Photo by Jozua van der Lugt.
Translation
“From Playground to Prostitute” was translated into English from the original Afrikaans “Van Skoolbank tot Bordeelbed”.
The peak-hour traffic exiting the city centre cruises slowly from traffic light to traffic light. It’s raining softly. Pieter and Engela are driving in the opposite direction down Church Street, from Oranjesig towards town. ‘It’s Friday, 15 October 1993, and the weekend has arrived!’ chatters Jaco de Wet on the car radio. ‘The weather service predicts a gloomy and wet weekend for Bloemfontein, but the sounds of Radio Oranje will keep things cosy. So, let’s get going with Billy Joel’s latest hit single, “The River of Dreams”. Engela hums along to the song. She is in a happy mood because she’s on her way to her first job.
Die vyfuur-spitsverkeer vanuit die middestad kruie stadig van robot tot robot voort. Dit reën saggies. Pieter en Engela ry in die teenoorgestelde rigting in Kerkstraat, vanaf Oranjesig stad se kant toe. “Dis Vrydag, 15 Oktober 1993, en die naweek is hierf’gesels Jaco de Wet oor die motorradio. “Die weerburo voorspel ‘n triestige en nat naweek hier in Bloemfontein, maar die musiekklanke van Radio Oranje sal dinge heerlik gesellig hou. So, kom ons spring weg met Billy Joel se nuutste treffer, ‘The River of Dreams’.” Engela neurie saam. Sy is in ‘n vrolike bui, want sy is op pad na haar eerste werk toe.
