TEN: Zitu’s Messenger
For most of the children, the days that followed the party seemed like all other days. But not for Nomusa. She had Dube.
Sometimes she took him with her when she went to the stream. But often she left him behind with Themba, who loved the little monkey almost as much as Nomusa did.
One morning Nomusa was sitting with Themba and Dube outside their hut, telling her little brother the story of Damasi’s party and the wild boar. Already she had told it to him dozens of times, but Themba still loved to hear it.
“Nomusa!” called Makanya.
Nomusa crawled inside the hut. Her mother was feeding Bala.
“When you weed the garden today, I want you to see what vegetables and fruits will be ready to pick in the morning,” said Makanya. “Tomorrow is the day for your father’s visit. He may not be coming again for some time, and I want him to remember this visit.”
“Is my father going on the elephant hunt soon?” Nomusa asked.
“Yes, but I do not know when. He will send a messenger to the headmen of the neighboring kraals.”
“How I wish I could go with him!” Nomusa said.