October 23, 2025

Lost and Found: Annelie's Quest for Integrity and Friendship

16 minutes

Fluent Fiction - Afrikaans: Lost and Found: Annelie's Quest for Integrity and Friendship
Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:
fluentfiction.com/af/episode/2025-10-23-22-34-02-af

Story Transcript:

Af: Die son skyn helder in die lentegeure van die skool se tuin.
En: The sun shines brightly in the spring scents of the school's garden.

Af: Die klanke van opgewonde stemme vul die verhoogde skoolgimnasium.
En: The sounds of excited voices fill the raised school gymnasium.

Af: Talle tafels is versier met kleurvolle projekte, groot en klein, elkeen 'n getuienis van 'n jong wetenskaplike se harde werk.
En: Numerous tables are adorned with colorful projects, large and small, each a testament to a young scientist's hard work.

Af: Annelie staan by haar tafel.
En: Annelie stands by her table.

Af: Sy voel die angs in haar bors opskuif.
En: She feels the anxiety climb in her chest.

Af: Haar projek is weg.
En: Her project is missing.

Af: Die projek waarvoor sy weke lank gewerk het, verdwyn op die oggend van die uitstalling.
En: The project she worked on for weeks disappeared on the morning of the exhibition.

Af: Annelie kyk om haar.
En: Annelie looks around her.

Af: Skoliere beweeg rond, nuwe gedagtes en idees in die lug.
En: Students move about, new thoughts and ideas in the air.

Af: Sy weet sy het nie veel tyd nie.
En: She knows she doesn't have much time.

Af: "Pieter!
En: "Pieter!"

Af: " roep sy skielik, haar stem vol dringendheid.
En: she suddenly calls, her voice full of urgency.

Af: Pieter, haar goeie vriend, verskyn by haar kant.
En: Pieter, her good friend, appears at her side.

Af: "Pieter, het jy dalk my projek gesien?
En: "Pieter, have you perhaps seen my project?"

Af: " vra sy desperaat.
En: she asks desperately.

Af: Pieter lyk verward.
En: Pieter looks confused.

Af: "Ek het niks gesien nie, Annelie.
En: "I haven't seen anything, Annelie.

Af: Ek het dalk net dinge rondgeskuif," verduidelik hy, sy hande in sy sakke.
En: I might have just moved things around," he explains, his hands in his pockets.

Af: Annelie voel hoe haar frustrasie oplaai, haar blik gly oor die skare terug na Gerrit.
En: Annelie feels her frustration rising, her gaze sliding over the crowd back to Gerrit.

Af: Hy staan nie ver van hulle nie, kalm en selfversekerd soos altyd, besig om sy eie projek te verduidelik aan 'n groep belangstellendes.
En: He stands not far from them, calm and confident as always, busy explaining his own project to a group of onlookers.

Af: "Hy het seker iets daarmee te doen," mompel sy vir haarself.
En: "He surely has something to do with it," she mutters to herself.

Af: Gerrit was nog altyd haar mededinger.
En: Gerrit has always been her rival.

Af: Sy stap doelgerig na hom toe, Pieter kort op haar hakke.
En: She strides purposefully toward him, Pieter close on her heels.

Af: "Gerrit," begin sy sonder oponthoud, "het jy iets met my projek gedoen?
En: "Gerrit," she begins without delay, "did you do something with my project?"

Af: "Gerrit kyk op, sy lippe trek in 'n effense glimlag.
En: Gerrit looks up, his lips curling into a slight smile.

Af: "Nee, Annelie.
En: "No, Annelie.

Af: Ek het genoeg my eie projekte om oor te bekommer.
En: I have enough of my own projects to worry about."

Af: "Pieter draai ongemaklik.
En: Pieter shifts uncomfortably.

Af: "Ek dink dalk ek het 'n fout gemaak," sê hy binnewaarts.
En: "I think maybe I made a mistake," he says inwardly.

Af: "Hoe bedoel jy, Pieter?
En: "What do you mean, Pieter?"

Af: " vra Annelie, haar stem sagter, hoop ontkiem in haar hart.
En: asks Annelie, her voice softer, hope sprouting in her heart.

Af: "Wel, ek het gesien hoe iemand 'n projek skuif.
En: "Well, I saw someone moving a project.

Af: Ek het gedink dit is deel van 'n grap.
En: I thought it was part of a joke.

Af: Ek het nie besef dit is joune nie," verduidelik Pieter skuldig.
En: I didn't realize it was yours," Pieter explains guiltily.

Af: Annelie kyk hom in die oë en daarna na die skare.
En: Annelie looks him in the eyes and then at the crowd.

Af: "Ons moet dit vind," sê sy vasberade.
En: "We need to find it," she says determinedly.

Af: Hulle soek tussen baie tafels.
En: They search among many tables.

Af: Eindelik, aan die kant van die gimnasium, lê haar projek veilig in die skaduwees.
En: Finally, at the side of the gymnasium, her project lies safely in the shadows.

Af: Annelie haal diep asem en bedank Pieter, al voel sy 'n bietjie teleurgesteld oor sy onverskilligheid.
En: Annelie takes a deep breath and thanks Pieter, even though she feels a bit disappointed by his carelessness.

Af: By die uitstalling, ten spyte van die stresvolle oggend, skyn Annelie se projek.
En: At the exhibition, despite the stressful morning, Annelie's project shines.

Af: Haar begrip vir die onderwerp straal deur.
En: Her understanding of the subject radiates through.

Af: Die beoordelaars prys haar vir haar volharding en vernuf.
En: The judges praise her for her perseverance and ingenuity.

Af: Sy wen nie die eerste prys nie, maar die lof is opreg.
En: She doesn't win the first prize, but the praise is sincere.

Af: Later, terwyl die skare verdwyn en die gimnasium stil raak, dink Annelie terug aan die dag.
En: Later, as the crowd disappears and the gymnasium grows quiet, Annelie reflects on the day.

Af: Sy verstaan nou dat ware erkenning van binne kom.
En: She now understands that true recognition comes from within.

Af: Vriendskap en integriteit is sterker as enige prys.
En: Friendship and integrity are stronger than any prize.

Af: Met 'n glimlag, neem sy haar projek en stap saam met Pieter die deur uit, haarself en haar vriende ryker aan die einde van die dag.
En: With a smile, she takes her project and walks out the door with Pieter, richer with herself and her friends at the end of the day.

Vocabulary Words: