Fluent Fiction - Afrikaans: Caffeine & Kindness: A Cape Town Tale
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Story Transcript:

Af: In die hartjie van Kaapstad, waar die Tafelberg saggies oor die stad waak, was daar ‘n klein gesellige koffiewinkel.
En: In the heart of Cape Town, where Table Mountain gently watches over the city, there was a small cozy coffee shop.

Af: Die reuk van varsgebakte pasteie en sterk koffie het altyd in die lug gehang.
En: The scent of freshly baked pastries and strong coffee always hung in the air.

Af: Dit was hier waar Hendrik elke oggend voor werk sy dag met 'n koppie koffie begin het.
En: It was here where Hendrik would start his day before work with a cup of coffee.

Af: Op 'n besonderse Maandagoggend het Hendrik soos gewoonlik by die koffiewinkel ingestap.
En: On a particular Monday morning, Hendrik walked into the coffee shop as usual.

Af: Hy het deur die koffiewinkel geloop en 'n rustige plekkie by die venster gekies.
En: He walked through the coffee shop and chose a quiet spot by the window.

Af: Die oggendlug was vars en die dag was vol beloftes.
En: The morning air was fresh, and the day was full of promises.

Af: Toe hy sy bestelling by die toonbank gemaak het, het hy met 'n skok besef dat sy beursie nie in sy sak was nie.
En: When he placed his order at the counter, he realized with a jolt that his wallet was not in his pocket.

Af: Die verleentheid het oor sy gesig gespoel.
En: Embarrassment flushed over his face.

Af: "Johanna," roep hy na die vriendelike kelnerin met die goudbruin lokke, "ek het my beursie by die huis vergeet.
En: "Johanna," he called out to the friendly waitress with golden-brown locks, "I forgot my wallet at home."

Af: "Johanna, wat al lankal by die koffiewinkel gewerk het en die gereelde klante goed geken het, glimlag kalm.
En: Johanna, who had worked at the coffee shop for a long time and knew the regular customers well, smiled calmly.

Af: "Moenie bekommer nie, Hendrik.
En: "Don't worry, Hendrik.

Af: Dit kan met enigeen gebeur," het sy gesê.
En: It can happen to anyone," she said.

Af: Sy het altyd 'n manier gehad om mense beter te laat voel.
En: She always had a way of making people feel better.

Af: Terwyl hy gesit en bekommer het oor hoe hy vir sy koffie sou betaal, het 'n klein seuntjie by die koffiewinkel ingeloop.
En: While he sat worrying about how he would pay for his coffee, a young boy walked into the coffee shop.

Af: Hy het rondgekyk, duidelik op soek na iets of iemand.
En: He looked around, clearly searching for something or someone.

Af: Die seuntjie het toe reguit na Hendrik geloop en 'n beursie in sy hande uitgehou.
En: The boy then walked straight to Hendrik and held out a wallet in his hands.

Af: "Meneer, het jy dalk hierdie beursie verloor?
En: "Sir, did you happen to lose this wallet?"

Af: " het die seuntjie met blink ogies gevra.
En: the boy asked with bright eyes.

Af: En ja, dit wás Hendrik se beursie!
En: And indeed, it was Hendrik's wallet!

Af: Hy het dit blykbaar op die sypaadjie laat val op pad na die koffiewinkel.
En: He had apparently dropped it on the sidewalk on his way to the coffee shop.

Af: Hendrik was verstom en dankbaar.
En: Hendrik was amazed and grateful.

Af: "Baie dankie, jongman," het hy gesê terwyl hy die seuntjie 'n muntstuk uit sy beursie gegee het.
En: "Thank you very much, young man," he said as he handed the boy a coin from his wallet.

Af: Hendrik het toe vir sy koffie betaal en na Johanna gekyk met 'n warm glimlag.
En: Hendrik then paid for his coffee and looked at Johanna with a warm smile.

Af: "Dit lyk my ek het my dag op 'n goeie noot begin, danksy jou vriendelikheid en hierdie verbasende seuntjie.
En: "It seems I have started my day on a good note, thanks to your kindness and this remarkable boy."

Af: "Van daardie dag af het Hendrik altyd seker gemaak dat hy sy beursie het voor hy die huis verlaat het.
En: From that day on, Hendrik always made sure he had his wallet before leaving the house.

Af: En in die koffiewinkel het ‘n nuwe vriendskap begin bloei tussen Hendrik en Johanna, want soms is 'n klein gebaar van goedheid alles wat nodig is om twee mense nader aan mekaar te bring.
En: And in the coffee shop, a new friendship began to blossom between Hendrik and Johanna, because sometimes a small gesture of kindness is all it takes to bring two people closer together.

Af: In die klein Kaapstad koffiewinkel was daar altyd meer as net koffie - daar was warmte, vriendskap en die herinnering dat in die hartjie van die stad, die mense nog omgee vir mekaar.
En: In the small Cape Town coffee shop, there was always more than just coffee - there was warmth, friendship, and the reminder that in the heart of the city, people still care for each other.


Vocabulary Words:

• heart: hartjie
• gentle: saggies
• cozy: gesellige
• scent: reuk
• baked: varsgebakte
• pastries: pasteie
• always: altyd
• hung: gehang
• order: bestelling
• jolt: skok
• realized: besef
• pocket: sak
• embarrassment: verleentheid
• flushed: gespoel
• waitress: kelnerin
• locks: lokke
• kindness: vriendelikheid
• remarkable: verbasende
• wallet: beursie
• sidewalk: sypaadjie
• amazed: verstom
• grateful: dankbaar
• remarkable: verbasende
• gesture: gebaar
• bring: bring
• people: mense
• coffe: koffie
• warmth: warmte
• reminder: herinnering
• care: omgee