Fluent Fiction - Afrikaans: High Hopes: How a Cable Car Ride Conquered Fear
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Story Transcript:

Af: Die son skyn helder oor die Moederstad.
En: The sun shines brightly over the Moederstad.

Af: Jannie, Elize en Kobus is in die kabelkarretjie wat oor die stad sweef.
En: Jannie, Elize, and Kobus are in the cable car that sweeps over the city.

Af: Die plan was eenvoudig: 'n pragtige rit na die top van Tafelberg.
En: The plan was simple: a beautiful ride to the top of Tafelberg.

Af: Maar die lewe hou soms verrassings in.
En: But life sometimes holds surprises.

Af: Die kabelkarretjie is net 'n metaal borrel hoog in die lug.
En: The cable car is just a metal bubble high in the air.

Af: Dit hang stil, met net die wind wat saggies daarteen suis.
En: It hangs still, with only the wind softly whistling against it.

Af: Die stad lê wyd onder hulle, asof dit slaap, en die see glinster in die verte.
En: The city lies wide beneath them, as if asleep, and the sea glistens in the distance.

Af: Maar dit is nie alles wat skyn nie – Elize se senuwees is ook op 'n mespunt.
En: But it's not just the city that shines—Elize's nerves are also on edge.

Af: "Ek hou nie van hoogtes nie," fluister Elize, haar stem bewe.
En: "I don't like heights," whispers Elize, her voice trembling.

Af: Haar oë is wyd, vasgenael op die vaste aarde ver onder.
En: Her eyes are wide, fixed on the solid earth far below.

Af: Sy probeer om haar gedagtes te kalmeer.
En: She tries to calm her thoughts.

Af: Jannie, wat van plan is om vir Elize te wys dat hy betroubaar is, draai sy lyf na haar toe.
En: Jannie, intending to show Elize that he is trustworthy, turns his body towards her.

Af: "Kyk daar, Elize," sê hy en wys na die pragtige uitsig.
En: "Look there, Elize," he says, pointing to the beautiful view.

Af: "Dis ongelooflik hoe klein die stad lyk van hierbo.
En: "It's amazing how small the city looks from up here."

Af: ""Dis groot, groot vir 'n regte avontuur!
En: "It's big, a real adventure!"

Af: " voeg Kobus met 'n skertsende stem by.
En: adds Kobus in a teasing voice.

Af: Hy probeer die atmosfeer ligter maak en maak 'n grap, maar Elize giggel nie.
En: He tries to lighten the atmosphere with a joke, but Elize doesn't giggle.

Af: Jannie glimlag flou.
En: Jannie smiles faintly.

Af: Hy weet wat hy moet doen.
En: He knows what he needs to do.

Af: "Het ek julle al vertel van my eerste klimbesoek aan 'n berg?
En: "Have I ever told you about my first climbing visit to a mountain?"

Af: " vra Jannie, in 'n poging om Elize se aandag af te lei.
En: asks Jannie, in an attempt to distract Elize.

Af: "Ek het my rugsak onderstebo gepak, en al my flitse het uitgeval.
En: "I packed my backpack upside down, and all my flashlights fell out.

Af: Dit het soos 'n meesterplan gevoel om uit 'n fliek!
En: It felt like a master plan from a movie!"

Af: " Elize glimlag effens, al is haar hande steeds styf om die reling geklem.
En: Elize smiles slightly, though her hands remain tightly clenched on the railing.

Af: Maar dan kom daar 'n skielike ruk in die lug.
En: But then there's a sudden jolt in the air.

Af: Die wind blaas sterk en swaai die kabelkarretjie heen en weer.
En: The wind blows strong and swings the cable car back and forth.

Af: Elize gil, haar oë blitsend van vrees.
En: Elize screams, her eyes flashing with fear.

Af: Instinktief reik Jannie na haar en gryp haar hand vas.
En: Instinctively, Jannie reaches for her and grabs her hand.

Af: Hy druk dit stewig.
En: He holds it firmly.

Af: "Ek is hier, Elize.
En: "I'm here, Elize.

Af: Ons sal in orde wees," sê hy met vertroostende woorde.
En: We'll be alright," he says with comforting words.

Af: Sy kyk hom aan, haar blik sagter, en 'n bietjie meer kalm.
En: She looks at him, her gaze softer, a bit calmer.

Af: Sy knik, en hou Jannie's hand styf vas.
En: She nods, holding Jannie's hand tightly.

Af: "Dankie, Jannie," fluister sy.
En: "Thank you, Jannie," she whispers.

Af: Dan, saggies, die geluid van die kabelkarretjie wat weer lewe kry.
En: Then, softly, the sound of the cable car coming back to life.

Af: Die krag is terug, en hul reis hervat stadig afwaarts.
En: The power is back, and their journey resumes slowly downward.

Af: Hulle kan voel hoe die grond nader kom.
En: They can feel the ground coming closer.

Af: Elize se greep op Jannie's hand verslap nie.
En: Elize's grip on Jannie's hand does not loosen.

Af: Toe die kabelkarretjie uiteindelik vasmaak, is Elize opgelug en glimlag breed.
En: When the cable car finally docks, Elize is relieved and smiles broadly.

Af: "Ek is bly jy was hier," sê sy, nog steeds Jannie's hand vashou.
En: "I'm glad you were here," she says, still holding Jannie's hand.

Af: Met 'n nuwe selfvertroue stap Jannie saam met haar, wetende dat hy nie net Elize se vrese gesus het nie, maar ook iets belangriks oor homself geleer het.
En: With newfound confidence, Jannie walks with her, knowing that he not only soothed Elize's fears but also learned something important about himself.

Af: En Elize?
En: And Elize?

Af: Sy het besef dat hoogtes nie so skrikwekkend is met die regte steun by haar sy nie.
En: She realized that heights aren't so scary with the right support by her side.

Af: Die drie stap stadig na die uitgang, waar hulle weer onder die son se warm strale verdwyn.
En: The three of them slowly walk towards the exit, where they disappear once again under the warm rays of the sun.


Vocabulary Words:

• brightly: helder
• sweeps: sweef
• surprises: verrassings
• bubble: borrel
• wind: wind
• city: stad
• glistens: glinster
• nerves: senuwees
• trembling: bewe
• calm: kalmeer
• trustworthy: betroubaar
• adventure: avontuur
• teasing: skertsende
• joke: grap
• giggle: giggel
• jolt: ruk
• instinctively: instinktief
• grab: gryp
• firmly: stewig
• comforting: vertroostende
• gaze: blik
• resume: hervat
• loosen: verslap
• docks: vasmaak
• relieved: opgelug
• confidence: selfvertroue
• support: steun
• realize: besef
• heights: hoogtes
• exit: uitgang