A Fish and a Gift

by Liesl Jobson, illustrated by Jesse Breytenbach
Available at BookDash.org

 

Yusuf waits on the beach while Papa pushes out his boat. Surfers, turtles and sharks come from the sea. What will Papa bring back for Yusuf?


A Fish and a Gift

 

One special Friday Yusuf ’s father gets dressed before a flicker of light brightens the sky. He pulls on his heavy weather-proof jacket and the green woollen cap that covers his ears. He waves his boy goodbye. Yusuf ’s eyes brighten when Papa says, “Today is the day I will catch a fish and bring a gift home for you.”

A fish and a gift? Oh, what will it be? Papa cycles down to Muizenberg Beach. Squeak squeak go the wheels all the way to Surfer’s Corner.

Gulls circle the sky. “Whaaat? Whaaat? Whaaat?” they cry. “What will you bring back for Yusuf?”

Papa rings his bell. “Wait and see what it will be!”

The fishermen watch the sun rise. They check their nets. They check their oars. They listen to the wind. They drag their boats down to the water. Yusuf ’s grandfather, Oupa Salie was a treknet fisherman. Before him his father, Oupagrootjie Ridwaan, knew the sea too.

The boat rides into the waves. Papa’s arms stretch to the oar. His leg braces against the side. His neck strains, his back muscles ripple.

Papa sings as he works: “Drop and swish. Find a fish. Pull and plop. Don’t you stop.”

All day long Yusuf looks at the sky. It is bright and clear and windless. A fish and a gift! What will Papa bring home from the sea? Sometimes he brings a beautiful shell. Sometimes he brings a jewel green bottle rinsed by the waves.

Some days Yusuf ’s father brings a story. Like the time they found sea turtles on the sand, hundreds washed up in a storm.

“Whaaat? Whaaat? Whaaat?” cried the gulls. “What will you do to help the turtles?”

Papa said, “We saved those turtles, I tell you straight. We sent them back to the ocean, every last one.”

Always Papa brings a song. He sings the song while he pulls the oars. He sings the song while he pulls the nets. He sings the song as he winds the ropes. He sings the song as he cycles home. “Drop and swish. Find a fish. Pull and plop. Don’t you stop.”

Ouma Safiya wants a nice fat yellowtail for her supper. Mother wants a new dress.

“Don’t be silly,” says Ouma. “You’ll be lucky if they catch even a tiny crab. More likely it will be fish tail Friday. There’s not so many fish left in the sea.”

Yusuf holds Ouma’s hand. They cross the road at the bathing cabins.

“Whaaat? Whaaat? Whaaat?” cry the gulls perched on the bright rooftops. “What is for supper?”

Last year the fishermen fought with the surfers. Angry fists and shouting words.

“Whaaat? Whaaat? Whaaat?” cried the gulls.

“There’s enough sea for everybody,” said Yusuf ’s father. He showed them the fishing licence that had been Oupa Salie’s. “Waves for all. Water for free.”

Ouma Safiya watches through her binoculars, her fingers curled in curiosity. The shark siren sounds. Swimmers run back to the sand and grab their towels. Surfers rush to the shore, carrying their boards under their arms. Under the showers they strip off their wetsuits.

“Whaaat? Whaaat? Whaaat?” cry the gulls. “What will Yusuf ’s father bring from the ocean?”

Yusuf’s father and uncle and cousins heave and pull. A little shark has been caught. It twists and thrashes in the waves. Yusuf’s father untangles the nets, singing to the shark: “Drop and swish. Find a fish. Pull and plop. Don’t you stop.”

When the shark at last is free it streaks back into the waves, leaving only one fat yellowtail in the net. Ouma Safiya will be pleased.

The men pull the boat in and coil up the cables. A hard white triangle catches Papa’s finger.

“Whaaat? Whaaat? Whaaat?” cry the gulls. “What did you bring back for Yusuf?”

As the sun goes down, Papa answers the gulls. “A lucky shark tooth for my boy.”

At home Yusuf holds his gift up to the stars.

Yusuf waits on the beach while Papa pushes out his boat. Surfers, turtles and sharks come from the sea.

What will Papa bring back for Yusuf?

 

A Fish and a Gift

A Fish and a Gift

 

  • flicker: (of a light or a flame) to keep going on and off as it shines or burns
  • squeak: to make a short high sound that is not very loud
  • oars: long poles with a flat blade at one end that is used for rowing a boat
  • drag: to pull somebody/something along with effort and difficulty
  • treknet: net fishing from the beach
  • rides: to float or be supported on water or air
  • braces: to support (yourself) by leaning against something or holding something
  • strains: the pressure that is put on something when a physical force stretches, pushes, or pulls it
  • ripple: to flow with a light rise and fall or ruffling of the surface
  • rinsed: to remove dirt, etc. from something by washing it with clean water
  • washed up: to carry something from the water onto land
  • I tell you straight.: [slang] I am telling you the truth.
  • winds: move in a spiral
  • silly: not practical or serious
  • perched: (especially of a bird) sitting or resting on something
  • fought: {past tense} fight
  • licence: an official document that shows that permission has been given to do, own or use something
  • binoculars: an instrument, like two small telescopes fixed together, that makes objects that are far away seem nearer when you look through it
  • curled: to form or make something form into a curved shape
  • curiosity: a strong desire to know about something
  • strip off: (especially clothing & paint) to remove the covering from something
  • wetsuits: a piece of clothing made of rubber that fits the whole body closely, worn, for example, by people swimming underwater or sailing
  • thrashes: to move or make something move in a violent or uncontrolled way
  • untangles: to undo something that has become twisted in something else
  • streaks: move very fast in a specified direction
  • pleased: feeling happy about something
  • coil up: To curl oneself or something into a small, compact position

  • flicker: гэрэлтэх: (гэрэл эсвэл дөл) гэрэлтэх эсвэл шатах үед асах, асаахгүй байх
  • squeak: чанга: чанга биш богино богино дуу гаргах
  • oars: сэлүүр: завь сэлүүр хийхэд ашигладаг нэг хавтгай иртэй урт шон
  • drag: чирэх: хүчин чармайлт, бэрхшээлтэй хамт хэн нэгнийг / ямар нэг зүйлийг татах
  • treknet: далайн эргээс цэвэр загас барих
  • rides: унадаг: усан дээр эсвэл агаарт хөвөх, эсвэл дэмжих
  • braces: хаалт: ямар нэгэн зүйлд найдах, эсвэл ямар нэгэн зүйлийг барих замаар өөрийгөө (өөрийгөө) дэмжих
  • strains: омог: Биеийн хүч түүнийг сунгах, түлхэх, татах үед ямар нэгэн зүйл дээр дарагддаг
  • ripple: долоох: гэрэл урсах, унах, эсвэл гадаргуу дээр урсах
  • rinsed: зайлж угаана: шороо болон бусад зүйлийг цэвэр усаар угаах
  • washed up: угаасан: уснаас газар руу юм дамжуулах
  • I tell you straight.: Би та нарт шууд хэлье. Би үнэнийг хэлж байна.
  • winds: салхи: спираль хэлбэрээр хөдлөх
  • silly: тэнэг: практик эсвэл ноцтой биш
  • perched: шуугиан: (ялангуяа шувууны) ямар нэг юманд суух эсвэл амрах
  • fought: тулалдсан: {өнгөрсөн} тэмцэл
  • licence: лиценз: ямар нэгэн зүйлийг хийх, эзэмших, ашиглах зөвшөөрөл олгосон болохыг харуулсан албан ёсны баримт бичиг
  • binoculars: дуран: Энэ нь хоёр жижиг телескопын хамт бэхлэгдсэн багаж бөгөөд үүнийг харахад хол байгаа зүйлийг ойртуулж өгдөг.
  • curled: муруй: ямар нэгэн зүйлийг муруй хэлбэрт оруулах, хэлбэржүүлэх
  • curiosity: сониуч зан: аливаа зүйлийн талаар мэдэхийг маш их хүсдэг
  • strip off: хаах: (ялангуяа хувцас ба будаг) ямар нэгэн зүйлийг халхлахаас зайлуулах
  • wetsuits: жишээлбэл, усан доор сэлэх эсвэл дарвуулт завиар явж буй хүмүүсийн өмсдөг резинэн даавуугаар бүх биеийг нягт холбодог.
  • thrashes: хусах: ямар нэгэн зүйлийг хүчирхийлэл, хяналтгүйгээр хөдөлгөх
  • untangles: тэгш бус зүйл: өөр зүйл дээр эрчилсэн зүйлийг буцаах
  • streaks: судлууд: заасан чиглэлд маш хурдан хөдлөх
  • pleased: сэтгэл хангалуун: ямар нэгэн зүйлд сэтгэл хангалуун байх
  • coil up: ороомог: Өөрийгөө эсвэл ямар нэгэн зүйлийг жижиг, авсаархан байрлалд тохойлох

Source: Translate.Google.com

  • flicker: жыпылықтау: (жарықтың немесе жалынның) жануы немесе жануы үшін жұмысты жалғастыру және өшіру үшін
  • squeak: қысу: өте қатты емес қысқа қысқа дыбыс шығару
  • oars: есіктер: қайықпен есу үшін қолданылатын ұштары жалпақ жүзі бар ұзын тіректер
  • drag: апару: біреуді / бір нәрсені күш пен қиындықпен бірге тарту
  • treknet: жағажайда таза балық аулау
  • rides: жүру: суда немесе ауада жүзу немесе қолдау үшін
  • braces: жақшалар: бір нәрсеге сүйеніп немесе бір нәрсені ұстап тұрып (өзіңді) қолдау
  • strains: штаммдар: физикалық күш оны созғанда, итергенде немесе тартқанда бір нәрсе болатын қысым
  • ripple: толқындар: жарықтың көтерілуімен немесе құлауымен немесе беткейдің ағуымен ағу
  • rinsed: шаю: таза сумен жуып, кірді кетіру үшін
  • washed up: жуылды: судан құрлыққа бірдеңе алып кету үшін
  • I tell you straight.: Мен саған айтамын: [сленг] мен саған шынымды айтамын.
  • winds: желдер: спиральмен қозғалу
  • silly: ақымақ: практикалық немесе маңызды емес
  • perched: жайбарақат: (әсіресе құстың) бірдеңеге отыру немесе демалу
  • fought: соғысқан: {өткен шақ} жекпе-жек
  • licence: лицензия: бір нәрсені жасауға, иеленуге немесе пайдалануға рұқсат берілгенін көрсететін ресми құжат
  • binoculars: дурбин: бір-біріне бекітілген екі кішкентай телескоп тәрізді құрал, сіз алыстан көрінетін заттарды жақыннан қарайтындай етеді
  • curled: бұйраланған: иілген пішінге бір нәрсе жасау немесе жасау
  • curiosity: қызығушылық: бір нәрсе туралы білуге ​​деген құштарлық
  • strip off: жабуды алып тастау үшін (әсіресе киім және бояумен) шешіңіз
  • wetsuits: жаялық кию: резеңке матадан жасалған, бүкіл денеге сәйкес келетін, мысалы, су астында жүзетін немесе жүзетін адамдар киетін киім.
  • thrashes: қоқыс: күшпен немесе бақылаусыз бір нәрсені жылжыту немесе жасау
  • untangles: тегістеу: басқа нәрсеге бұралған нәрсені қайтару
  • streaks: жолақтар: белгіленген бағытта өте жылдам қозғалу
  • pleased: риза: бір нәрсені бақытты сезіну
  • coil up: Катушка: өзіңізді немесе бір нәрсені кішкене ықшам күйге бұрау үшін

Source: Translate.Google.com

  • flicker: วูบวาบ: (ของแสงหรือเปลวไฟ) เพื่อดำเนินการต่อไปและปิดในขณะที่มันส่องแสงหรือการเผาไหม้
  • squeak: รับสารภาพ: เพื่อให้เสียงสูงสั้นที่ไม่ดังมาก
  • oars: พาย: เสายาวที่มีใบมีดแบนที่ปลายด้านหนึ่งซึ่งใช้สำหรับการพายเรือ
  • drag: ลาก: เพื่อดึงใครสักคน / บางสิ่งบางอย่างพร้อมกับความพยายามและความยากลำบาก
  • treknet: แหจับปลาจากชายหาด
  • rides: ลอยหรือสนับสนุนบนน้ำหรืออากาศ
  • braces: วงเล็บปีกกา: เพื่อสนับสนุน (ตัวคุณเอง) โดยพิงหรือถือบางสิ่ง
  • strains: สายพันธุ์: ความกดดันที่เกิดขึ้นกับบางสิ่งเมื่อแรงทางกายภาพยืดผลักหรือดึง
  • ripple: ระลอกคลื่น: ไหลไปกับแสงที่เพิ่มขึ้นหรือลดลงหรือน่าตื่นตาตื่นใจของพื้นผิว
  • rinsed: ล้างออก: เพื่อขจัดสิ่งสกปรก ฯลฯ ออกจากบางสิ่งโดยล้างด้วยน้ำสะอาด
  • washed up: ล้างออก: เพื่อนำสิ่งของจากน้ำไปยังดินแดน
  • I tell you straight.: ฉันบอกคุณตรงๆ: [คำสแลง] ฉันกำลังบอกความจริงกับคุณ
  • winds: ลม: เคลื่อนเป็นเกลียว
  • silly: ไร้สาระหรือไม่จริงจัง
  • perched: เกาะอยู่: (โดยเฉพาะนก) นั่งหรือพักผ่อนบนบางสิ่ง
  • fought: ต่อสู้: {อดีตกาล} การต่อสู้
  • licence: ใบอนุญาต: เอกสารราชการที่แสดงว่าได้รับอนุญาตให้ทำเป็นเจ้าของหรือใช้งานบางอย่าง
  • binoculars: กล้องสองตา: เครื่องมือเช่นกล้องโทรทรรศน์ขนาดเล็กสองตัวจับจ้องอยู่ที่ทำให้วัตถุที่อยู่ไกลดูใกล้เมื่อคุณมองผ่าน
  • curled: อยากรู้อยากเห็น: ความปรารถนาดีที่จะรู้เกี่ยวกับบางสิ่งบางอย่าง
  • curiosity: curled: สร้างหรือทำบางสิ่งบางอย่างให้เป็นรูปร่างโค้ง
  • strip off: ดึงออก: (โดยเฉพาะเสื้อผ้าและสี) เพื่อลบที่ครอบออกจากบางสิ่ง
  • wetsuits: ชิ้นส่วนของเสื้อผ้าที่ทำจากยางที่เหมาะกับร่างกายอย่างใกล้ชิดสวมใส่ตัวอย่างเช่นคนที่ว่ายน้ำใต้น้ำหรือแล่นเรือใบ
  • thrashes: เพื่อย้ายหรือเคลื่อนย้ายบางสิ่งบางอย่างด้วยวิธีรุนแรงหรือไม่มีการควบคุม
  • untangles: เพื่อเลิกทำสิ่งที่บิดเบี้ยวในสิ่งอื่น
  • streaks: ริ้ว: เคลื่อนที่เร็วมากในทิศทางที่กำหนด
  • pleased: ยินดี: รู้สึกมีความสุขกับบางสิ่ง
  • coil up: ม้วนขึ้น: เพื่อม้วนตัวเองหรือบางสิ่งบางอย่างให้อยู่ในตำแหน่งที่เล็กกะทัดรัด

Source: Translate.Google.com

  • flicker: फ्लिकर: (एक प्रकाश वा ज्वाला को) यो चम्किन्छ वा जलेको को रूपमा जारी राख्न र बन्द राख्न
  • squeak: छोटो उच्च आवाज बनाउन जुन धेरै चर्को हुँदैन
  • oars: ओअर्स: एक सपाट ब्लेड संग लामो पोलहरू
  • drag: ड्र्याग: को लागी कसैलाई / केहि गर्न को लागी प्रयास र कठिनाई संग
  • treknet: ट्रेकनेट: समुद्री तटबाट नेट फिशिंग
  • rides: सवारीहरू: पानी वा हावामा फ्लोट गर्न वा समर्थन गर्न
  • braces: ब्राकेट्स: केहिलाई झुकाएर वा केहि समाएर (आफैलाई) समर्थन गर्न
  • strains: तनावहरू: दबाब जुन केहि मा राखिन्छ जब एक शारीरिक बल तानिन्छ, धकेल्छ, वा तानिन्छ
  • ripple: रिपल: हल्का वृद्धि र सतहको पतनको साथ प्रवाह गर्न
  • rinsed: कुल्ला: सफा पानीले धुँदा कुनै चीजबाट फोहोर इत्यादि हटाउन
  • washed up: नुहाईयो: पानीबाट पानीमा केही ल्याउन
  • I tell you straight.: म तिमीलाई सिधा भन्छु।: [अपमान] म तिमीलाई सत्य बताउँदैछु।
  • winds: हावा: सर्पिलमा सर्नुहोस्
  • silly: मूर्ख: व्यावहारिक वा गम्भीर छैन
  • perched: पेच गरिएको: (विशेष गरी चराको) बसिरहेको वा केहिमा आराम गर्ने
  • fought: लडे: {विगत काल} लडाई
  • licence: इजाजत पत्र: एक आधिकारिक कागजात जसले देखाउँदछ कि केही गर्न, स्वामित्व वा केहि प्रयोग गर्न अनुमति दिइएको छ
  • binoculars: दूरबीन: एक उपकरण, दुई साना टेलिस्कोपहरू जस्तो एकसाथ तय गरिएको छ, जसले टाढा टाढाका वस्तुहरूलाई अझ नजिकको बनाउँदछ जब तपाईं यसलाई हेर्नुहुन्छ
  • curled: घुमाउरो: बनाउन वा बनावट आकार मा केहि फारम बनाउन
  • curiosity: जिज्ञासा: केहि को बारे मा जानको तीव्र इच्छा
  • strip off: स्ट्रिप बन्द: (विशेष गरी कपडा र रंग) केहि बाट कभरिंग हटाउन
  • wetsuits: रबरले बनेको कपडाको टुक्रा जुन पूरै शरीरसँग मिल्दछ
  • thrashes: थ्रेसहरू: हिंसात्मक वा अनियन्त्रित तरिकाले सार्न वा केहि सार्नको लागि
  • untangles: अन्डु गर्न को लागी केहि को लागी बनिएको छ
  • streaks: रेखाहरु: एक निर्दिष्ट दिशा मा धेरै छिटो सार्नुहोस्
  • pleased: खुसी: केहि खुशी को लागी
  • coil up: कुण्डिल: आफै वा केहिलाई सानो, कम्प्याक्ट स्थितिमा कर्ल गर्न

Source: Translate.Google.com