Full Text: UJack Nesiqu Sikabhontshisi Esingumlingo
One story, four ways to read it
Every story comes in its original version plus several simplified reading levels, so it grows with your child.
The original text is the full story with rich vocabulary and descriptive language, ideal for reading aloud together and for kids who are ready for longer sentences.
The simplified levels retell the same story in shorter, simpler sentences matched to your child's stage. Ages 2-6 uses a few short sentences per scene, perfect for first time readers. Ages 4-8 adds simple dialogue and everyday vocabulary for kids beginning to follow along. Ages 6-10 keeps the language accessible while bringing back more of the story's detail, a natural bridge to the original.
Start at the level where your child is comfortable, and move up when they're ready. Hearing the same story told in richer language each time is one of the best ways to build vocabulary in any language.
Original Text: UJack Nesiqu Sikabhontshisi Esingumlingo
Kwathi kudala, kwakukhona umfelokazi ompofu owayenendodana eyodwa okuthiwa uJack nenkomo okuthiwa uMilky-White.
Babephila ngobisi inkomo eyayinika lona njalo ekuseni, ababeluyisa emakethe bayoludayisa.
Kodwa ngolunye usuku ekuseni, uMilky-White akazange akhiphe ubisi, futhi babengazi ukuthi benzeni.
«Sizokwenzenjani? Sizokwenzenjani?» kukhala umfelokazi, ekhama izandla zakhe.
«Ungakhathazeki, mama, ngizohamba ngiyofuna umsebenzi kwenye indawo,» kusho uJack.
«Sike sazama lokho phambilini, futhi akekho owayefuna ukukuqasha,» kuphendula unina.
«Asinayo enye indlela ngaphandle kokudayisa uMilky-White, futhi sisebenzise imali ukuqala isitolo noma okunye.»
«Kulungile, mama,» kusho uJack.
«Wusuku lwemakethe namuhla. Ngizothatha uMilky-White ngiyomdayisa, bese sizobona ukuthi yini esingayenza ngokulandelayo.
Ngakho uJack wathatha umkhala wenkomo ngesandla sakhe wase eqala uhambo lwakhe.
Wayengakayi kude lapho ehlangana nekhehla elibukeka ngendlela eyinqaba elambingelela
»Sawubona, Jack."
"Sawubona nawe," kuphendula uJack, efuna ukwazi ukuthi le ndoda ilwazi kanjani igama lakhe.
"Hhayi-ke, Jack, ulibangise kuphi?" kubuza ikhehla.
"Ngiya emakethe ngiyodayisa inkomo yethu," kusho uJack.
"Awu, ubukeka njengomfana olungele ukudayisa izinkomo," kusho ikhehla limamatheka.
"Kodwa ngitshele, uyazi ukuthi izinhlamvu zikabhontshisi ezingaki ezenza isihlanu?"
"Zimbili esandleni ngasinye kanye neyodwa emlonyeni wakho," uJack waphendula ngokushesha, ebukhali njengenaliti.
Kunjalo ncamashi,» kusho ikhehla, «futhi nanka: yiwo kanye lamabhontshisi.»
Lafaka isandla ephaketheni lalo lakhipha idlanzana lamabhontshisi abukeka eyinqaba.
«Njengoba uhlakaniphe kangaka,» laqhubeka, «anginandaba nokushintshana nawe: inkomo yakho ngalamabhontshisi.»
«Hhayi bo,» kusho uJack. «Kumele ukuba uyadlala.»
«Awu, kodwa awazi ukuthi ayini lamabhontshisi,» kusho indoda. «Uma uwatshala ebusuku, ekuseni azobe ekhule aze afika esibhakabhakeni.»
«Ngempela?» kusho uJack, enelukuluku. «Awukhulumi iqiniso.»
«Ngikhuluma iqiniso impela. Futhi uma kungelona iqiniso, ungayithatha ibuye inkomo yakho.»
«Sivumelene,» kusho uJack, enikezela ngomkhala kaMilky-White bese efaka amabhontshisi ephaketheni lakhe.
UJack wabuyela ekhaya, futhi njengoba ayengayanga kude, kwakungakashoni ngisho nelanga ngesikhathi efika emnyango wakhe.
«Usubuyile kakade, Jack?» kusho unina. «Ngiyabona ukuthi awunaye uMilky-White, ngakho umdayisile. Uthole malini ngaye?»
«Ngeke uze uqagele, Mama,» kusho uJack.
«Hhayi, ungangitsheli. Mfana omuhle! Amaphawundi amahlanu? Ayishumi? Ayishumi nanhlanu? Hhayi, ngeke abe ngamashumi amabili.»
«Ngikutshelile, ubungeke ukwazi ukuqagela. Uthini ngalo bhontshisi? Unemilingo! Wutshale ebusuku bese—»
«Yini!» kukhala unina kaJack. «Uphane ngoMilky-White wami, inkomo esenga kangcono kunazo zonke endaweni kanye nenyama yenkomo ehamba phambili, ngedlanzana likabhontshisi ongenamsebenzi?»
Wayethukuthele kakhulu.
Ngakho-ke uJack wakhuphukela ekamelweni lakhe elincane elophahleni, ezizwa edabukile futhi ezisola.
Naphezu kwakho konke, wanquma ukutshala ubhontshisi noma kunjalo.
Ekugcineni, wazunywa ubuthongo.
Ngesikhathi uJack evuka, ikamelo lalibukeka lingajwayelekile. Ilanga lalikhanya engxenyeni yalo eyodwa, kodwa enye ingxenye yayimnyama bhuqe futhi inamathunzi.
UJack wasukuma ngokushesha, wagqoka, wayeseya efasiteleni. Futhi ucabanga ukuthi wabonani?
Lapho, khona kanye lapho uJack ayetshale khona ubhontshisi, kwakumi isiqu sikabhontshisi esikhulu kakhulu. Sasikhule sakhula, saze safika phezulu esibhakabhakeni.
Ngakho ikhehla lalikukhulume iqiniso phela.
Isiqu sikabhontshisi sakhula sadlula ngqo efasiteleni likaJack, ngakho-ke konke okwakumele akwenze kwakuwukulivula agxumele esiqwini sikabhontshisi, esasikhuphuka njengesitebhisi esikhulu.
Efuna ukwazi ukuthi siya kuphi, uJack wanquma ukusikhuphuka, ngakho wavalelisa kunina waqala ukukhuphuka.
Wakhuphuka wakhuphuka, waya phezulu naphezulu, waze wazungezwa amafu.
Ekugcineni, wafika esigodini esikhulu esiluhlaza esibhakabhakeni. Ngesikhathi ebeka unyawo endaweni enotshani, wabona ngokushesha isigodlo esikhulu. Eduze, wabona isalukazi.
UJack wasondela kowesifazane wabe esebuza, «Sawubona, Nkosikazi, ngabe lelo yikhaya lakho?»
«Cha,» kuphendula isalukazi. «Kodwa ngingakuxoxela indaba yaleyo nqaba...
Kwasukasukela, kwakuhlala iqhawe elihloniphekile kuleyo nqaba emngceleni weZwe lamaNganekwane. Laziwa ngesibindi salo, umusa walo, kanye namagugu amaningi elaliwavikela ngaphakathi kwezindonga zenqaba. Lona, umkayo, nezingane zabo babethandwa ngomakhelwane babo bonke, futhi inqaba yayigcwele ingcebo—igolide, amagugu, nezinto ezinomlingo—iqhawe elaliyiqoqe ezigamekweni zalo eziningi. Ngolunye usuku, izimu elibi lahlasela inqaba, lathumba iqhawe nezingane zalo. Nokho, umkaqhawe nengane yabo encane kakhulu babengekho ekhaya; babevakashele umzanyana omdala. Ngesikhathi izindaba zokuhlasela kwezimu zifinyelela kunkosikazi, wabona ukuthi kwakumele ahlale ecashile nomzanyana ukuze avikele indodana yakhe kanye naye uqobo.»
Waqhubeka wathi, “Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, umzanyana omdala wadlula emhlabeni, kanti owesifazane nendodana yakhe baqhubeka nokuhlala ekhaya elingatheni lomzanyana, bedonsa kanzima ebuphofini, bekude nengcebo ababeyazi phambilini. Khonamanjalo, izimu nomkayo bathuthela esigodlweni, bathatha amagugu nakho konke okwakungokomndeni weqhawe ngokufanele, futhi basahlala khona nanamuhla.»
Isalukazi sama kancane sabuka uJack.
«Manje, ake ngikutshele ukuthi bangobani lona wesifazane nendodana yakhe...
Indodana nguwe, kanti owesifazane ngumama wakho, futhi leso sigodlo, nazo zonke izingcebo zaso, kwakungesikababa wakho.
Kumele ukubuyise kulo izimu ukuze wena nomama wakho nithole lokho okungokwenu ngokufanele.
UJack wamangala kakhulu.
«Mama wami ohluphekayo,» esho ngomoya ophansi.
«Unaso isibindi sokubhekana nomdondoshiya?» kubuza isalukazi.
«Kumele ngibe nesibindi sokwenza okulungile,» kuphendula uJack ngokuzimisela.
«Kuhle,» kusho owesifazane. «Ukuze unqobe umdondoshiya, kumele ungene enqabeni, futhi uma kungenzeka, ubuyise isikhwama segolide, isikhukhukazi esizalela amaqanda egolide, nehabhu elikhulumayo. Khumbula, awuntshontshi; yonke into ekuleyo nqaba ingeyakho nomndeni wakho ngokufanelekile.»
Khona-ke, ngokuzumayo, owesifazane wanyamalala, futhi uJack wabona ukuthi wayeyinkosazana yomlingo.
UJack wagijima waya esigodlweni washaya insimbi. Isalukazi savula umnyango
«Sawubona, nkosikazi,» uJack wabingelela ngenhlonipho, «Ungangipha yini okuthile engingakudla? Ngilambe kakhulu.»
Owesifazane wabuka uJack wathi:
«Ufuna isidlo sasekuseni? Kuyingozi kakhulu! Kufanele uhambe manje, noma umyeni wami, isiqhwaga esinolaka, angeke ajabule ukukubona lapha. Akabathandi abantu angabazi futhi angathukuthela noma inini. Kufanele uhambe ngokushesha ngoba uzobuya maduze.»
UJack wancenga,
«Ngiyacela, nkosikazi, ngilambe ngempela. Noma kungaba yingozi kangakanani, ngingamane ngihlale ngidle kunokuba ngife yindlala.
Ngaleso sikhathi, uJack wezwa isigqi esikhulu ezitebhisini, silandelwa yizwi elikhulu eliduma limemeza lithi:
«Fi-fa-fo-famu,
Ngizwa ubukhona bomuntu.
Noma ngabe baseduze noma babalekile,
Ngizobathola, noma ngabe bahambe kuphi.»
«Nkosikazi,» kubhonga izimu, «Ngizwa ukuthi kukhona umuntu enqabeni. Ngabe bazama ukungintshontshela?»
Kodwa unkosikazi wezimu waphendula ngokushesha, emqinisekisa ukuthi wenza iphutha nokuthi akekho umuntu enqabeni.
«Ungasoli kangaka,» esho. «Uhlala ucabanga ukuthi kukhona ofuna amagugu akho, kodwa akekho umuntu lapha. Woza uzophumula; umane uzicabangela izinto nje.»
Izimu lakhononda kodwa lagcina liyohlala phansi, lisaqhubeka nokubheka ngokusola endlini yonke sengathi lilindele ukuthi kukhona ozogxuma aphume noma ngasiphi isikhathi.
Khonamanjalo, uJack wahlala ecashile, ebambe umoya, enethemba lokuthi izimu lizowakholwa amazwi onkosikazi walo.
Kamuva, izimu laphuma layothatha uhambo, kanti uJack wasala ukuze asize unkosikazi wezimu ngemisebenzi yakhe eminingi enqabeni enkulu.
Njengomvuzo, waphakela uJack ukudla okumnandi kwezithelo nemifino.
Ngalobo busuku, ngesikhathi izimu libuya lizodla isidlo sakusihlwa, uJack washesha waphinde wacasha ekhabetheni, elinde ngokuthula kuze kuphephe futhi.
Isiqhwaga saqeda isidlo saso sasekuseni sabe sesiya ebhokisini elikhulu, sikhipha izikhwama ezimbalwa zegolide.
Sahlala phansi saqala ukubala izinhlamvu zemali, kodwa kungakabiphi, ikhanda laso laqala ukulenga, futhi ngokushesha sasihona kakhulu kangangokuthi isigodlo sonke sazamazama.
UJack waphuma ngokunyenya endaweni yakhe yokucasha, futhi ngenkathi edlula isiqhwaga, wathatha ngokucophelela esinye sezikhwama zegolide wasifaka ngaphansi kwengalo yakhe. Waphuthuma ukuhamba ngokushesha ngangokunokwenzeka, egijima eya esiqwini sikabhontshisi.
UJack waphonsa isikhwama segolide phansi, sawela kahle engadini kanina. Wabe esehla esiqwini sikabhontshisi ngokushesha okukhulu.
Wathi uma efinyelela ekhaya ekugcineni, uJack wavusa unina wamkhombisa isikhwama segolide, elandisa ngesasasa ngohambo lwakhe nesiqhwaga nomkayo.
«Hhayi-ke Mama, bengingaqinisile yini ngobhontshisi? Banomlingo ngempela!»
Unina kaJack wamangala futhi wajabula kakhulu lapho ebona igolide, eqaphela ukuthi lizobasindisa ebunzimeni babo futhi libakhiphe ebuphofini.
Umama kaJack wayefuna ukuba ahlale ekhaya angabe esabuyela enqabeni, kodwa uJack wamqinisekisa ukuthi kwakumele abuyele emuva ayobuyisa inqaba yomndeni wabo.
Ngakho-ke ngolunye ukusa okuhle, wavuka ekuseni kakhulu, wakhwela esiqwini sikabhontshisi, waqala ukwenyuka. Wakhwela, wakhwela, wakhwela—enyukela phezulu kakhulu—waze ekugcineni wafika emgwaqweni oholela endlini enkulu ende ayeyivakashele ngaphambilini.
Nangempela, lapho emnyango kwakumi inkosikazi yezimu.
UJack waphinde wazinikela ukumsiza ngemisebenzi yasenqabeni.
Kodwa kungekudala, bezwa izinyathelo ezinzima zezimu lisondela, futhi inkosikazi yalo yasheshe yamfihla uJack ekhabetheni, njengakuqala.
Konke kwenzeka njengoba kwakunjalo ngaphambili. Isiqhwaga sangena, sicula,
«Fi-fayi-fo-famu, Nanku ngiyeza!
Izinyathelo ezidudumayo, ukushaya kwesigubhu!
Ngizwa umuntu, ngeke acashe,
Kuso sonke isigodlo, kude naseduze!
Fi-fayi-fo-famu, ngeke ubaleke!
Ngizokuthola maduze, bese kuphelile!»
Khona-ke, sahlala phansi ukuze sidle isidlo sasekuseni sezinkabi ezintathu ezosiwe.
Ngemuva kokuba siqedile ukudla, sathi
«Mkami, ngilethele isikhukhukazi esibeka amaqanda egolide.»
Wasilethela sona, isiqhwaga sase siyalela,
«Beka,»
isikhukhukazi sase sibeka iqanda elenziwe ngegolide lonke.
Ngokushesha ngemuva kwalokho, isiqhwaga saqala ukozela, kwathi kungakabiphi, sasihona kakhulu kangangokuba isigodlo sonke sazamazama.
UJack waphuma kuhhavini ngokunyenya nangezinzwane, wabamba isikhukhukazi segolide, wabe esebaleka ngokushesha okukhulu.
Kodwa kulokhu, isikhukhukazi sakhala kakhulu, savusa izimu. Ngesikhathi uJack ebaleka endlini, wezwa izimu limemeza,
«Nkosikazi, nkosikazi, wenzeni ngesikhukhukazi sami segolide?»
Unkosikazi wakhe waphendula wathi,
«Usho ukuthini, sithandwa?»
Kodwa yilokho kuphela uJack akuzwa, njengoba abalekela esiqwini sikabhontshisi waqala ukwehla ngokushesha okukhulu.
Ngesikhathi uJack efika ekhaya, wakhombisa unina isikhukhukazi esimangalisayo ngokuziqhenya. Wathi,
«Zalela,»
futhi isikhukhukazi sazalela iqanda legolide ngokushesha. Njalo uma uJack ethi
«Zalela,»
isikhukhukazi sasikhipha elinye iqanda legolide elicwebezelayo.
Nakuba manje base benomthombo wengcebo engapheli, uJack wayenganelisekile. Wayazi ukuthi kusekhona amagugu amaningi omndeni wakhe enqabeni okwakungawabo ngokufanele.
Ngokushesha, uJack wazimisela ukubhekana nomdondoshiya futhi esiqongweni sesiqu sikabhontshisi ukuze abuyise konke okwakuthathwe emndenini wakhe.
Ngelinye ilanga ekuseni elihle, uJack wavuka ekuseni kakhulu waqonda ngqo esiqwini sikabhontshisi. Wakhwela wakhwela, waya phezulu naphezulu, waze wafika esiqongweni.
Nokho, kulokhu wayazi ukuthi akufanele aqonde ngqo endlini yezimu. Esikhundleni salokho, walinda ngemuva kwesihlahlana eduze nesigodlo, ebhekile futhi elindile. Ngesikhathi ebona unkosikazi wezimu ephuma nebhakede eyokha amanzi, uJack wathatha ithuba lokunyenya angene endlini acashe ekhabetheni futhi.
Wayengakabi sikhathi eside ecashile ngesikhathi ezwa umsindo awujwayele othi dinsi! dinsi! dinsi! wezinyathelo ezinzima, njengoba izimu nonkosikazi walo bengena esigodlweni.
Fee-fi-fo-fum, Ngiyeza!
Izinyathelo ezidumayo, ukushaya kwesigubhu!
Ngizwa umuntu, angeke acashe,
Kuyo yonke inqaba, eduze nakude!
Fee-fi-fo-fum, awukwazi ukubaleka!
Ngizokuthola maduze, bese kuphelile nguwe!»
kubhonga isiqhwaga. «Ngiyazi kukhona umuntu lapha, nkosikazi, ngiyamzwa!»
Umfazi wesiqhwaga wabubula wathi,
«Uqala phansi futhi ne-fee-fi-fo-fum yakho. Ngenza nje isidlo sasekuseni, futhi kumele ukuthi uphambanisa iphunga lokudla nelephunga lomuntu.»
Isiqhwaga sahlala phansi ukuze sidle isidlo saso sasekuseni, kodwa njalo ngemva kwesikhashana sasikhononda,
«Ngingafunga ukuthi kukhona umuntu obelapha,»
bese sisukuma siyosesha endlini yokugcina ukudla, emakhabetheni, nakuyo yonke enye indawo. Ngenhlanhla, asizange sicabange ukuhlola ekhabetheni lezingubo lapho uJack ayecashe khona.
Ngemva kokuqeda isidlo sakhe sasekuseni, izimu lamemeza lathi,
«Nkosikazi, ngilethele ihabhu lami legolide!»
Waliletha ihabhu walibeka etafuleni phambi kwalo. Izimu lase liyayala lathi, «Cula!» nehabhu legolide lase liqala ukudlala imiculo emihle kakhulu. Laqhubeka nokucula laze lalala izimu, lase liqala ukuhona njengokuduma kwezulu.
UJack waphakamisa ngokuthula isivalo sethusi sekhabethe waphuma enyonyoba njengegundane. Wakhasa ngezandla namadolo waze wafika etafuleni, wase egibela ngokucophelela, wahlwitha ihabhu legolide, wagijima waqonda emnyango.
Kodwa ihabhu lavele lamemeza kakhulu lathi, «Ngisize! Ngisize!» futhi izimuzimu lavuka ngesikhathi esifanele ukubona uJack ebaleka ephethe ihabhu ezingalweni zakhe.
UJack wagijima ngokushesha okukhulu, isiqhwaga simjaha eduze ngemuva. Wafika esiqwini sikabhontshisi wehla ngokushesha esindisa impilo yakhe.
Kusukela emgwaqweni ongenhla, isiqhwaga sabona uJack ehla ngokushesha ngezansi. Kwesikhashana sanqikaza, singakhululekile kulesi sikhwelo esixegayo.
Kodwa ihabhu lakhala lathi, «Nkosi! Nkosi!» isiqhwaga sabhonga ngentukuthelo. Sabamba isiqu sikabhontshisi saqala ukwehla silandela uJack, nesiqu sonke sanyakaza ngaphansi kwesisindo saso.
UJack wehla ngokushesha ngangokunokwenzeka. Ekugcineni wafika engadini kanina wase egxumela phansi ephephile.
«Shesha, Mama! Kumele sigawule isiqu sikabhontshisi!» kumemeza uJack.
Bobabili bathatha imbazo eshedi bagawula isiqu ngawo wonke amandla abo.
Isiqu sikabhontshisi saqhaqhazela, sanqamuka emhlabathini, sagoqeka sabheka phezulu njengomvini obunayo.
Senyuka ngokushesha sibheke emafini, sithwele izimu kanye naso. Lalisabambelele esiqwini esigawuliwe, libhonga ngokukhungatheka njengoba umoya udonsa ijazi lalo futhi udabula isiqephu emkhonweni walo.
Kwenyuka kwenyuka—izimu nesiqu sikabhontshisi esiphukile—kwaze kwanyamalala kokubili emafini ngaphezu kwenqaba yalo. UJack nonina base bephephile ekugcineni, futhi leso siqu sikabhontshisi somlingo sasingasoze saphinde sikhulele phansi emhlabeni.
UJack wakhombisa unina ihabhu legolide—igugu lokugcina elalilahlekile esigodlweni.
Manje wayesebuyise yonke ingcebo yomndeni wakhe: isikhwama segolide, isikhukhukazi esizalela amaqanda egolide, nehabhu eliculayo.
Ngomculo omuhle wehabhu nengcebo evela egolideni nasemaqandeni, uJack nonina baceba kakhulu.
Ekugcineni uJack washada nenkosazana enkulu, futhi baphila ngokujabula ukuphila kwabo konke.