“Kurukukuuu! Wake up, Zingisile! Today is your birthday!”
It’s my birthday, and it’s also a school day.
“Mama, Mama! Guess what day it is?” I shout.
I always ask my mama every morning on my birthday.
“This is your birthday porridge. Now, quickly, eat up and get ready.
You can’t be late on your birthday!”
Mmmhhh. I love mealie porridge when it’s runny…
Gulp! Gulp! Gulp!
At preschool everyone knows it’s my birthday.
They sing happy birthday and give me handmade love notes.
I can’t wait for my special meal from Mama.
I can’t wait to see my favourite cousin, Sisipho. She is also my best friend. Her birthday is coming in September.
Which chicken will Mama cook for me? I hope it’s the fat one.
“Zingisile, what was your favourite part of the story?” asks Mrs. Mkombe.
“Pumpkin and mealie pap!” I shout, still in my daydream. All my friends laugh.
When I get home, Luhambo is excited. He has only had one birthday, on the 28th of April.
Now I’ve had five birthdays already!
Look at all the food! Mama has made my favourites – spinach and sweetcorn and pumpkin and mealie pap and gravy and her special bread. Everything is from our garden.
“Happy birthday, Zingisile! Mini emnandi kuwe, Zingisile! How old are you now?”
“I’m five years old now!” I sing back. My papa picks me up and spins me around.
“My Zing-star! You’re so old you’re almost a teacher!”
Mama lets me pick the biggest piece of chicken. She dishes for me first.
I dip my delicious bread in the gravy and I smile. I can’t wait for my next birthday!
Credits
Originally published by Book Dash under a Creative Commons Licensed BY 4.0. This book can be read for free on https://bookdash.org/books/its-my-birthday! and was created by: Sinovuyo Mcunukelwa (Writer), Josephine Versfeld (Illustrator), Nkosingiphile Mazibuko (Designer), Diane Awerbuck (Editor)
