– Carina Diedericks-Hugo
CHAPTER 1
Thomas Steyn is in grade 8. He is busy writing a Natural Science test
(Natuurwetenskap): it’s the last subject (vak) of their test series
(toetsreeks). He is at the last question and not impressed by it whatsoever: if
it wasn’t already bad enough that they had to study the reproduction
(voortplanting) of the earthworm (erdwurm) and the daily (daaglikse)
routine of the dung beetle (miskruier), they now have to answer a 15
(vyftien) mark (punt) question about symbiosis.
He looks at Alex Louw who is sitting parallel to the front of him: she is
busy writing as though she is aiming (mik) to get into the Guinness Book of
Records. His friend, Hannes, is laying on his arms; his blonde hair standing
up in all directions. Hannes writes a paper at a Star Wars type of speed.
Thomas sighs and tries to focus on the last question again.
Then he looks up and sees the principal (skoolhoof), Mr. Volschenk, also
known as Oros-man, motioning towards the teacher, Mr. Bosman. Mr.
Volschenk keeps wiping his sweaty pink, frowning face while his lower lip
(onderlip) almost curls over his chin (ken). He points towards Flip and
Japie Marais who are sitting in the back of the class and he has a mean grin
on his face. Thomas can see his yellow-brown teeth: they kind of go well
with his yellow tie (das).
PROPERTY OF M SOUNES NO UNAUTHORISED COPYING, SHARING OR DISTRIBUTION
1
ALLOWED
, Thomas peeks at Flip and Japie: they look as though they are 20 (twintig)
years old already and not very intelligent. They are the type of guys you
don’t mess with, but luckily they spend more time in Oros-man’s office
(kantoor) than any other area of the school. They are constantly in trouble
(moeilikheid). Thomas gets a shiver (ril): they usually try to bully (bydam)
him.
His focus returns to the last question about symbiosis. He writes down the
definition which is about animals and plants living together to each other’s
benefit (voordeel).
When Mr. Bosman takes in his test and asks how it went, Thomas
confidently says he aced it.
Outside on the quad (vierkant), Thomas, Hannes and Alex get together to
make plans for the rest of the afternoon. Alex suggests (stel voor) going to
their usual hang-out: the Cyber Tiger (in the 2014 version of the book, it used
to be an Internet café, but in the 2015 edition of this book, it is a coffee shop with
Wi-Fi) but Thomas says it’s not the same since the new owner (eienaar) has
taken over and that the guy does not make such nice Transgalactic Blasters
(it’s a type of milkshake that the café slash coffee shop sells) than what the
previous owner, Harry, used to do. It turns out that Harry, unfortunately,
was a crook (skurk) who designed (ontwerp) and developed (ontwikkel)
computer viruses (rekenaarvirusse).
Thomas suggests the Waterfront, but Hannes says he has no money left
after he bought a new computer game the previous week. Then Thomas
asks if they want to hang out at his house where they can relax at the pool
(swembad) and have his stepmother (stiefma), Louisa, make them hot
dogs (warmbrakke) or something.
They all approve of this idea and Hannes tells Thomas to get Lukas, their
other friend, and invite (nooi) him over as well. Alex will tell Gizelle and
Lilian, two more of their friends, about their plans too.
Thomas looks around (1) the quad (vierkant), but doesn’t see Lukas. So, he
walks to the (2) tennis courts (tennisbane), but still no sign of him. He
walks out the back school gate and sees Lukas standing at the (3) bottom-
PROPERTY OF M SOUNES NO UNAUTHORISED COPYING, SHARING OR DISTRIBUTION
2
ALLOWED
CHAPTER 1
Thomas Steyn is in grade 8. He is busy writing a Natural Science test
(Natuurwetenskap): it’s the last subject (vak) of their test series
(toetsreeks). He is at the last question and not impressed by it whatsoever: if
it wasn’t already bad enough that they had to study the reproduction
(voortplanting) of the earthworm (erdwurm) and the daily (daaglikse)
routine of the dung beetle (miskruier), they now have to answer a 15
(vyftien) mark (punt) question about symbiosis.
He looks at Alex Louw who is sitting parallel to the front of him: she is
busy writing as though she is aiming (mik) to get into the Guinness Book of
Records. His friend, Hannes, is laying on his arms; his blonde hair standing
up in all directions. Hannes writes a paper at a Star Wars type of speed.
Thomas sighs and tries to focus on the last question again.
Then he looks up and sees the principal (skoolhoof), Mr. Volschenk, also
known as Oros-man, motioning towards the teacher, Mr. Bosman. Mr.
Volschenk keeps wiping his sweaty pink, frowning face while his lower lip
(onderlip) almost curls over his chin (ken). He points towards Flip and
Japie Marais who are sitting in the back of the class and he has a mean grin
on his face. Thomas can see his yellow-brown teeth: they kind of go well
with his yellow tie (das).
PROPERTY OF M SOUNES NO UNAUTHORISED COPYING, SHARING OR DISTRIBUTION
1
ALLOWED
, Thomas peeks at Flip and Japie: they look as though they are 20 (twintig)
years old already and not very intelligent. They are the type of guys you
don’t mess with, but luckily they spend more time in Oros-man’s office
(kantoor) than any other area of the school. They are constantly in trouble
(moeilikheid). Thomas gets a shiver (ril): they usually try to bully (bydam)
him.
His focus returns to the last question about symbiosis. He writes down the
definition which is about animals and plants living together to each other’s
benefit (voordeel).
When Mr. Bosman takes in his test and asks how it went, Thomas
confidently says he aced it.
Outside on the quad (vierkant), Thomas, Hannes and Alex get together to
make plans for the rest of the afternoon. Alex suggests (stel voor) going to
their usual hang-out: the Cyber Tiger (in the 2014 version of the book, it used
to be an Internet café, but in the 2015 edition of this book, it is a coffee shop with
Wi-Fi) but Thomas says it’s not the same since the new owner (eienaar) has
taken over and that the guy does not make such nice Transgalactic Blasters
(it’s a type of milkshake that the café slash coffee shop sells) than what the
previous owner, Harry, used to do. It turns out that Harry, unfortunately,
was a crook (skurk) who designed (ontwerp) and developed (ontwikkel)
computer viruses (rekenaarvirusse).
Thomas suggests the Waterfront, but Hannes says he has no money left
after he bought a new computer game the previous week. Then Thomas
asks if they want to hang out at his house where they can relax at the pool
(swembad) and have his stepmother (stiefma), Louisa, make them hot
dogs (warmbrakke) or something.
They all approve of this idea and Hannes tells Thomas to get Lukas, their
other friend, and invite (nooi) him over as well. Alex will tell Gizelle and
Lilian, two more of their friends, about their plans too.
Thomas looks around (1) the quad (vierkant), but doesn’t see Lukas. So, he
walks to the (2) tennis courts (tennisbane), but still no sign of him. He
walks out the back school gate and sees Lukas standing at the (3) bottom-
PROPERTY OF M SOUNES NO UNAUTHORISED COPYING, SHARING OR DISTRIBUTION
2
ALLOWED
