Inkhukhu yatfukutsela ngangekutsi yavula umlomo wayo lomudze yagwinya lishongololo.

Chicken was so angry that she opened her beak wide and swallowed the millipede.

Ngalesikhatsi inkhukhu ibuyela ekhaya, yahlangana namake welishongololo endleleni. Make welishongololo wabuta watsi, “Awukase umbone yini umntfwana wami?” Inkhukhu yavele yatibindzela nje yahamba. Wakhatsateka kakhulu Make welishongololo.

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.

Make welishongololo weva livi lelincane litsi. “Ngisite make!” ngalelikhalako livi. Wase uyacalata make welishongololo. Waphindze walalelisisa, lelivi belichamuka ngekhatsi enkhukhwini.

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.

Make welishongololo wamemeta ngalelikhulu livi watsi, “Sebentisa emandla lonawo mntfwanami…”, emaShongololo ayakhona kwenta liphunga lelibi kanye nekunganambitseki kahle. Ngemuva kwaloko, inkhukhu yativa igula.

Mother Millipede shouted, “Use your special power my child!” Millipedes can make a bad smell and a terrible taste. Chicken began to feel ill.

Inkhukhu yakhipha umoya ngemlomo, yalwa yetama kwehlisa lobekadze kuyivimbile emphinjeni. Yatsimula, yakhwehlela yate yakhwehlelisisa njengobe lishongololo belinyanyisa ngekhatsi kwayo.

Chicken burped. Then she swallowed and spat. Then she sneezed and coughed. And coughed. The millipede was disgusting!

Inkhukhu yakhwehlela yate yakhipha lishongololo lebekadze lisesiswini sayo. Make welishongololo kanye nebantfwana bakhe bagibela esihlahleni batifihla khona.

Chicken coughed until she coughed out the millipede that was in her stomach. Mother Millipede and her child crawled up a tree to hide.

Kusukela lapho inkhukhu nelishongololo baphendvuka titsa letinkhulu.

From that time, chickens and millipedes were enemies.

Written by: Winny Asara

Illustrated by: Magriet Brink

Translated by: Nombuso Mbele, Mthokozisi Zwane

Language: Swati

Level: Level 3

Source: Chicken and Millipede from African Storybook

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 International License.

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