 READ: Koketso loses the chickens in English, IsiXhosa, IsiZulu and other official languages Parent24READ: Koketso loses the chickens in English, IsiXhosa, IsiZulu and other official languagesEvery morning Koketso helps her granny feed the chickens in the chicken coop in their back yard.Koketso loses the chickens SuppliedKoketso loses the chicken EnglishPok, pok, pok, calls Granny and the chickens come running up to the fence. Pok, pok, pok, they say. Paak, paak, paaak! And when Granny and Koketso lean over the low fence to scatter the seed, the chickens push and flap and flutter around, and try to jump over each other to get to the food first.Koketso always counts the chickens. One, two, three, four chickens, she says, and another one, two, three, four chickens. Theyre all here, Granny!One morning when Koketso woke up she saw her granny dressed in her best jacket and hat.I have to help Mrs Solomon at the clinic this morning, explained Granny, so I dont have time to feed the chickens. Will you do it by yourself, Koketso? You know what to do.Granny picked up her handbag and opened the front door. Then she turned to Koketso and said, Now dont forget to give the chickens water, and, whatever you do, DONT let them out of the coop!Oh, Granny, said Koketso, I know THAT!Well, I hope so, said Granny. Be careful now! See you later. Bye, Koketso.As soon as her granny had left, Koketso sat down to eat her breakfast. Im very, very hungry, she said to herself. Those chickens will just have to wait for a little while!Koketso ate a big bowl of porridge and drank a glass of milk. Then she sat on the front doorstep and ate an apple.Hello! she said to old Uncle Koos when he came past with his shopping trolley and his little dog.Good morning, Mme! she said waving to Mrs Zihlangu across the road.Come and play with me, Pinky, she called to her cousin, who was coming out of the shop on the corner, carrying a loaf of bread.Sorry, I cant. Ive got chores, Pinky called back. Dont you?Koketso suddenly remembered that she hadnt fed the chickens. Oh dear, she said, those poor, hungry chickens!Sure enough, the chickens were clucking and squabbling in their coop. Koketso opened the low gate very carefully. Pok, pok, pok, she said. Sorry, chickens, heres your food. And she scattered the seed on the ground.One, two, three, four chickens, she counted, and another one, two, three, four chickens.Then she saw that the chickens water bowl was empty and she hurried off to fetch some water from the kitchen but she forgot to close the gate behind her!Oh no! said Koketso when she returned with the water and saw the chickens running all over the yard. Oh no, no, no! Bad chickens! Come back NOW!But the chickens kept running right around the side of the house, down the short path and into the street!A man on a yellow bicycle came riding along.Help! Help! cried Koketso. Please help me catch Grannys chickens!Of course Ill help you, said the man, and he raced after the chickens on his bicycle, ringing his bell.As Koketso ran after him, she nearly bumped into Uncle Kooss trolley.Help! Help! said Koketso puffing and panting. Uncle Koos, please help me catch Grannys chickens!Of course Ill help you, said Uncle Koos, and off he went after the chickens and the man on the yellow bicycle. His little dog ran behind him, barking loudly.As Koketso ran down the road behind Uncle Koos, she saw her friend, Dikeledi. Dikeledi was practising doing tricks on her skateboard.Help! Help, Dikeledi! cried Koketso. Please help me catch Grannys chickens!Of course Ill help you, said Dikeledi as she zoomed off after the chickens.As Koketso ran behind Dikeledi she thought about all the terrible things that could happen to the chickens. They could get run over, or they could be eaten by a dog. Or, they could fall into the river and drown. Oh no, what will Granny say? she panted. Koketso felt like crying.Look what Ive got! said a voice. It was the man on the yellow bicycle. He was carrying two of the chickens in a shopping bag.One, two chickens, counted Koketso. Oh, thank you! Now I just have to find the others.Just then Uncle Koos arrived with some of the chickens in an open cardboard box in his trolley. Here you go, sweetheart! he said, out of breath.One, two, three, four chickens, counted Koketso. That means I have one, two chickens from the man on the yellow bicycle, and another one, two, three, four from Uncle Koos. Oh thank you, thank you! Now I just have to find the others.Just then Dikeledi whizzed up on her skateboard. Look what Ive found, Koketso! she said holding a chicken under her arm.That makes one, two, three, four chickens, said Koketso, and another one, two, three chickens. Oh thank you, thank you, thank you! But theres still one chicken missing!Koketsos friends helped to put the chickens back into their coop. Then they helped her to look everywhere for the last chicken, but no one could find it.When Granny got home from the clinic, Koketso made her some tea. Sit down, Granny, said Koketso. You must be very tired! Sit down and have a nice cup of tea and a biscuit!Granny looked at Koketso closely. Is everything alright? she asked. You dont usually make me tea.Koketso burst into tears. Oh, Granny, she wailed. Something terrible happened while you were out! Then she told her granny the whole story. And, and, and, she sobbed, one of the chickens is still missing. And its your favourite one the one with the speckles.That is a shame, Koketso, Granny said sternly. That one laid more eggs than any of the others. Well, I hope youve learnt to be more careful!Oh, I have, Granny, sniffed Koketso. I really have!Just then there was a squawking noise in the corner of the kitchen. When Granny and Koketso looked, they saw the missing chicken. She was sitting happily on top of a pile of clean washing in the washing basket!Granny picked up the chicken and stroked its beak. Im glad to have you back, Granny said.And look, Granny, said Koketso pointing to the washing basket, shes laid an egg!There, on top of the washing, was a big, brown, speckled egg!Well have that for supper, said Granny handing the chicken to Koketso. Take this chicken back to the coop, please and this time dont forget to shut the gate!UKoketso ulahla izinkukhu IsiZuluNjalo ekuseni uKoketso usiza ugogo wakhe ukuthi aphe izinkukhu ukudla ehhokweni elisemva kwendlu.Pok, pok, pok, kumemeza uGogo bese izinkukhu ziza zigijima ocingweni. Pok, pok, pok, bese zithi. Paak, paak, paaak! Bese kuthi lapho uGogo kanye noKoketso bencika ocingweni olufushane ukuze basakaze imbewu, izinkukhu ziyadudulana, zishaye amaphiko azo zizungeze, bese zizama nokweqana ukuze zifinyelele ekudleni kuqala.UKoketso uhlale ebala izinkukhu. Inye, zimbili, zintathu, zine izinkukhu, kusho yena, bese kuba nenye eyodwa, ezimbili, ezintathu, ezine izinkukhu. Zikhona zonke, Gogo!Ngelinye ilanga ekuseni lapho uKoketso evuka wabona ugogo wakhe egqoke ijakhethi yakhe ephambili kanye nesigqoko.Kumele ngiyosiza uNkk Solomon emtholampilo namhlanje ekuseni, kuchaza uGogo, ngakho-ke anginaso isikhathi sokuyopha izinkukhu ukudla. Ungakwazi ukwenza lokhu wedwa, Koketso? Uyazi ukuthi kumele wenzeni.UGogo wathatha isikhwama sakhe, wavula umnyango wangaphambili. Wase ephendukela kuKoketso wathi, Manje-ke ungakhohlwa ukunikeza izinkukhu amanzi, kanti, kukho konke okwenzayo, UNGAZIVUMELI ukuthi ziphume ehhokweni!Hawu, Gogo, kusho uKoketso, Ngiyakwazi konke LOKHO!Hhayi-ke, ngithemba kanjalo, kusho uGogo. Ucophelele bo! Ngizokubona ekuhambeni kwesikhathi. Usale kahle, Koketso.Kwathi nje uma sekuhambe ugogo wakhe, uKoketso wahlala phansi wadla isidlo sakhe sasekuseni. Ngilambe ngokwedlulele, ezitshela, leziya zinkukhu kuzomele zithi ukulinda kancane!UKoketso waqeda indishi enkulu yephalishi wase ephuza ingilazi yobisi. Waseehlala esitebhisweni esisemnyango ongaphambili wadla ihhabhula.Sawubona! washo ebingelela imambana enguMalume uKoos lapho edlula nethroli yokuthenga nenja yakhe encane.Sawubona, Ma! kusho yena ethathazela uNkk Zihlangu ngaphesheya komgwaqo.Woza uzodlala nami, Pinky, esho ememeza umzala wakhe, owayephuma esitolo esisekhoneni, ephethe ulofu wesinkwa.Uxolo, angeke ngikwazi. Nginemisebenzi okumele ngiyenze, kuphendula uPinky ememeza. Wena wunayo?UKoketso wakhumbula ngaleso sikhathi ukuthi akazange aziphe izinkukhu ukudla. Mamo, kusho yena, usizi lolu ezinkukhwini ezilambile!Nempela, izinkukhu zazikhala futhi zikhononda ehhokweni lazo. UKoketso wavula isango elifushane ngokukhulu ukucophelela. Pok, pok, pok, kusho yena. Uxolo zinkukhu, naku ukudla kwenu. Wase esakaza imbewu phansi.Inye, zimbili, zintathu, zine izinkukhu, kubala yena, kanye nenye eyodwa, zimbili, zintathu zine izinkukhu.Wase ebona ukuthi indishi yamanzi yezinkukhu yayomile wabe esephuma ngejubane eyokha amanzi ekhishini kodwa wakhohlwa ukuvala isango!Mamo! kusho uKoketso lapho ebuya namanzi esebona izinkukhu zigijima yonke indawo egcekeni. Mamo, hhayi bo, hhayi bo! Zinkukhu ezimbi! Buyani MANJE!Kodwa izinkukhu zaqhubeka nokugijima zazungeza indlu, zaphuma eceleni kwendlu ngendledlana zayongena emgwaqweni!Kwaqhamuka indoda eyayigibele ibhayisikili eliphuzi.Siza! Siza! kukhala uKoketso. Ngicela ungisize ukubamba izinkukhu zikaGogo!Empeleni ngizokusiza, kusho indoda, yase ijaha izinkukhu ngebhayisikili, ishaya insimbi yayo.Ngenkathi uKoketso esezithendeni zayo, wacishe wazithela phezu kwethroli kaMalume uKoos.Siza! Siza! kusho uKoketso ehefuzela. Malume uKoos, ngicela ungisize ngibambe izinkukhu zikaGogo!Kulungile ngizokusiza, kusho uMalume uKoos, esho elandela izinkukhu kanye nendoda esebhayisikilini eliphuzi. Inja yakhe encane yayilandela, ikhonkotha kakhulu.Lapho uKoketso egijima ehla ngomgwaqo elandela uMalume uKoos, wabona umngani wakhe, uDikeledi. UDikeledi wayezijwayeza ukwenza imigilingwane ku-skateboard sakhe.Siza! Siza, Dikeledi! kumemeza uKoketso. Ngicela ungisize ukuthi ngibambe izinkukhu zikaGogo!Kulungile ngizokusiza, kusho uDikeledi ejaha izinkukhu.Lapho uKoketso egijima ngemva kukaDikeledi wacabanga ngazo zonke izinto ezimbi ezazingenzeka zinkukhwini. Zingashayiswa, noma zidliwe yinja. Noma, zazingaphonseka emfuleni zigwilize. Mamo, uzothini uGogo? ehefuzela. UKoketso kwathi akakhihle isililo.Buka ukuthi ngitholeni! kusho izwi. Kwakuyindoda esebhayisikilini eliphuzi.Yayiphethe izinkukhu ezimbili ngesikhwama sokuthenga.Inkukhu eyodwa, izinkukhu ezimbili, kubala uKoketso. Eyi, ngiyabonga! Manje sekumele ngithole ezinye.Kusenjalo kwafika uMalume uKoos nezinye izinkukhu ezisebhokisini lekhadibhodi elivulekile ethrolini yakhe. Nazi-ke, mntakwethu! kusho yena, esenephika.Inkukhu eyodwa, ezimbili, ezintathu, izinkukhu ezine, kubala uKoketso. Lokhu kuchaza ukuthi nginenkukhu eyodwa, izinkukhu ezimbili ezivela endodeni yebhayisikili eliphuzi, kanye nenye inkukhu eyodwa, izinkukhu ezimbili, ezintathu kanye neyesine ezivela kuMalume uKoos. Ngiyabonga kakhulu, ngempela! Manje sekumele ngithole ezinye.Kusenjalo uDikeledi wavela eseshwibeka nge-skateboard sakhe. Bheka ukuthi ngitholeni, Koketso! washo egodle inkukhu ekhwapheni lakhe.Lokho kwenza ngibe nenkukhu eyodwa, izinkukhu ezimbili, ezintathu, ezine, kusho uKoketso, kanye nenye inkukhu eyodwa, ezimbili, ezintathu. Ngiyabonga kakhulu, bakithi, ngiyabonga! Kodwa ayikatholakali inkukhu eyodwa!Abangani bakaKoketso bamsiza ukubuyisela izinkukhu ehhokweni lazo. Basebemsiza ukufuna inkukhu yokugcina yonke indawo, kodwa akukho namunye owayithola.Lapho uGogo ebuya ekhaya evela emtholampilo, uKoketso wamenzela itiye. Hlala phansi, Gogo, kusho uKoketso. Kufanele ukuthi ukhathele kakhulu! Hlala phansi uzitholele inkomishi emnandi yetiye kanye nebhisikidi!UGogo wagqolozela uKoketso. Ngabe konke kuhamba kahle? kubuza yena. Awujwayele ukungenzela itiye.UKoketso wakhihla isililo. We, Gogo, kukhala yena. Kwenzeke into embi kakhulu ngesikhathi ungekho! Wase etshela ugogo wakhe lonke udaba. Kanti-ke, ekhala, inkukhu eyodwa isalahlekile. Futhi yile oyithandayo le eyimpangele.Kubi impela lokho, Koketso, kusho uGogo eqinisa izwi. Leyo ibizalela amaqanda amaningi ukudlula ezinye. Empeleni-ke ngiyethemba ukuthi ufunde ukucophelela kakhulu kunakuqala!Yebo, ngifundile, Gogo, kuhogela uKoketso. Ngifunde ngempela!Kusenjalo kwezwakala umsindo wokukhala kwenkukhu ekhoneni lekhishi. Kwathi lapho oGogo noKoketso bebheka, babona inkukhu ebilahlekile. Ibizihlalele ithokozile phezu kwengqumbi yezingubo eziwashiwe kubhasikidi wezingubo ezizowashwa!UGogo wathatha inkukhu wase eyiphulula umlomo wayo. Ngiyajabula ukuthi ubuyile, kusho uGogo.Awubheke, Gogo, kusho uKoketso ekhomba kubhasikidi wezingubo ezizowashwa, isizalele iqanda!Laphaya, phezu kwezingubo eziwashiwe, kwakukhona iqanda elikhulu, elinsundu, elinamachofoza!Lizoba yisidlo sethu sakusihlwa, kusho uGogo enika uKoketso inkukhu. Buyisela le nkukhu ehhokweni, ngiyakucela bese kulokhu ungakhohlwa ukuvala isango!UKoketso ulahle iinkukhu IsiXhosaQho kusasa uKoketso wayencedisa umakhulu wakhe ekupheni iinkukhu ukutya kwihoko yazo engemva kwezindlu.Tyip, tyip, tyip, wayekhwaza atsho uMakhulu zize iinkukhu zize zibaleka kuye. Koko, koko, koko zazisabela zitsho. Koko, koko, koooko! Xa uMakhulu noKoketso bengqiyama ngocingo ukuze basasaze iinkozo zombona ngaphaya kwalo, iinkukhu zazityhalana, zibhabhazele, zijikeleze, zizame ukutsibana enye phezu kwenye, iyileyo ifuna ukufika kuqala ekutyeni.UKoketso wayesoloko ezibala iinkukhu. Inye, zimbini, zintathu, zine iinkukhu wayesitsho, kwakhona inye, zimbini, zintathu, zine iinkukhu. Ziphelele iinkukhu, Makhulu!Ngenye intsasa ukuvuka kwakhe uKoketso wabona umakhulu enxibe ibhatyi yakhe entle ethwele nomnqwazi.Kufuneka ndiye kuncedisa uNkosikazi Solomon ekliniki kusasanje, ucacise watsho uMakhulu, ngoko ke andinalo ixesha eloneleyo lokupha iinkukhu ukutya. Ungakwazi ukuzipha ukutya wedwa, Koketso? Uyayazi into ekufuneka uyenzile.UMakhulu wathabatha ibhegi yakhe waze wavula umnyango wangaphambili. Waguquka, wajonga kuKoketso wathi, Ungalibali ke ukuzigalelela amanzi iinkukhu, kwaye, nangaphantsi kwayiphi na imeko, UNGAKHE UZIVUMELE ukuba ziphume ehokweni!Owu, Makhulu, watsho uKoketso, Ndiyayazi nje LOO NTO!Kulungile ke, ndiyathemba ukuba uyakuqonda oko ngenene, watsho uMakhulu. Ulumke ke! Sakubonana ukubuya kwam. Sala kakuhle, Koketso.Emva kokuba emkile umakhulu, uKoketso wahlala phantsi watya isidlo sakhe sakusasa. Ndilambe kakhulu, watsho ezithethela. Ezo nkukhu kuza kufuneka zindilinde umzuzwana!UKoketso watya isitya esikhulu sesidudu waza wasela neglasi yobisi. Emva koko wahlala phantsi esitupini, watya i-apile.Molo! watsho ebulisa uTatomkhulu uKoos xa wayedlula ngendlela eqhuba itroli yakhe ehamba kunye nenjana yakhe encinane.Molo, Mama! watsho ephakamisa isandla, ejolise kuNkosikazi Zihlangu owayephesheya kwendlela.Pinky, yizodlala, wakhwaza umzala wakhe, owayephuma evenkileni esekoneni, ephethe ilofu yesonka.Hayi uxolo, andikwazi. Ndinemisetyenzana ekufuneka ndiyenze, wakhwaza watsho uPinky ukuphendula. Akunanto kufuneka uyenzile wena?Uthe ke ngoko uKoketso wakhumbula ukuba akakaziphi ukutya iinkukhu. Owu nkosi yam, watsho, ezaa ntsizana zeenkukhu zisalambile!Kwakunjalo kanye kuba, iinkukhu zazingxola, zisilwa kuloo hoko yazo. UKoketso wavula isango ngononophelo. Tyip, tyip, tyip, watsho. Uxolweni, zinkukhu, naku ukutya kwenu. Wasasaza iinkozo zombona apho phantsi.Inye, zimbini, zintathu, zine iinkukhu, wazibala, kwakhona inye, zimbini, zintathu, zine iinkukhu.Kusenjalo waqaphela ukuba isitya samanzi eenkukhu somile, asinamanzi waze wakhawuleza ukuya kukha amanzi ekhitshini kodwa walibala ukuvala isango leenkukhu emva kwakhe!Owu hayini! watsho uKoketso ukubuya kwakhe namanzi xa ebona iinkukhu zibaleka zigqiba iyadi yonke. Owu hayi, hayi, hayi! Iinkukhu ezingevayo! Buyani NGOKU!Kodwa iinkukhu zaqhubeka zibaleka zajikela ngaphaya kwendlu, zaphuma ngesango elikhulu, zehla ngendledlana, zangena esitalatweni!Kwathi gqi indoda ekhwele ibhayisekile etyheli.Nceda! Nceda! wakhwaza elila uKoketso. Khawundincedise ukubamba iinkukhu zikaMakhulu!Kulungile ndiza kukunceda, yatsho loo ndoda, yaze yasukelisa ngaloo bhayisekile yayo, ikhalisa nentsimbi yebhayisekile.Uthe njengokuba uKoketso ebaleka emva kwale ndoda, waphantse wabetheka kwinqwelwana kaTatomkhulu uKoos.Nceda! Nceda! watsho uKoketso ekhefuzela ngumbefu. Tatomkhulu uKoos,khawundincedise sibambe iinkukhu zikaMakhulu!Kulungile ndiza kukuncedisa, watsho uTatomkhulu uKoos, waza waleqa iinkukhu emva kwendoda ekhwele ibhayisekile etyheli. Injana yakhe nayo yayibaleka emva kwakhe, ikhonkotha, ingxola.Uthe lo gama uKoketso ebaleka esihla ngendlela emva kukaTatomkhulu uKoos, wabona umhlobo wakhe, uDikeledi. UDikeledi wayeziqhelisa ukutshibilizisa iskateboard sakhe.Nceda! Nceda, Dikeledi! wakhwaza uKoketso. Khawundincedise ekubambeni iinkukhu zikaMakhulu.Kulungile ndiza kukuncedisa, watsho uDikeledi eleqeka emva kweenkukhu naye.Njengokuba uKoketso wayebaleka emva koDikeledi wayecinga ngazo zonke izinto ezimbi ezazinokwehlela iinkukhu. Zazinokutshayiswa ziimoto, okanye zityiwe zizinja. Okanye, zazinokweyela nasemlanjeni, zirhaxwe. Owu nkosi yam, uya kuthini uMakhulu? watsho ekhefuzela. Wayenga angalila.Jonga ndifumene ntoni! kwatsho ilizwi. Yayilaa ndoda ibikhwele ibhayisekile etyheli. Yayiphethe iinkukhu ezimbini izifake eplastikini yegrosari.Inye, zimbini iinkukhu, wabala uKoketso. Owu, enkosi! Ngoku kufuneka ndikhangele ezinye.Kanye ngalo mzuzu uTatomkhulu uKoos wafika nezinye iinkukhu ezifake kwikhadibhodi evulekileyo ekwinqwelwana yakhe. Nazi iinkukhu zakho, mntwanam! watsho ekhefuzela.Inye, zimbini, zintathu, zine iinkukhu kwabala uKoketso. Oku kuthetha ukuba ngoku inye, zimbini iinkukhu endizinikwe yindoda ekhwele ibhayisekile etyheli, kwaye inye, zimbini zintathu, zine iinkukhu endizinikwe nguTatomkhulu uKoos. Owu enkosi, enkosi kakhulu! Ngoku kufuneka ndikhangele ezinye.Kuthe kanye ngaloo mzuzu, wathi gqi uDikeledi etshibiliza ngeskateboard sakhe. Jonga ndifumene ntoni, Koketso! watsho ethe khwa inkukhu ekhwapheni lakhe.Oko ke kuthetha ukuba inye, zimbini, zintathu zine iinkukhu, watsho uKoketso, ze kwakhona ibenye, zibembini, zibentathu iinkukhu. Owu enkosi, enkosi kakhulu! Kodwa kusekho enye inkukhu elahlekileyo!Abahlobo bakaKoketso bamncedisa ekufakeni iinkukhu ehokweni. Emva koko bamncedisa ukukhangela le nkukhu yokugqibela kuyo yonke indawo, kodwa akwabikho bani uyifumanayo.Wathi akubuya uMakhulu ekliniki, uKoketso wamenzela iti. Hlala phantsi, Makhulu, watsho uKoketso. Inokuba udinwe kakhulu! Hlala phantsi uphunge iti yakho emnandi utye nantsi nebhiskiti!UMakhulu wamjongisisa uKoketso. Ingaba akukho nto yonakeleyo? wambuza. Awuqhelanga kundenzela ti.UKoketso wasuka wasitsho isikhalo. Owu, Makhulu, wabhomboloza elila watsho. Kukho into embi eyenzekileyo ngethuba ubungekho! Waza ke wamxelela umakhulu wakhe lonke ibali. Kwaye, kwaye, kwaye wathintitha phakathi kwezo nyembezi, enye yezi nkukhu isalahlekile. Kwaye yile uyithanda kakhulu le ingqoqo.Yambi ke loo nto, Koketso, watsho uMakhulu ngqwabalala. Leyo yeyona ibeka amaqanda amaninzi ngaphezulu kwazo zonke ezinye ezi. Kulungile, ndiyathemba ke ngoku ukuba ufunde ukuba nenkathalo!Owu, ndikufundile oko, Makhulu, wafixiza watsho uKoketso. Ndikufundile oko ngokwenene!Kanye ngaloo mzuzu kwavakala ukukokoza ekoneni yekhitshi. Xa uMakhulu noKoketso bejonga, babona inkukhu elahlekileyo. Yayihleli kamnandi phezu kwempahla ecocekileyo kwingobozi yokufaka iimpahla!UMakhulu wayithatha wayiphulula entloko. Ndiyavuya ubuyile nje, watsho uMakhulu.Jonga, Makhulu, watsho uKoketso esolatha kwingobozi yokufaka iimpahla, izalele iqanda!Apho phezu kwempahla ehlanjiweyo, kwakukho iqanda elikhulu, elibrawuni, nelinamachokoza!Siza kulitya nesidlo sethu sangokuhlwa, watsho uMakhulu enika uKoketso inkukhu. Nceda uthathe le nkukhu uyibuyisele kwasehokweni kwaye uze ke ungaphindi ulibale ukuvala isango!This story was created by Patricia de Villiers and Vian Oelofsen illustrator.LISTEN: Albertina Sisulu - Together were strong Read in isiZulu, isiXhosa and 4 other languages 