Fiela se kind (Dalene Matthee) Chapter 6 Summary
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WHAT HAPPENED, IN 50 WORDS:
Chapter 6 amplifies Fiela's worry when census officials return, indicting Benjamin must visit magistrate Goldsbury in Knysna. Fiela cautiously prepares Benjamin, as their ostriches face a risky integration. Amidst fears, the chapter ends with Benjamin's departure and Fiela's wavering hope of his return, underlining her uncharacteristic vulnerability.
FULL SUMMARY:
Chapter 6 finds Fiela beginning her day early in the morning. Her first task of noting the weather results in a decision that they will not be tapping aloe on that day due to the northwesterly wind. Fiela delegates duties to the children: having Tollie stay indoors due to a previous injury caused by an ostrich, instructing Benjamin to tidy the yard and clean the chicken coop. Selling, Fiela's husband wakes with a sickly feeling due to the northwesterly wind, but Fiela insists he must work since a customer, Rossinski, will visit in the following week. Unusually, Fiela announces that she plans to place their female ostrich, Pollie, in the same enclosure as their male ostrich, Skopper. The family is surprised and worried by this news, as ostriches can be violent to each other, sometimes to the extent of killing one another. Fiela insists, saying that she has prepared them carefully for this moment and that it's time they breed. As she tries to move Pollie into Skopper's enclosure, the two census men from the previous chapters arrive unexpectedly. Fiela manages to get Pollie out of the cage and the family watches in suspense as Pollie and Skopper encounter each other, uncertain of their reactions. The chapter ends with the anticipation of the reaction of the ostriches to each other and the impact of the men's arrival. In the second section of Chapter 6, Benjamin engages in a conversation with Fiela, questioning the cause of their skin color difference. With Fiela correlating their difference to nature's variety, Benjamin's unrest escalates; he wonders if there are intentions to take him away. Fiela attempts to reassure him but contemplates the unavoidable day when they’ll need much more than her protection. Meanwhile, tension increases as Fiela interacts with the census men who have reappeared at their home. Fiela reluctantly lets them interact with Benjamin, while balancing the introduction of Pollie, the female ostrich, to Skopper, the male ostrich, for breeding purposes. The census officers serve Fiela with disheartening news: new magistrate Mr. Goldsbury, wants to see Benjamin in Knysna. Fiela resists, asserting that Benjamin is her child and offers to show him to the magistrate herself. The census men, however, insist on their terms leaving Fiela distraught and angered. The chapter concludes with Fiela soul-searching for the most viable course of action under tremendous pressure. Eventually, she submits to the idea of having to let Benjamin be taken to Knysna while desperately holding on to the hope that Benjamin will return home on Saturday. As the third part of Chapter 6 unfolds, preparations intensify for Benjamin's forced journey to appear before magistrate Mr. Goldsbury in Knysna. Fiela bravely communicates with Benjamin, instructing him on how to respond to the magistrate's inquiries. The family works together to prepare Benjamin physically and mentally for this intimidating encounter. Great care is taken to ensure that Benjamin appears neat and presentable. Fiela also packs a concealable amount of money, as a subtle representation of family's stability. Despite everyone’s brave front, fear and concern run deeply among them, seeping into Benjamin, who expresses dread of not returning. The adults, and even Benjamin’s older brother Dawid, question the likelihood of him being Elias's lost son. Fiela vehemently dismisses these doubts, clinging onto hope. In the midst of tension, moments of normalcy still occur. The family interacts lightly, inducing a sense of normality in Benjamin, even comparing it to their trip to visit their Aunt Rosie. Benjamin is constantly comforted and reassured by Fiela, though he is aware of the gravity of the situation. The chapter concludes at the crack of dawn as the carriage arrives to pick Benjamin. Pervasive sadness creeps in as Benjamin is lifted onto the carriage, with Fiela's lingering helplessness contrasting her usual strong demeanor. The cloud of uncertainty over Benjamin's fate casts a long shadow over everyone’s heart, as Fiela’s usually buoyant spirit is bruised yet resilient.
WHAT HAPPENED, IN 50 WORDS:
In hoofstuk 6 skuif Fiela die wyfie volstruis na Skopper se kamp. Twee onbekende mans eis dat Benjamin, vermoedelik die vermiste Lukas, in Knysna identifiseer moet word. Die besorgde Fiela en familie berei Benjamin voor vir hierdie onseker reis. Hy vertrek met angstige hoop en beloftes van terugkeer.
FULL SUMMARY:
In hoofstuk 6 van "Fiela se kind", stap Fiela die agterdeur uit op 'n dag waar die noordwestewind waai en sy voel dadelik ontstellend- daar sal daardie dag nie aalwee getap word nie. Kittie maak vuur in die kombuis terwyl Dawid die bok melk. Fiela roep hulle om die kers dood te blaas en gaan uit die kombuis uit. Sy sien die laaste donkerte van die nag en die maan is ver gekrimp. Na 'n nag waar Tollie geblesseer geraak het deur 'n skop van 'n wyfie volstruis en Fiela die Here gedank het dat dit nie erger was nie, maak sy besluit. Dié dag gaan sy die wyfie volstruis by die mannetjie, Skopper, in die kamp plaas. Hierdie is iets waarvoor hulle lank voorbereid het, maar Selling voel hulle moet nog 'n week of twee wag. Ondanks Selling se besware, begin Fiela met die proses om die wyfie na Skopper se kamp te verskuif. Sy deel takke uit aan die kinders om te help keer die volstruis, terwyl Selling die perdekar stuur. Ondanks 'n poging tot ontsnapping deur die volstruis, lyk dit asof hulle dieselfde twee mans van vorige hoofstukke op Fiela se grond sien. Intussen baklei die gedagte in haar kop en die spanning bou aan. Aan die einde van die hoofstuk lyk dit asof Fiela huiwer, en die hoofstuk eindig met die wete dat Benjamin se hanskindwees dalk in die gevaarsone is. In Hoofstuk 6, deel 2, het Fiela 'n diep gesprek met Benjamin oor waarom hy wit is en sy bruin. Benjamin is onrustig en vra of die onbekende mans hom sal kom vat. Fiela probeer hom gerusstel, maar is verward en gespanne self. Terwyl hulle besig is om die wyfie volstruis by die mannetjie, Skopper, in die kamp te plaas, sien Fiela weer die mans van vorige hoofstukke. Sy vang 'n gesprek op waarin die mans sê dat "Mister Goldsbury, die nuwe magistraat op Knysna," Benjamin wil sien. Alhoewel Fiela insisteer dat hulle Benjamin hier by die plaas moet kom sien, steek die mans hulle voet neer en beveel dat Benjamin Vrydag in Knysna moet verskyn om deur die magistraat en Lukas se veronderstelde ma, die bosvrou, geïdentifiseer te word. Hierdie nuus laat Fiela geskok en bang voel as sy besef dat die mans se woorde kan dui op 'n toekomstige poging om Benjamin by haar weg te neem. Sy probeer verskeie planne maak om Benjamin te beskerm, maar teen die einde van die hoofstuk besef sy dat daar net een opsie oor is: sy moet hom na Knysna toelaat om deur die magistraat en Lukas se veronderstelde ma beskou te word, in die hoop dat hulle hom sal terugbring. In die finale deel van Hoofstuk 6 van "Fiela se kind", berei Fiela en die hele familie Benjamin voor om met die perdekar na Knysna te gaan, waar hy deur die nuwe magistraat, meneer Goldsbury, en Lukas se veronderstelde ma, die bosvrou, geïdentifiseer moet word. Ondanks sy vrees, probeer die familie Benjamin se moed opbou deur te grap oor die avonture wat hy miskien in Knysna sal beleef. Fiela werk vlytig om seker te maak Benjamin is skoon en goed versorg, terwyl hy voorbereid vir die reis. Hulle besprek wat hy moet sê en doen wanneer hy voor die magistraat verskyn, met die klem op die belangrikheid van sy voorkoms en gedrag. Dawid leen vir Benjamin sy beste baadjie, en Fiela gee vir hom vyf shillings 'vir ingeval', wat Benjamin moet wys dat die Komoetie-familie nie kaal arm is nie. Die dag is vol onsekerheid en angs, maar Fiela probeer haar beste om sterk te bly en Benjamin voor te berei vir wat hom te wagte staan. Wanneer die tyd aanbreek vir Benjamin se vertrek, word hy op die perdekar getel en vertrek na Knysna. Die hartseer is voelbaar, maar Fiela bly standvastig, kennelik vervaard vir die onseker toekoms maar steeds vasberade dat sy seun veilig sal terugkeer.