Wolf ja, wolf nee

by Elsabe Steenberg

Nelia se vooruitsigte na die Kersvakansie is so troosteloos dat sy wens sy kan liewer alleen in die kinderhuis agterbly: Sy is uitgenooi na die Van Heerdens, "weldoeners" wat dankbaarheid eis vir gunste en gawes wat geen verband hou met liefdade of begrip nie.

Sy hou dit nie lank by hulle uit nie. Onder die voorwendsel dat sy teruggaan na die kinderhuis, en met tien rand in haar sak, verdwyn sy die stad in. Op soek na die snaakse, vriendelike tannie Renata wat sy voorheen in die dieretuin ontmoet het, word sy eers vriende met 'n grys ou oom en sy vrou, en wanneer sy eindelik by tannie Renata se skewe, geel huis uitkom, begin 'n ondervinding wat nie saam met die Kersvakansie sou eindig nie.

Wolf ja, wolf nee vertel die verhaal van 'n tienjarige weeskind wat die moeilik vind om die werklikheid te aanvaar. Sy vertel aan almal dat haar pa haar eersdaags uit die kinderhuis kom haal; haar behoefte aan sekuriteit en beskerming word vervul deur 'n denkbeeldige wolf, groot en sterk, wat as't ware uit die bladsye van 'n boek kom om haar oral te vergesel, haar moed te gee en te sorg dat sy nooit alleen is nie. Eers wanneer sy die eksentrieke Renata leer ken, wat op haar manier ook eensaam is, begin Nelia se lewe weer vol word, al is dit 'n moeilike, soms pynlike proses.

85 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1978

About the author

Steenberg, who suffered from multiple sclerosis, is known for award-winning books like Klawervyf, Eendoring met lang bene, Boom, Bomer Boomste and Stippe Stappe Stories.

Through her work as lecturer and writer children’s literature was developed and accepted as a literary genre.

She is the sister of André P. Brink.

Reviews

[Ilze · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clearly I read this book many many years ago. That was before I understood that I needed a "wolf" in those years too, just like Nelia, an orphan. When all the orphans leave for the Christmas holidays, Nelia gets sent to a family where she doesn't feel loved. She finds an opportunity to leave and hunts down a kind lady she saw once when the children went to visit the zoo. Renata is a scatterbrained writer who doesn't really want to be burndened by a 10 year-old ... could it be that I did the same to my surrogate mom? When they go to bed one evening, Renata leans over and gives Nelia a kiss on the forehead. It strikes Nelia that she'd never experienced anything like it - hugs, yes (especially from an old couple who also discover Nelia running through the streets), but a real, motherly gesture? Maybe this is why the books meant so much to me the first time I read it. I remember looking for it in the Public Library all those years ago, having forgotten what the author's name was. Ha! I even made my way through something called "Leeu, leeu hoe laat is dit" because I so desperately wanted to read it again! There I was reading all these books with similar titles and wolves when in fact the wolf is imaginary! It's a crutch that helps Nelia through this difficult patch where feelings of insecurity can only be overcome by the mind. A good children's story.