Op die laaste dag van die skooljaar, het die son warm gebrand oor die hoërskool.

On the last day of the school year, the sun shone warmly over the high school.

Die gange was vol stemme en glimlagte, want almal was opgewonde oor die feesvieringe vir Nuwejaarsdag.

The hallways were full of voices and smiles, as everyone was excited about the feesvieringe for New Year's Day.

Maar daar was 'n probleem.

But there was a problem.

Iets waardevol het uit die hoof se kantoor verdwyn.

Something valuable had disappeared from the principal's office.

En Francois was die een wat daarvan beskuldig is.

And Francois was the one accused of it.

Annelie, 'n slim en nuuskierige graad 11-leerder, het vasbeslote geword om Frans te help.

Annelie, a smart and curious graad 11 student, became determined to help Francois.

Sy het geweet hy was onskuldig.

She knew he was innocent.

Moed en nuuskierigheid het Annelie aangespoor.

Courage and curiosity spurred Annelie on.

"Ons gaan hierdie raaisel oplos," het sy vir Francois gesê.

"We are going to solve this mystery," she said to Francois.

Maar Francois het sy kop geskommel.

But Francois shook his head.

"Hoe gaan jy dit regkry?

"How are you going to manage that?"

"Die skool se hoofkantoor was ordelik en netjies.

The school's hoofkantoor was orderly and neat.

'n Groot venster het oor die sportvelde uitgekyk.

A large window looked out over the sports fields.

Annelie het 'n plan gehad: sy moes meer uitvind oor Lukas, die nuwe student.

Annelie had a plan: she needed to find out more about Lukas, the new student.

Hy het iets geheimsinnig gehad.

He seemed mysterious.

Hy het altyd half weggeskram van die gesprek.

He always slightly shied away from conversation.

Was hy dalk betrokke?

Was he perhaps involved?

Annelie het besluit om Lukas te dophou.

Annelie decided to keep an eye on Lukas.

Hy het dikwels naby die leerlofttrappe rondgedwaal, maar nooit te lank op dieselfde plek gebly nie.

He often lingered near the leerlofttrappe, but never stayed in the same place for too long.

"Daar is iets vreemd aan hom," het Annelie gedink.

"There's something strange about him," Annelie thought.

Sy het hom gevra oor die verdwyning, maar hy het net vaag geantwoord en elders gaan staan.

She asked him about the disappearance, but he only gave vague answers and moved elsewhere.

Die klok het sesuur aangegee toe Annelie na skool in die donkerte van die kantoor inbeweeg het.

The clock struck six when Annelie moved into the office after school, in the darkness.

Die laaste sonstrale het deur die venster gestroom, die kamer met 'n goue lig gevul.

The last rays of the sun streamed through the window, filling the room with a golden light.

Sy het haar flitslig uitgehaal en begin soek.

She took out her flashlight and began to search.

Haar heupe het op iets gestamp.

Her hips bumped against something.

Dit was 'n geheime kompartement onder die lessenaar!

It was a secret compartment under the desk!

Annelie se vingers het oor 'n koue, klein kluisjie gegly.

Annelie's fingers glided over a cold, small safe.

Haar hart het vinniger geklop terwyl sy dit oopgemaak het – daar binne was die vermiste item.

Her heart beat faster as she opened it – inside was the missing item.

Die item wat die hoof gesoek het.

The item the principal had been searching for.

Maar voor sy kon glimlag, het 'n geluid haar laat skrik.

But before she could smile, a sound startled her.

Dit was Lukas, wat stil in die skadu's gestaan het.

It was Lukas, standing quietly in the shadows.

"Ek het jou gevolg," het Lukas sag gesê.

"I followed you," Lukas said softly.

"Dit is nie wat jy dink nie.

"It's not what you think.

Ek wou iemand beskerm.

I wanted to protect someone."

" Sy oë het eerlik gelyk.

His eyes seemed honest.

Annelie het kort gewonder of sy hom kon vertrou.

Annelie briefly wondered if she could trust him.

Maar daar was geen tyd om te huiwer nie.

But there was no time to hesitate.

Hulle het die item stilweg teruggeneem na die kantoor, waar Annelie en Lukas saam gehelp het om Francois se naam skoon te kry.

They took the item quietly back to the office, where Annelie and Lukas helped clear Francois's name.

Die hoof was bly sy item was terug en het sy verontskuldigings aan Francois gerig.

The principal was glad to have his item back and offered his apologies to Francois.

Met die van die somerbries het Annelie besef haar vaardighede as 'n speurder het gegroei.

With the scent of the summer breeze, Annelie realized her skills as a detective had grown.

En sy het verstaan dat net soos sy Lukas se geheim gerespekteer het, sy ook die belangrikheid van vertroue en samewerking in haar speurtogte nodig gehad het.

And she understood that just as she respected Lukas's secret, she also needed the importance of trust and cooperation in her investigations.

Francois en Lukas was nou nie net haar vriende nie, maar ook bondgenote in die avontuur van die lewe.

Francois and Lukas were now not just her friends, but also allies in the adventure of life.

En so was die jaar afgesluit, met die smaak van nuwe avonture wat wag.

And so the year ended, with the taste of new adventures waiting.