Die krieketkolf

The cricket bat

Erns Grundling

“HOWZA-A-A-A-A-AT?!!!” weerklink dit rondom die Hoërskool Otto van Staden se B-

veld. Al die veldwerkers se arms strek hemelwaarts – selfs die wat op die grens staan
en skaars kon sien wat op die kolfblad gebeur het. ‘n Mexican wave op pause.
"HOWZA-A-A-A-AT?!!!" it echoes around Otto van Staden High School's B-field. All
the field workers' arms stretch skyward - even those standing on the border and
barely seeing what happened on the pitch. A Mexican wave on pause.

Okkert staan roerloos, voor hy vinnig ondertoe kyk. Die sekondes tik verby. Hy het die
bal probeer dryf, maar toe glip dit deur en tref hom vol op die regterbeenskut, reg
onder sy knie.
Okkert stands motionless before he looks down quickly. The seconds tick on. He tried
to drive the ball, but it then slipped through and hit him full on the right leg, right
under his knee.

Gelukkig hou meneer Pienaar, die skeidsregter wat agter die oorkantste paaltjies staan,
sy arms gevou agter sy rug. Ou Crooked Finger, soos die seuns hom noem, het ‘n
reputasie: hy stuur dikwels kolwers druipstert pawiljoen toe met sy krom, effens
gebuigde vinger.
Fortunately, Mr. Pienaar, the referee standing behind the opposite wickets, folded his
arms behind his back. Old Crooked Finger, as the boys call him, has a reputation: he
often sends batsman back to the pavilion with his crooked, slightly bent finger.

“Einde van die boulbeurt,” sê meneer Pienaar strak en stap weg van die paaltjies. Die
veldwerkers brom onderlangs. Okkert is verlig. Hy haal ‘n slag diep asem en mik na die
middel van die kolfblad, waar Marius reeds teen sy kolf leun.
"End of the over," says Mr Pienaar tightly and walked away from the wickets. The field
workers hum. Okkert is relieved. He took a deep breath and headed for the center of
the pitch where Marius leans against his bat.

“Dude, daai was amper,” fluister Marius.

"Dude, that was almost," whispers Marius.

“Ek weet,” antwoord Okkert, “maar ek het darem redelik vorentoe getree.”
"I know," replies Okkert, "but I did reasonably move forward."

“Anyway, ons raak agter met die run rate. Slaan die kort balle grens toe.”
“Anyway, we're getting behind with the run rate. Hit the short balls to the border.”

“Shot, ek maak so.”

“Okay, I will do so.”

1
Hulle vuiste slaan liggies teen mekaar.
Their fists hit each other lightly.

“Hei, ek check jou pa is hier.”

“Hey, I see your father is here.”

Okkert kyk verbaas pawiljoen se kant toe. Hy kan nie glo wat hy sien nie. Sy pa se silwer
Lexus staan jou waarlik onder die koeltebome. En bokant die oop deur troon die figuur
van Okkert senior.
Okkert looks surprised to the pavilion. He can't believe what he sees. His father's
silver Lexus truly stands under the shade trees. And above the open door thrones the
figure of Okkert senior.

Sy pa was ‘n plaaslike krieketster in die laat tagtigerjare – ‘n intimiderende

openingskolwer wat die beste boulaanvalle kon trotseer en verskeie groot hondertalle in
die destydse Curriebeker aangeteken het. Deesdae is hy ‘n gereelde gas op Supersport
se krieketprogramme. Hy sou vroeër vanmiddag Johannesburg toe gevlieg het om
vanaand met Fanie de Villiers op kykNET se BVP-geselsprogram te praat.
His father was a local cricket star in the late eighties - an intimidating opening batsman
who could face the best bowling attacks and scored several large numbers in the then
Currie Cup. Nowadays he is a regular guest on Supersport's cricket programs. He would
have flown to Johannesburg earlier this afternoon to talk to Fanie de Villiers on
kykNET's BVP talk show.

“Ek sien. Hectic,” sê Okkert en stap terug kolfkampie toe. Die volgende boulbeurt gaan
nou begin en Marius moet slag bied.
"I see. Hectic,” says Okkert and goes back to the bat camp. The next over will now
start and Marius must own up.

Vandat Okkert kan onthou, was krieket deel van sy lewe. Een van sy eerste speelgoed
was ‘n geel plastiekkrieketkolf. Sy pa het hom reeds van kleins af leer kolf in die
agterplaas en ure lank ‘n tennisbal na hom geboul.
Since Okkert can remember, cricket was part of his life. One of his first toys was a
yellow plastic cricket bat. His father had taught him to bat in the backyard from a
young age and bowed to him a tennis ball for hours.

Baie mense meen Okkert senior sou beslis vir Suid-Afrika gespeel het as dit nie vir die
sportboikot tydens apartheid was nie. Teen 1991, toe Suid-Afrika uiteindelik ‘n
terugkeer tot die internasionale krieketarena gemaak het, was sy beste jare verby.
Jimmy Cook en Andrew Hudson is bó hom gekies vir die reeks teen Indië.
Many people think that Okkert senior would have played for South Africa if it wasn't
for the apartheid sports boycott. By 1991, when South Africa finally made a return to
the international cricket arena, his best years were over. Jimmy Cook and Andrew
Hudson have been selected for the series against India.

2
Hy het egter teruggeveg en kookwater-krieket gespeel in daardie seisoen se plaaslike
Benson & Hedgesreeks. Die volgende jaar is hy beloon met ‘n plek in die Wêreldbeker-
eendagspan na Australië saam met legendariese spelers soos Kepler Wessels, Jonty
Rhodes en Hansie Cronjé. Maar ‘n week voor die span se vertrek was hy in ‘n ernstige
fietsryongeluk, en sy speeldae was iets van die verlede.
However, he fought back and played boiling water cricket in that season's local Benson
& Hedges series. The following year he was rewarded with a place in the World Cup
one-day team to Australia with legendary players such as Kepler Wessels, Jonty Rhodes
and Hansie Cronjé. But a week before the team's departure, he was in a serious cycling
accident, and his playing days were something of the past.

“Onthou, Okkert, jy het my gene,” sê sy pa altyd vir hom. “Al die houe is binne jou. Jy
het dieselfde talente om te fokus en jou stempel op ‘n wedstryd af te druk. Hou net jou
kop af en speel elke bal op sy meriete. Hou vir hou. En onthou, moenie enige van hierdie
nuwe Twenty20-toertjies uithaal nie.”
"Remember, Okkert, you have my genes," his father always tells him. "All the blows are
inside you. You have the same talents to focus on and put your mark on a game. Just
keep your head down and play every ball on its merits. Ball for ball. And remember,
don't try any of these new Twenty20 tricks.”

Hy het voor die seisoen belowe dat hy vir Okkert ‘n splinternuwe krieketkolf sal koop as
hy vyftig lopies in ‘n wedstryd aanteken. ‘n Kookaburra van oor die vyfduisend rand,
presies dieselfde soort kolf waarmee AB de Villiers – sy groot held – die boulers laat les
opsê. Teen Okkert se kamermuur is ‘n plakkaat wat AB self geteken het, met die
volgende boodskap: Okkert, jou pa was my held toe ek ‘n kind was. Geniet jou krieket!
He promised before the season that he would buy a brand new cricket bat for Okkert
if he scored fifty runs in a match. A Kookaburra of over five thousand rand, exactly
the same kind of bat with which AB de Villiers - his great hero - is teaching the bowlers
lessons. Against Okkert's wall is a poster that AB himself signed, with the following
message: Okkert, your father was my hero when I was a child. Enjoy your cricket!

Okkert het egter ‘n goor seisoen tot dusver. Hy het slegs in drie kolfbeurte
dubbelsyfers behaal en was nog nie naby aan ‘n vyftigtal nie. Sy pa vat hom al selfs
Sondae nette toe. Okkert weet nie hoe om dit vir sy pa te verduidelik nie, maar hy
sukkel om te fokus.
Okkert, however, has had a bad season so far. He scored only double digets in three
innings and was not close to fifty. His father even takes him to the nets on Sundays.
Okkert does not know how to explain it to his father, but he is struggling to focus.

Graad 10 is vir hom ‘n groot aanpassing. Die nuwe vakke, die matriekboelies … en dan is
daar Bienkie Beukes, die bruingebrande hekkiesatleet met die rooi tekkies en die
kuiltjie in haar linkerwang.

3
Grade 10 is a great adaptation for him. The new subjects, the matric bullies ... and then
there is Bienkie Beukes, the tanned hurdle athlete with the red sneakers and the
dimple in her left cheek.

Sy maag draai elke keer as hy soggens verby die trappe stap waar sy en haar vriendinne
sit en gesls. Hy en Bienkie het al so ‘n bietjie in die registerklas gesels en drie dae
gelede het hy haar as ‘n “vriend” op Facebook bygevoeg. Nou wag hy in spanning vir haar
om sy uitnodiging te aanvaar.
His stomach turns every time he walks past the stairs where she and her girlfriends sit
and talk. He and Bienkie talked a bit in the register class and three days ago he added
her as a "friend" on Facebook. Now he waits for her to accept his invitation.

Maar vandag is sy groot kans. Dis die laaste wedstryd van die seisoen en môre is sy
sestiende verjaardag. Hy staan op 38 lopies, sy beste telling tot dusver. Die opponent
se boulaanval lyk nie te gevaarlik nie. Hy moet net kophou en nie sy paaltjie weggee nie.
But today is his big chance. It's the last game of the season and tomorrow is his
sixteenth birthday. He stands at 38 runs, his best score so far. The opponent's bowling
attack doesn't look too dangerous. He just needs to remain focused and not give up his
wicket.

Marius draf deur vir ‘n enkellopie en Okkert staan reg om die volgende aflewering te
trotseer. Dit is ‘n venynige opslagbal, maar hy slaan ‘n foutlose haakhou met die
perfekte tydsberekening. Die bal trek tot doer in die pawiljoen. Crooked Finger lig sy
arms omhoog, dis ‘n enorme ses!
Marius runs for a single run and Okkert is right to face the next delivery. It's a vicious
ball, but he hits a flawless hook with the perfect timing. The ball goes ends up in the
pavilion. Crooked Finger lifts his arms up, it's a huge six!

Die adrenalien pomp deur Okkert se are. Hy het 44 lopies. Hy kort slegs ses lopies vir
daardie ontwykende vyftigtal en ‘n nuwe kriektekolf. Dan sal sy pa tevrede wees.
The adrenaline pumps through Okkert’s veins. He has 44 runs. He only needs six runs
for that elusive fifty and a new cricket bat. Then his father will be satisfied.

Op die pawiljoen word daar nog eers na die bal gesoek. Die skare lag toe ‘n meisie die
bal na die veld probeer gooi, maar een van die tellinghouers langs die grens teen die
skouer tref. Dis Bienkie, besef Okkert skielik. Sy moes ná haar atletiekoefening kom
krieket kyk het. Nou kan hy sy mylpaal voor sy pa én die meisie van sy drome bereik. Hy
voel dis bedoel om so te wees.
At the pavilion, the ball is still being searched for. The crowd laughs when a girl tries
to throw the ball to the field but hit one of the score keepers along the border against
the shoulder. It's Bienkie, Okkert suddenly realizes. She must have come after her
athletics training. Now he can reach his milestone in front of his father and the girl of
his dreams. He feels as if it was meant to be.

4
“So, dis jóú pa wat nie kon fietsry nie,” tart die paaltjiewagter vir Okkert terwyl die
snelbouler terugstap na sy merkie. Die twee glipveldwerkers grinnik saam, soos hiënas.
Okkert voel sy nekspiere verstyf. Hy haal vinniger asem, sy hartklop versnel en sy
hande begin liggies bewe. Hy is woedend, maar ignoreer die paaltjiewagter se opmerking
en neem stelling in voor die paaltjies.
"So, it's your dad who couldn't ride a bike," Okkert's wicketkeeper jokes as the fast
bowler walks back to his mark. The two slip-field workers chuckle like hyenas. Okkert
feels his neck muscles stiffening. He breathes faster, his heartbeat accelerates and
his hands starts shaking. He is furious but ignores the wicketkeeper's comment and
takes a stand before the wickets.

Die bouler stel sy merkie ‘n bietjie verder. Hier kom nóg ‘n vinnige bal, dink Okkert.
Snelboulers haat sesse. Die bouler draf in, trap vas en boul.
The bowler puts his mark a little further. Here comes another quick ball, Okkert
thinks. Fast bowlers hate sixes. The boulder jogs in, stop and bowls.

Alles gebeur in stadige aksie … Toe die bal Okkert bereik, het hy reeds heeltemal
deurgeswaai met sy kolf omhoog soos ‘n gholfstok. Sy kop is na die pawiljoen se kant
gedraai met die verwagting om die bal, soos met die vorige aflewering, in die pawiljoen
te sien verdwyn. Maar die bal tref sy middelpaaltjie en die balkies tuimel grond toe.
Everything happens in slow motion ... When the ball reaches Okkert, he has already
completely swung his bat through like a golf club. His head is turned to the side of the
pavilion with the expectation of seeing the ball disappear into the pavilion as with the
previous delivery. But the ball hits his middle wicket and the beams tumble to the
ground.

Hy is skoongeboul. Die bouler het hom geflous met ‘n slow ball – ‘n onverwagse stadige
aflewering. En hy het sy paaltjie weggegooi met ‘n onnodige Twenty20-toertjie.
He is completely bowled over. The bowler fooled him with a slow ball - an unexpected
slow delivery. And he threw his wicket away with an unnecessary Twenty20 trick.

Sy onderlip bewe terwyl hy met sy kolf onder die arm terugstap pawiljoen toe. Hy wil
nie eens in die Lexus se rigting kyk nie. Maar dis asof sy kop outomaties soontoe draai.
Hy is net betyds om te sien hoe sy pa wegry.
His lower lip is shivering while walking back to the pavilion with his bat under the arm.
He didn't even want to look into Lexus's direction. But it's as if his head is turning
automatically. He's just in time to see his father drive away.

“Toemaar, dude, jy’t nog steeds awesome gebat,” sê sy kaptein en klap hom op die
skouer.
"Well, dude, you still batted awesome," says his captain, hitting him on the shoulder.

“Whatever,” mompel Okkert en smyt die kolf op die grond neer.

“Whatever,” Okkert mumbles and throws his bat down on the ground.

5
Bienkie kom aangestap. “Hei, jy’t ‘n cool ses geslaan!”
Bienkie walks up to him. "Hey, you hit a cool six!"

Maar Okkert draai om en stap haastig na die kleedkamer toe.

But Okkert turns around and hurries to the locker room.

Sy span wen die wedstryd, grotendeels danksy sy bydrae met die kolf, maar dit bied
hom geen troos nie.
His team wins the game, largely due to his contribution with the bat, but it does not
offer him any comfort.

Sy pa is die aand nie by die huis nie. Hy is toe nie Johannesburg toe nie, maar moet
gasspreker wees by die een of ander oudspeler-geselligheid. Okkert gaan slaap vroeg:
hy wil so gou as moontlik van dié dag vergeet. Daardie nag droom hy hoe sy pa nog
steeds vir hom ‘n krieketkolf gee.
His father is not home that night. He is not going to Johannesburg but will be a guest
speaker at some old-player party. Okkert goes to bed early: he wants to forget about
that day as soon as possible. That night he dreams how his father still gives him a
cricket bat.

Hy skrik vroeg wakker op sy sestiende verjaardag. Hy glo dit nie! In die hoek van sy
kamer staan iets langwerpigs toegedraai in geskenkpapier.
He wakes up early on his sixteenth birthday. He doesn't believe it! In the corner of his
room, something elongated is wrapped in wrapping paper.

“Pa! Pa! Dankie, Pa!” roep hy opgewonde uit. Maar sy pa is reeds weg. In die kombuis hoor
hy net die huishulp.
"Dad! Dad! Thanks, Dad!” He exclaimed excitedly. But his father is already gone. In the
kitchen he only hears the housekeeper.

Okkert is heeltemal oorstelp. Hy wil dadelik vir Marius op WhatsApp laat weet. Sy pa
het toe al die tyd besluit om hom met ‘n krieketkolf te beloon, selfs al het hy nie
vyftigtal aangeteken nie. Hy sien al hoe hy in die wintermaande met sy nuwe kolf in die
nette gaan oefen en volgende seisoen sommer ‘n hondertal aanteken.
Okkert is completely overwhelmed. He immediately wants to let Marius know on
WhatsApp. His father decided in any case decided to reward him with a cricket bat,
even though he didn't record fifty. He sees how he is going to practice in the nets with
his new bat in the winter months and next season record a hundred.

Hy skeur die geskenk haastig oop. Dan stol sy hande.

He hurriedly tears open the gift. Then his hands stall.

Die keer het sy pá hom skoongeboul.

This time his father bowled him over.

6
Op die grond, tussen die rede geskenkpapier, lê ‘n hokkiestok.
On the floor, between the gift paper lies a hockey stick.

Inligting oor die skrywer

Information about the author

Erns Grundling is ‘n linkshandige Skerpioen, gebore 1979 in Port Elizabeth. Hy het groot
geword op Uitenhage, ‘n plek waaroor Bruce Springsteen ‘n mooi song sou skryf. Met ‘n
BA (Universiteit van Port Elizabeth) en ‘n BPhil in Joenalistiek (Universiteit van
Stellenbosch) agter sy naam werk hy as joernalis by LitNet, Insig en Huisgenoot.
Erns Grundling is a left-handed Scorpio, born in 1979 in Port Elizabeth. He grew up in
Uitenhage, a place that Bruce Springsteen would write a beautiful song about. With a
BA (University of Port Elizabeth) and a BPhil in Journalism (University of Stellenbosch)
behind his name, he works as a journalist at LitNet, Insig and Huisgenoot.

Die afgelope paar jaar is hy ‘n senior joernalis by die reistydskrif Weg. Hy slaap selde
in sy eie bed en verken meestal ons wye en droewe land se interessante plekke en
mense. Hy het reeds 11 nasionale pryse vir joernalistiek gewen, wat ATKV-
Mediaveertjies insluit. Van sy gedigte is opgeneem in onder meer Nuwe stemme 3,
Groot Verseboek en Toulopers. Sy kortverhaal “Die krieketkolf” is opgeneem in die
bundel Sweef.
For the past few years he has been a senior journalist at the travel magazine Weg. He
rarely sleeps in his own bed and usually explores our vast and arid country's interesting
places and people. He has already won 11 national awards for journalism, which includes
ATKV-Mediaveertjies. Some of his poems are included in Nuwe Stemme 3, Groot
Verseboek and Toulopers. His short story "Die krieketkolf" is included in the collection
Sweef.

Saam met Le Roux Schoeman wen hy in 2011 die kykNet-realiteitsreeks Fortuinsoekers.

Van 2012 tot 2014 was hy sameroeper van die KKNK se Kannapaneel, en sedert 2015 ‘n
lid van die Fiestapaneel. Hy is mederedakteur van die Afrikaanse “ underground”
tydskrif Ons Klyntji en ‘n aanbieder op die radioprogram The Unhappy Hour op Bush
89.5FM.
Together with Le Roux Schoeman, in 2011 he wins the kykNet reality series
Fortuinsoekers. From 2012 to 2014 he was convenor of the KKNK's Kannapaneel, and
since 2015 a member of the Fiestapaneel. He is co-editor of the Afrikaans underground
magazine Ons Klyntji and a presenter on the radio program The Unhappy Hour on Bush
89.5FM.

Inleiding tot die kortverhaal

Introduction to the short story

“Die krieketkolf” is ‘n karakterstudie. Die hoofkarakter, Okkert is ‘n kranige

krieketspeler, maar hy gaan gebuk onder die las van sy pa wat groot bekendheid as
krieketspeler verwerf het. Soos so dikwels in ‘n gesin gebeur waar die ouers of sibbes

7
toppressteerders is, ervaar Okkert die spanning hiervan. Hy kolf gemaklik onderweg en
is goed op pad na sy eerste vyftigtal van die seisoen toe sy kolfmaat, Marius, opmerk
dat Okkert se pa by die wedstryd opgedaag het. Okkert se opmerking, “ hectic”, laat die
leser vemoed dat die teenwoordigheid van Okkert se pa Okkert gespanne maak. Hy het
nie net die gewone druk van ‘n tiener en ‘n krieketspeler nie, maar ook die ekstra druk
van sy pa se reputasie en sy pa wat deur hom probeer presteer.
"Die krieketkolf" is a character study. The main character, Okkert, is a keen cricketer,
but he is burdened by the burden of his father who gained great fame as a cricketer.
As so often happens in a family where the parents or clan are top achievers, Okkert
experiences this tension. He bats comfortably and is well on his way to his first
fiftieth of the season when his batting partner, Marius, notes that Okkert's father
arrived at the match. Okkert's comment, "hectic", leaves the reader with the thought
that the presence of Okkert's father makes Okkert tense. He not only has the usual
pressure of a teenager and a cricketer, but also the extra pressure of his father's
reputation and his father who is trying to achieve through him.

Die leser begin ook later vermoed dat Okkert se pa dalk sy eie persoonlike drome deur
Okkert probeer verwesenlik. Sy pa was ‘n plaaslike krieketster wat opslae gemaak het
as intimiderende openeningskolwer wat die boulers gekasty het. Hy was bestem om vir
Suid-Afrika te speel, maar het nooit nie; eerstens, as gevolg van die boikot en later oor
‘n fietsryongeluk net voor die Wêreldbeker.
The reader also later suspects that Okkert's father might try to live his own personal
dreams through Okkert. His father was a local cricket star who made an uproar as an
intimidating opening batsman who chastised the bowlers. He was destined to play for
South Africa, but never did; first, because of the boycott and later a cycling accident
just before the World Cup.

Sport is veronderstel om karakter te bou. Soms is daar suksesse, maar soms

mislukkings en die toets van ‘n goeie sportman is hoe hy hierdie mislukkings hanteer. ‘n
Integrale deel van ‘n suksesvolle sportman is sportmanskap. Die leser ervaar in hierdie
verhaal hoe beide Okkert en sy pa suksesse en mislukkings op die sportveld hanteer,
hoeveel sportmanskap elk het en hoe sport hulle karakter vorm.
Sport is supposed to build character. Sometimes there are successes, but sometimes
failures and the testing of a good sportsman are how he handles these failures. An
integral part of a successful sportsman is sportsmanship. In this story, the reader
experiences how both Okkert and his father deal with successes and failures on the
sports field and how much sport each has and how sport forms their character.

Literêre aspekte
Literary aspects

Die een wat vertel of wie se stem gehoor word, is die verteller. In hierdie geval is dit ‘n
anonieme of beperkte derdepersoonsverteller. Hy ken die karakters se gevoelens en
gedagtes. Daar word byvoorbeeld gesê dat Okkert aan die begin van die verhaal verlig is
dat hy nie been voor paaltjie betrap is nie.

8
The one who tells or whose voice is heard is the narrator. In this case, it is an
anonymous or limited third-person narrator. He knows the characters' feelings and
thoughts. It is said, for example, that Okkert was relieved at the beginning of the
story that he had not been caught in front of a wicket.

Okkert is die protagonis. Die paaltjiewagter van die opponerende span wat hom koggel –
trouens al die grinnikende veldwerkers – is Okkert se antagoniste. Okkert se pa kan
gesien word as ‘n voorbeeld van ‘n tritagonis: As Okkert goed speel en sy antagoniste
(die boulers, die paaltjiewagter en die veldwerkers) kan oorskadu deur sy kolfwerk sal
hy die guns van sy pa kan wen.
Okkert is the protagonist. The wicketkeeper of the opposing team who teases him - in
fact, all the grinning field workers - is Okkert's antagonists. Okkert's father can be
seen as an example of a tritagonist: If Okkert plays well and his antagonists (the
bowlers, the wicketkeeper and the field workers) can be overshadowed by his batting,
he will win the favor of his father.

Die hoofkarakter, Okkert, kan as ‘n ronde karakter beskou word. Hy ervaar die tipiese
probleme van ‘n tiener van sy ouderdom. Die leser leer verskillende aspekte van sy
persoonlikheid ken soos wat die wedstryd vorder. Hy is die held van die verhaal, maar
hy is held met swakhede. ‘n Voorbeeld is sy onderlip wat bewe terwyl hy afstap in die
rigting van die pawiljoen. Okkert is ‘n geloofwaardige karakter, want sy handeling en
dialoog pas by die “gewone lewe”. Hy is ‘n gewone tiener (wat tienertaal praat) met ‘n
gewone tiener se aspirasies en vrese.
The main character, Okkert, can be regarded as a round character. He experiences the
typical problems of a teenager of his age. The reader knows different aspects of his
personality as the game progresses. He is the hero of the story, but he is heroic with
weaknesses. An example is his lower lip that trembles as he walks in the direction of
the pavilion. Okkert is a credible character, because his actions and dialogue fit in with
the "ordinary life". He is an ordinary teenager (who speaks teenage language) with an
ordinary teenager's aspirations and fears.

Okkert se pa word onder andere deur sy motor, sy houding en sy optrede

gekarakteriseer. Die flambojante silwer sportmotor is simbolies van Okkert se pa se
spoggerige geaardheid. Wanneer hy by die Lexus staan, “troon” hy bokant die oop deur
uit. Dit kan impliseer dat hy die ruimte – die krieketveld – as sy koninkryk sien. Hy toon
later sy teleurstelling deur in die Lexus te klim en weg te ry.
Okkert's father is characterized, among other things, by his car, his attitude and his
actions. The flamboyant silver sports car is symbolic of Okkert's father's fancy
character. Standing at the Lexus, he "thrones" out of the open door. This may imply
that he sees this space - the cricket field - as his kingdom. He later showed his
disappointment by climbing into the Lexus and driving away.

Okkert se pa is ‘n stereotipe van die soort ouer wat deur sy kind probeer presteer en
wat ekstra druk op sy kind plaas. Ou Crooked Finger is ook ‘n stereotipe – ‘n tipiese
streng krieketskeidsregter wat gereeld sy krom vinger vir die kolwers wys.

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Okkert's father is a stereotype of the kind of parent trying to perform through his
child and putting extra pressure on his child. Old Crooked Finger is also a stereotype -
a typical strict cricket referee who regularly points his crooked finger to the batsmen.

Die ruimte waarbinne die verhaal afspeel, is die Hoërskool Otto van Staden se B-
krieketveld. Dis ‘n besonder gepaste ruimte, want krieket speel ‘n belangrike rol in
Okkert en sy pa se lewe en hul verhouding.
The space in which the story takes place is the Otto van Staden High School's B-
cricket field. It's a particularly suitable space, because cricket plays an important role
in Okkert and his father's life and relationship.

Die atmosfeer of stemming in ‘n storie is die deurlopende en dominerende gevoelsfeer

wat in die loop van die storie opgebou word. Atmosfeer is meer ‘n oorkoepelende term,
byvoorbeeld die stadsatmosfeer, terwyl stemming na ‘n meer spesifieke plek en tyd
verwys, byvoorbeeld die vrolike stemming in die vergadering. In hierdie verhaal is die
atmosfeer of stemming aan die begin gelaai met opwinding en afwagting (let
byvoorbeeld op die uitroep “Howzat!!” en “’n Mexican wave op pause”). Dit verander later
na ‘n atmosfeer of stemming van verslaentheid.
The atmosphere or mood in a story is the continuous and dominant mood built up during
the story. Atmosphere is more of an overarching term, for example, the city
atmosphere, while mood refers to a more specific place and time, for example, the
cheerful mood of the meeting. In this story, the atmosphere or mood is initially loaded
with excitement and anticipation (for example, note the exclamation "Howzat !!" and "a
Mexican wave on pause"). It later changes to an atmosphere or mood of dismay.

Die tema van ‘n storie is die grondgedagte of lewenswysheid waaromheen die verhaal
plaasvind. Byvoorbeeld verwerping, terrorisme, droogte, jaloesie, moord. Die tema kan
enkelvoudig of verwikkeld wees. Die tema is ook die draer van die boodskap van die
storie. Die boodskap is die moontlike wêreldinsig of boodskap wat die skrywer wil hê die
leser uit die storie moet kry. Die tema in hierdie verhaal is druk van ouers op hul
kinders om te presteer. Die boodskap vir die ouers is: Moenie jou drome op jou kinders
plaas nie en aanvaar hulle nes hulle is, al is hulle ook gemiddeld. Die boodskap vir die
tieners is: Wees jouself. Moenie jou ouers probeer gelukkig hou nie.
The theme of a story is the fundamental idea or life knowledge around which the story
takes place. For example, rejection, terrorism, drought, jealousy, murder. The theme
can be simple or intricate. The theme is also the bearer of the message of the story.
The message is the possible world view or message the author wants the reader to get
out of the story. The theme in this story is the pressure of parents on their children to
perform. The message for the parents is: Don't live your dreams through your children
and accept them as they are, even if they are average. The message for the teenagers
is: Be yourself. Don't try to keep your parents happy.

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