Umfana oneminyaka engu-180 ubudala wahlushwa ukomela embhedeni - umfana omkhulu kakhulu: ubude buyi-12 cm, iminyaka engu-XNUMX ubudala. Abazali bakhe beza naye futhi baqala ukungitshela ukuthi bamjezisa kanjani ngombhede omanzi: bafaka ubuso bakhe emashidini amanzi, futhi bamphuca amaswidi, futhi bangamvumeli ukuthi adlale nabalingani bakhe. Bamthethisa, bambhaxabula, bamphoqa ukuba ageze ilineni lakhe elicolekileyo, ahlanze umbhede wakhe, angavumi ukuba aphuze emini. Futhi uJoe ompofu walala iminyaka eyishumi nambili ilandelana futhi walungisa umbhede wakhe njalo ebusuku ngaphandle kokushiya.
Ekugcineni, ekuqaleni kukaJanuwari, abazali bakhe bamletha kimi. Ngathi, “Joe, usungumfana omkhulu manje. Lalela lokhu engikutshela abazali bakho. Bazali Abathandekayo, uJoe uyisiguli sami futhi akekho okufanele aphazamise iziguli zami. Wena mama uzowasha izingubo zikaJoe bese ulungisa nombhede wakhe. Uzoyeka ukumthethisa. Ngeke umcindezele. Futhi yeka ukumkhumbuza ngombhede omanzi. Futhi wena baba ngeke umjezise noma umncishe lutho. Mphathe njengendodana eyisibonelo. Yilokho kuphela ebengifuna ukukutshela kona ngoJoe."
Ngafaka uJoe ebuthongweni futhi ngathi, “Ngilalele, Joe. Sekuphele iminyaka engu-12 manje usumanzise umbhede wakho. Ukufunda ukulala embhedeni owomile kuthatha isikhathi. Esimeni sakho, kungase kuthathe isikhathi esiningi kunokuvamile. Konke kuhamba kahle. Unelungelo lesikhathi esithile sokufunda indlela yokulala embhedeni owomile. Kuyaqala uJanuwari manje. Angicabangi ukuthi sizophumelela esikhathini esingaphansi kwenyanga, kahlehle, uFebhuwari ngokuvamile uyinyanga emfushane, ngakho-ke zinqumele uma usuqedile ngobuswakamo, ngicabanga ukuthi uSuku luka-April Fool lungaba luhle.»
Isikhathi kusukela ekuqaleni kukaJanuwari kuya kuSuku Luka-St. Patrick (ngaphambi koSuku Lweziwula zika-April) sibonakala siside kakhulu kumfana oneminyaka eyishumi nambili. Lokhu ngokwezindinganiso zezingane. Ngakho ngathi, “Joe, akusiyo indaba kabani uma uqala impilo eyomile—ngoSuku Luka-St. Patrick noma Usuku Lweziwula luka-April. Akungikhathazi nakancane. Kuzoba imfihlo yakho."
NgoJuni, umama wakhe weza kimi wathi: “UJoe ubenombhede owomile isikhathi eside. Ngisanda kukubona namuhla." Wayengazi ukuthi kwaqala nini. Nami bengingazi. Mhlawumbe ngoSuku Luka-St. Patrick, noma ngo-April Fools's Day. Lena imfihlo kaJoe. Abazali banake umbhede owomile kuphela ngoJuni.