Getting Home (a children’s story)
An adventure of Sizwe the Springbok
Suddenly, the herd dispersed. Sizwe was all alone. His herd had dispersed, kicking up dust in all directions.
Sizwe ran for his life, unsure what caused all the panic. He looked back and saw a terrifying face emerge from a plume of dust. His father taught him about those distinct markings. Tear-stained eyes trained on Sizwe as he pushed harder and harder to get away.
Sizwe was frightened when he looked forward again. He narrowly missed a tree. The cheetah was not so fortunate.
Sizwe kept running away from the injured predator until he ran out of breath. Hiding in a bush, he anxiously watched for any sign of movement in the direction of his pursuer. Nothing.
He waited a while, unsure whether to stay or leave his hiding place. He decided to find a better place to hide while he figured out how to get home.
Not long into his walk, Sizwe spotted zebra grazing. He walked up to a small one to introduce himself. “Hi, I’m Sizwe.”
“Hello.” The calm reply gave him comfort. “I am Zethu. Nice to meet you. “
Sizwe asked, “Can you help me find my home? I can’t find my way.”
“Well,” Zethu asked, “what are you?” She was confused by the springbok. Sizwe had the malar stripe of a cheetah, and the horns of a goat, and could jump right over Zethu’s back. “I’m a springbok,” exclaimed Sizwe.
“You know what, Sizwe? Let’s find your herd!”
Sizwe and Zethu started looking around the bushveld, wandering up one hill and down another. Zethu noticed they were getting further away from the herd. When she looked back, the herd scattered in a frenzy. Lions! The pair ran towards the river over the next hill to hide.
The day was so hot that Zethu decided to have a drink of water. Sizwe noticed a crocodile on the other side of the river and called out to him. “How may I help you, little one?”
“I’m Sizwe. What’s your name?”
“I’m Koena,” he spoke in a low, alluring voice, “but you can call me friend.”
“I’ve lost my herd. Can you help me find them?”
“Well, we can find them on the other side of the river. Jump in so we can swim to the other side.”
Zethu noticed Sizwe getting into the water. She looked up and screamed! She quickly grabbed Sizwe and bolted towards a memory of elephants that just finished drinking for the day.
They ran so hard that they bumped into the baby elephant. “Hey,” Lwazi cried, “what’s going on?”
“Sorry!” Sizwe and Zethu explained that they were lost and needed to find their way home.
“Well,” Lwazi thought, “we walk around the whole area often. I remember where the springbok stay, and where the zebra graze. You can come with us.”
In no time, Sizwe and Zethu were back where they belonged. And the three of them remained friends for years.
