Fiela se kind (Dalene Matthee) Chapter 9 Summary
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WHAT HAPPENED, IN 50 WORDS:
Chapter 9 sees Benjamin anxiously await his identity determination, haunted by memories of home and his family. With the sudden entry of a distressed woman and four boys, Mrs. van Rooyen identifies him as her lost son. Despite Benjamin's pleas of being Fiela's child, the magistrate insists otherwise, deepening the identity mystery.
FULL SUMMARY:
In Chapter 9, we find Benjamin waiting anxiously in a strange room. His distressed mind flits between recollections of home and observations of his unfamiliar surroundings. He speculates that he may have been forgotten by the officials, and his thoughts drift back to his childhood. He recalls the fateful day when he retrieved an ostrich egg for his mother, Fiela, which led to a memorable scolding and a bake of yellow cake. Nonetheless, his mother recognized his birthday the following day hinting at his family's deep affection. Interspersed with these flashbacks, his thoughts return to his present predicament, reiterating his fearful anticipation of what may come. The anxiety builds until finally, two visitors enter the room - the magistrate and a policeman. The magistrate gently asks Benjamin probing questions about his infancy, attempting to jog memory of a time prior to living in Lange Kloof, although with little success. The climax of the chapter comes with the arrival of four boys of a similar age to Benjamin and an terrified woman identified as Ms. Van Rooyen. The woman virtually ignores the other boys and points directly at Benjamin, turns away in tears. A man, likely Elias joins and is startled on seeing Benjamin. The chapter concludes in a flurry of whispering and confusion, with the constable whispering something to the magistrate. Benjamin's fear and confusion along with Ms. Van Rooyen's reaction intensify the mystery surrounding his identity and hint at the possibility of him being Elias and Barta's lost son, Lukas. In Chapter 9's second part, a solemn magistrate and constable converse after clearing out the room, leaving a frightened Benjamin in growing suspense. The magistrate, removing his glasses and leaning forward, inquires if Benjamin understood the recent events. Benjamin, driven by overwhelming fear, merely pleads to be allowed to return home. Subsequently, the magistrate explains that a child had disappeared in the forest years ago, who was possibly him. To ascertain this, he brought the mother, along with Benjamin and four other boys, hoping it would be challenging for her to identify her child. Nonetheless, she picked Benjamin without doubt. Despite the magistrate's sympathetic explanation, a distraught Benjamin insists that he belongs to Fiela Komoetie, sensing a grievous error. The magistrate, still attempting to be patient, assures Benjamin that he will soon adjust to living with his biological parents. Distressed by the fact that no one reported Benjamin's existence with the Komoetie family, the magistrate insists that he isn't Fiela's child. He believes Benjamin will eventually thank him for this day. Nevertheless, Benjamin pleads to the retreating magistrate, claiming he is Fiela's child and his father is Selling Komoetie, but to no avail. The chapter ends with Benjamin's desperate claims falling on the deaf ears of the unbelieving magistrate. The sudden reality of a life separated from the Komoetie family is presented before Benjamin, intensifying the suspense and underlying importance of his true identity.
WHAT HAPPENED, IN 50 WORDS:
In Hoofstuk 9 wag Benjamin (Lukas) angstig om geïdentifiseer te word. Hy konfronteer die magistraat en ontmoet die Van Rooyen-egpaar. Ondanks hul erkenning als sy ouers, ontken hy sterk hulle verhouding en betuig sy vaste band met Fiela se gesin, wat die magistraat nie aanvaar nie.
FULL SUMMARY:
In Hoofstuk 9 wag Benjamin (ook bekend as Lukas) angstig in 'n vreemde saal - 'n plek wat hy later beskryf as 'n kerk. Niemand kom in en hy begin oorweeg of hulle hom dalk vergeet het. Wanneer sy angstige oomblikke te veel word, neem hy sy toevlug tot sy geheue, en dink terug aan 'n tyd toe hy en sy broer Dawid 'n volstruiseier gesteel het vir hul moeder, ongeag die gevaar van die volstruis. Hulle het dit vir hul ma gebring, hopend op erkenning, maar sy het hulle gestraf vir hul roekelose gedrag - hoewel sy daarna geelkoek van die eier gebak het. Terug in die huidige situasie, gaan die saaldeur skielik oop, en word Benjamin gekonfronteer met 'n man in 'n swart pak en 'n stywe borshemp - miskien die magistraat. Die man vra hom vrae rakende sy vroeëre lewe, maar Benjamin kan hom van niks herinner nie. Dit lei hom tot die regverdiging dat hy nie so goed kan dink as hy bang is nie. Direk daarna kom vier ander seuns die kamer binne, wat veral Benjamin se verwerings veroorsaak. Kort daarna kom 'n bedeesde wit vrou, mevrou Van Rooyen, en 'n man, waarskynlik haar eggenoot, binne. Sodra sy Benjamin sien, wys sy na hom, draai om en begin huil. Die man staar Benjamin skrikwekkend aan. Alles dui daarop dat hierdie vrou dalk sy biologiese moeder kan wees, die moeder van die vermiste Lukas. In die tweede deel van Hoofstuk 9 bly Benjamin (Lukas) alleen in die kamer nadat die magistraat almal opdrag gee om te verlaat. Die magistraat probeer dan aan Benjamin verduidelik wat net gebeur het - dat hy waarskynlik die verlore seun van die vrou wat so pas daar was, Lukas, is. Benjamin, wat baie bang is, bly egter volhard dat hy Fiela Komoetie se kind is en dat daar 'n groot fout gemaak word. Die magistraat lê aan hom uit dat die vrou hom sonder twyfel herken het uit 'n groep van vier seuns en dit beteken dat hy moet aanpas na 'n nuwe lewe met sy "regte" familie. Benjamin verban die suggestie dat hy nie Fiela se kind is nie en beklemtoon sterk dat hy aan haar toebetrou was deur die Here. Die magistraat se pogings om hom te troos faal, en Benjamin word toenemend paniekerig, insisterend dat hy terug wil gaan na sy ma en pa, Fiela en Selling. Die magistraat sluit die ontmoeting af deur te opponeer teen die gebruik van die woord "baas" en klem te lê op Benjamin se nuwe identiteit as 'n wit kind. Benjamin se pleidooie word geïgnoreer en dit is duidelik dat die magistraat nie sy stellings dat hy Fiela se kind is, geloof nie.