Night Ben’s sister, Elma & Mother got burned alive
Does not remember the smell of their burning bodies , their house and its contents nor does
he remember the hairs that stand up on his arms from the heat. He does remember the
crowd of people that came together in front of the house.
He remembers his aunt pop who is standing next to him in her blue gown, ‘n doekie on her
head who is standing toothless while she screams without a sound.
He ends up on a train on its way to Pretoria with his mother’s green handbag made of
leather on his lap. He knew that he’d be able to get to the Pretoria Product market. He was
able to climb onto the train without talking to anyone. He remembers that there is nothing left
for him in Johannesburg.
● Hy onthou nie die reuk van sy ma en sussie se brandende lywe
● Vlamme verdwyn
● Haartjies op sy arms wat van die hitte geskroei het
● Klomp mense wat voor hulle huis saamgedrom het
● In Johannesburg het daar vir hom niks oorgebly nie.
Chapter 1 -
Nathalie is walking from her job at the Rose and Crown home
We are introduced to Nathalie, Tannie Lettie and Juffrou Laetitia September. There is no
work in Hoopvol and Nathalie is lucky to have found a job. Nathalie works at the Rose and
Crown, Tannie Lettie is the owner. Her sister, Juffrou Laetitia, is die mayor (burgemeester) of
Hoopvol. Nathalie tries to remain optimistic by saying, “There is no work in Hoopvol, but I
found a job. Maybe I can make something from that.” Mielie-se-kop is the rich section of
Hoopvol and is on the right hand side of the town. Everyday in Hoopvol is the same.
In Hoopvol, every day is the same and it repeats. “Net nog ‘n dag voordat alles môre weet
van voor af begin.”
As she walks, she dreams of a life she knows she will not have if she stays in Hoopvol.
Kleinkoppies is the poorer side of Hoopvol (therefore the left hand side of the town). She
walks down the street where she has lived for 18 years, Olive Schreiner-straat. Her parents
were in an accident on Oudtshoorn-pad 5 years ago. The Chalmers took her in; they ran the
Kleinkoppies church. Ms Chalmers did not treat Nathalie extremely well and would
,constantly guilt trip her. The house on Olive Schreiner-straat is Nathalie’s only inheritance.
She is only granted legal access to the inheritance at 21 years old - until then the Chalmers
are in charge of the asset.
● Kleinkoppies se Apostoliese gemeentetjie
● Prokureur (lawyer)
● Erfporsie (inheritance)
● Trugplek (nie modern nie, outydse)
Chapter 2 -
Ben is on a train. He has PTSD as he is reminded of the house fire by the lights of houses/
buildings. He begins thinking about how the firemen carried out his mother’s and sister’s
bodies. They were covered in grey blankets (toe gegooi met grys komberse). The night of
the fire, everyone was standing around in gowns (kamerjasse) and he began thinking about
the firemen shouting commands (opdragte) at each other. The water had no chance against
the anger of the flames. It happened so slowly but also extremely fast - he will always
remember. He feels as if will look from the sidewalk for the rest of his life - he is being
punished(development).
Ben is extremely cold, pulls the bag closer towards him. Lady opposite him asks if he is
alright and is thankful that someone asked. He begins to noiselessly (geluidloos) cry. He
sticks his head into his mother’s bag and he can smell her scent. “Ruik sy ma”. The woman
comes to sit next to him for a while until he sits up straight and pushes him away.
He begins to see the lights of Pretoria. He arrives when the platform is deserted and
wonders where he must go next.
● post traumatiese stresversteuring (post-traumatic stress disorder)
● Perronne (platform)
development:
➔ ‘Welverdiend’ - well deserved, blames himself and thinks that it is his fault
➔ Believes existence (bestaan) is nothing
➔ can’t be upset with mother because she is dead, wondering why she lied to bobby -
her fault he doesn’t have a father. He can’t help feeling kwaadwillig.
Chapter 3 -
A guy is flirting with Nathalie. She wants him to leave her alone but he is persistent
(aanhoudend) - invites her to Cape Town with him. Nathalie tries to get Tannie Lettie’s
attention. Tannie tells Nathalie that “orige mans moet nie ‘n probleem wees nie en dat daar is
groter dinge op die spel. Tannie dink dat mans is maar orig gebore en jy moet dit gebruik om
jou te pas.
, Liefie says that the new South Africa promise is not with Mietie, but she believes that it is on
it’s way. Nathalie says that Mietie has a better life than most of the town but Liefie says it is
only better than those whose lives cannot get better. Liefie says they were born on the wrong
side of the town. They are talking about their future in Hoopvol and Liefie says that they are
either too lazy (slapgat) or too scared (skytbang).
● Spyt (regret)
● Rep (client)
Chapter 4 -
Ben is sitting inside a toilet stall’s floor. He pushes his mother's green handbag against his
face and closes his eyes. He tries to fall asleep but can’t sleep because everytime he closes
his eyes he sees the firemen (brandweermanne) walking back and forth from the ambulans.
He sees the furniture that the neighbours saved standing alone in front of the house. He
wakes up disoriented (gedisoriënteerd) and sees that it is six o’clock. His legs are cold from
sleeping on the cement floor. The station is a lot busier than the previous evening.
Ben buys a new backpack and puts his mother’s handbag inside it. He eats a boerewors roll
and throws up. He takes a taxi to “Tshwane Fresh Produce Market”. It is as big as two rugby
fields. Makes use of a metaphor, compares the market to an ant nest. Ben is looking for his
father that he has never seen or met. He does not know his father’s name.
● Mengelmoes van kleure en geure (mixture of colours and flavours)
Chapter 5 -
Everyday at 07:25, the mayor climbs out of her black Mercedes in front of the hotel. At
07:30, Lieifie places her breakfast in front of her : gebakte eier, sag, een snytjie bruin
roosterbrood sonder botter, een skyfie gebakte tamatie en ‘n varkworsie, ‘n takkie
pietersielie, koffie, swart en sonder suiker. Liefie leaves without a word. Around 07:45, she
leaves the hotel, everyday except Sunday as she sleeps late. Tannie Lettie waits for her on
the sidewalk (sypaadjie) and they embrace in a quick, wordless hug.
Due to Sherelene’s leave, Nathalie & Liefie will be a temporary (tydelik) replacements
(plaasvervangers). They must be on their best behaviour (steek my nie in my skande nie) -
(gedrag).
Sakkie asks Nathalie out to Beaufort West. She makes an excuse and postpones the date to
the following week. Nathalie feels bad when she is rude towards Sakkie. Lieifie told Sakkie
that they would meet him at the bar (kroeg) for a drink. Nathalie is reluctant as she does not
want Sakkie to think that she likes him. Olivia is also invited to the bar. Eddie en Gielie are
playing pool together at the bar. Most people in Hoopvol get drunk and end up ath the back
of the police van. Sakkie asks Nat if he can give her driving lessons. He is really nice and
she feels bad for constantly rejecting him
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