Fluent Fiction - Afrikaans: Ascending Tafelberg: A Journey of Family and Renewal
Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:
fluentfiction.com/af/episode/2025-12-20-23-34-02-af

Story Transcript:

Af: Die son hang laag oor Kaapstad, en die lug is helder, tipies van 'n somer-Christmastyd.
En: The sun hangs low over Kaapstad, and the air is clear, typical of a summer Christmastime.

Af: Tafelberg strek trots teen die horison uit, sy plat top omvou deur 'n sagte bries.
En: Tafelberg stretches proudly against the horizon, its flat top enveloped by a gentle breeze.

Af: Liezl en Johan staan aan die voet van die berg, elkeen gewapen met 'n rugsak en duidelike vastberadenheid.
En: Liezl and Johan stand at the foot of the mountain, each armed with a backpack and clear determination.

Af: "Hou jy vas, Johan?
En: "Are you holding on, Johan?"

Af: " Liezl vra, haar stem effens bewende van die spanning van wat voorlê.
En: Liezl asks, her voice slightly trembling with the tension of what lies ahead.

Af: Johan, met 'n mengsel van kalmte en innerlike onrus, knik net.
En: Johan, with a mix of calm and inner turmoil, just nods.

Af: "Ons moet aan Pa se laaste wens voldoen," sê sy, en voel weer die knel van skuld wat haar maag ruk.
En: "We have to fulfill Dad's last wish," she says, feeling again the pang of guilt twisting her stomach.

Af: So begin hulle klim.
En: So they begin their climb.

Af: Die pad voor hulle kronkel tussen rotse en fynbos, met 'n vrolike geselskap van toeriste rondom hulle, almal op soek na die oorweldigende uitsig wat die top beloof.
En: The path ahead winds between rocks and fynbos, with a cheerful company of tourists around them, all seeking the overwhelming view the top promises.

Af: Johan probeer die stilte breek.
En: Johan tries to break the silence.

Af: "Pa was lief vir hierdie plek," sê hy sag.
En: "Dad loved this place," he says softly.

Af: "Hy het altyd gesê dis waar sy gedagtes helder word.
En: "He always said it's where his thoughts become clear."

Af: "Liezl reageer halfhartig, haar gedagtes dwaal.
En: Liezl responds half-heartedly, her thoughts wandering.

Af: Sy was nie genoeg daar vir hom nie, dink sy.
En: She wasn't there enough for him, she thinks.

Af: Maar Johan hou aan praat, sy stem nou meer 'n beroep as 'n stelling.
En: But Johan keeps talking, his voice now more an appeal than a statement.

Af: "Weet jy, Liezl, ons moet die herinneringe koester.
En: "You know, Liezl, we need to cherish the memories.

Af: Dis nie te laat om dit saam te doen nie.
En: It's not too late to do it together."

Af: "Liezl kyk na hom en sien die rou emosie in sy oë.
En: Liezl looks at him and sees the raw emotion in his eyes.

Af: "Ek weet," sê sy uiteindelik, haar stem nou sagter.
En: "I know," she finally says, her voice now softer.

Af: "Ek voel net so skuldig.
En: "I just feel so guilty.

Af: Ek was nie altyd daar nie.
En: I wasn't always there."

Af: "Johan stop en lê sy hand op haar skouer.
En: Johan stops and places his hand on her shoulder.

Af: "Dis hoekom ons hier is.
En: "That's why we're here.

Af: Vir Pa.
En: For Dad.

Af: Maar ook vir ons.
En: But also for us."

Af: " Sy opregte woorde maak haar hart ligter.
En: His sincere words lighten her heart.

Af: Hulle hervat die klim, nou met 'n beter begrip van mekaar.
En: They resume the climb, now with a better understanding of each other.

Af: Teen die middag bereik hulle die top.
En: By midday they reach the top.

Af: Die wind is sterk hierbo, dit waai deur hul hare terwyl hulle die stadion-agtige uitsig oor die stad bewonder.
En: The wind is strong up here, blowing through their hair as they admire the stadium-like view over the city.

Af: 'n Stroom mense gaan verby, gelukkig en gewillig om die hoogtepunte met hul kameras vas te vang.
En: A stream of people passes by, happy and eager to capture the highlights with their cameras.

Af: "Liezl," sê Johan teer.
En: "Liezl," says Johan tenderly.

Af: "Dis tyd.
En: "It's time."

Af: " Hulle haal die urn uit.
En: They take out the urn.

Af: Die glans van die metaal blink in die son soos 'n baken van herinneringe.
En: The sheen of the metal glistens in the sun like a beacon of memories.

Af: Liezl maak dit stadig oop, haar hande lig beweend.
En: Liezl opens it slowly, her hands slightly trembling.

Af: "Pa, ons is hier," fluister sy.
En: "Dad, we're here," she whispers.

Af: Johan gaan staan langs haar.
En: Johan stands beside her.

Af: Saam versprei hulle die as, die wind neem dit soos 'n lagie oor die berge uit.
En: Together they spread the ashes, the wind carrying it like a veil over the mountains.

Af: Die oomblik is stil, heilig.
En: The moment is silent, sacred.

Af: Die aksie voel versagtend, asof die gewig van die verlede opgelig word en saam met die donsige wolke verbygedraai word.
En: The act feels soothing, as if the weight of the past is lifted and swirled away with the fluffy clouds.

Af: Liezl kyk Johan in die oë, 'n nuwe verstaan versprei tussen hulle.
En: Liezl looks into Johan's eyes, a new understanding spreading between them.

Af: "Dankie dat jy my hierheen gebring het," sê sy.
En: "Thank you for bringing me here," she says.

Af: Johan glimlag en voel die lesse van hul pa groei.
En: Johan smiles, feeling their father's lessons grow within him.

Af: "Ons het mekaar nodig," antwoord hy eenvoudig.
En: "We need each other," he answers simply.

Af: So staan hulle, hand aan hand, nuut verbind op hierdie heiligdom van rotse en lug.
En: So they stand, hand in hand, newly connected on this sanctuary of rocks and air.

Af: Die berg het hul swaarmoedigheid geneem, dit in die vars see-bries getransformeer as iets nuuts en vreemds: hoop.
En: The mountain has taken their heaviness, transforming it in the fresh sea breeze into something new and strange: hope.

Af: As die laaste strale van die son agter die horison sak, weet hulle dat dit die begin van beter dinge is.
En: As the last rays of the sun set behind the horizon, they know it's the beginning of better things.


Vocabulary Words:

• hangs: hang
• enveloped: omvou
• trembling: bewende
• turmoil: onrus
• guilt: skuld
• twisting: ruk
• winding: kronkel
• cheerful: vrolike
• overwhelming: oorweldigende
• wandering: dwaal
• half-heartedly: halfhartig
• cherish: koester
• raw: rou
• appeal: beroep
• sacred: heilig
• soothing: versagtend
• fluffy: donsige
• heaviness: swaarmoedigheid
• veil: lagie
• glistens: blink
• stadium-like: stadion-agtige
• eager: gewillig
• sheen: glans
• beacon: baken
• urn: urn
• sincere: opregte
• captured: vasgevang
• brink: rand
• wistful: weemoedige
• sanctuary: heiligdom