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UNkukhu noShongololo babengabangani. Kodwa babehlala bencintisana. Ngelinye ilanga banquma ukudlala ibhola lezinyawo befuna ukubona ukuthi ubani owayengumpetha.
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 enkundleni yebhola lezinyawo basebeqala umdlalo wabo. UNkukhu wayeshesha, kodwa uShongololo wayeshesha kakhulu. UNkukhu wayelikhahlela liye kude, kodwa elikaShongololo laliya kude kakhulu, uNkukhu waqala manje ukukhononda.
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.
Banquma ukuba bakhahlele amaphenathi. Kwaqala uShongololo ukuba avimbe emagoli. UNkukhu wafaka igoli elilodwa kuphela. Emva kwalokho kwasekuba ithuba likaNkukhu ukuvika ukungena kwegoli.
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.
UShongololo wakhahlela ibhola langena ezintini. UShongololo wapheceza ejika nebhola langena. UShongololo walishaya ngekhanda ibhola langena ezintini. UShongololo washaya amagoli amahlanu.
Millipede kicked the ball and scored.
Millipede dribbled the ball and scored. Millipede headed the ball and scored. Millipede scored five goals.
UNkukhu kwamthukuthelisa ukuthi uhluliwe. Wayengakubekezeleli ukuhlulwa. UShongololo wavele wamhleka ngoba umngane wakhe wayesexakanisekile.
Chicken was furious that she lost. She was a very bad loser. Millipede started laughing because his friend was making such a fuss.
UNkukhu wayesethukuthele kakhulu waze waligwinya ishongololo.
Chicken was so angry that she opened her beak wide and swallowed the millipede.
Kuthe uNkukhu eseya ekhaya,nwahlangana noMama Shongololo. UMama Shongololo wabuza, “Uke wayibona ingane yami?” UNkukhu akaphendulanga. UMama Shongololo wakhathazeka.
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.
UMama Shongololo wezwa izwi elincane. “Ngelekelele Mama!” kukhala izwi. UMama Shongololo waqalaza walalelisisa, izwi laliqhamuka 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 Shongololo wamemeza, “Sebenzisa amandla akho akhethekile mntanami!” Amashongololo akwazi ukukhipha iphunga elibi azenze anambitheke kabi. UNkukhu wazizwa efikelwa ukucanuzela kwenhliziyo.
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 wagonyuluka. Wabuye wagwinya wakhafula. Wathimula, wakhwehlela kaningi. Ishongololo lalinyanyeka!
Chicken burped. Then she swallowed and spat. Then she sneezed and coughed. And coughed. The millipede was disgusting!
UNkukhu wakhwehlela laze laphuma laqhasha ishongololo elalisesiswini sakhe. UMama Shongololo nengane yakhe banwabuzela bakhuphuka ngesihlahla bayocasha.
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 ngalelo langa, izinkukhu namashongololo baba yizitha.
From that time, chickens and millipedes were enemies.
Written by: Winny AsaraIllustrated by: Magriet BrinkTranslated by: Margaret Nokuthula ZondiRead by: Beauty NgwenyaLanguage: Zulu
