In die hartjie van 'n bruisende plaas, bekend as Die Melkweg Melkery, waar koeie tevrede gras kou en die reuk van vars hooi in die lug hang, het daar 'n jong vrou genaamd Lerato gewoon.

In the heart of a bustling farm, known as The Milky Way Dairy, where cows contentedly graze and the scent of fresh hay fills the air, there lived a young woman named Lerato.

Lerato was mal oor alle diere op die plaas, maar sy het 'n spesiale plekkie in haar hart gehad vir 'n sekere verlore troeteldier; haar klein bokkie, Simba, wat jare gelede verdwaal het.

Lerato adored all the animals on the farm, but she had a special place in her heart for a certain lost pet; her little goat, Simba, who had gone missing years ago.

Elke dag, terwyl sy hard gewerk en melk uitgemet het, het sy heimlik gehoop dat haar Simba op een of ander magiese wyse sou terugkeer.

Every day, while she worked hard and measured out milk, she secretly hoped that her Simba would somehow return.

Een sonskyn oggend, terwyl Lerato besig was om die koeie te voed, hoor sy 'n geluid wat klink soos Simba se blêr van lank gelede.

One sunny morning, while Lerato was busy feeding the cows, she heard a sound that sounded like Simba's bleat from long ago.

Haar hart het vinnig geslaan terwyl sy die geluid gevolg het.

Her heart raced as she followed the sound.

En daar, tussen die lêende hoender en die lui varke, sien sy 'n bok wat spieëlbeeld lyk van haar Simba.

And there, among the lounging chickens and the lazy pigs, she saw a goat that looked like a mirror image of her Simba.

Sy hardloop oor die plaas se erf, gly byna op 'n stuk melk wat op die pad gestort was, haar hart vol hoop.

She ran across the farmyard, almost slipping on a spill of milk on the path, her heart filled with hope.

Toe sy by die bok kom, roep sy saggies, "Simba, is jy dit, my ou vriend?"

When she reached the goat, she called softly, "Simba, is it you, my old friend?"

Die bok kyk op met groot bruin oë wat net so mooi en sag was soos die van Simba.

The goat looked up with large brown eyes that were just as beautiful and gentle as Simba's.

Sy hare was so vuis en sy bokbaardjie swaai heen en weer, amper asof hy probeer sê, "Ek is hier, Lerato."

His fur was the same shade, and his beard swayed back and forth, almost as if to say, "I am here, Lerato."

Lerato kniel neer en strek haar hande uit na die bok, maar net toe sy hom aanraak, bars die boer, Oom Jannes, uit in 'n harde lag.

Lerato knelt down and reached out her hands toward the goat, but just as she touched him, the farmer, Uncle Jannes, burst out laughing.

Lerato, sê hy, daai is nie jou Simba nie, dit is een van die nuwe bokke wat ek net gister gekoop het. Jou Simba was 'n unieke klein skapie, nie 'n melkbok nie!

Lerato, he said, that's not your Simba, it's one of the new goats I just bought yesterday. Your Simba was a unique little lamb, not a dairy goat!

Haar wange brand van skaamte, maar terselfdertyd verligting spoel oor haar.

Her cheeks burned with embarrassment, but at the same time, relief washed over her.

Sy moes gelag het oor hoe sy verward was, maar die herinnering aan Simba was te sterk gewees.

She must have laughed at how confused she was, but the memory of Simba had been too strong.

Dae het verby gegaan en Lerato het geleer om die nuwe bok te waardeer.

Days went by and Lerato learned to appreciate the new goat.

Sy het hom selfs 'n nuwe naam gegee, Max, en het gou besef dat elke dier op die Melkweg Melkery hul eie unieke verhaal en plek het.

She even gave him a new name, Max, and soon realized that every animal at The Milky Way Dairy had their own unique story and place.

En alhoewel sy nog altyd 'n leë plekkie sou hê waar haar Simba was, het Lerato se hart uitgebrei om al die ander wonderlike skepsels wat sy daagliks versorg, in te sluit.

And although she would always have an empty spot where her Simba had been, Lerato's heart expanded to include all the other wonderful creatures she cared for daily.

Met die koms van Max het die plaas 'n bietjie meer voltooi gevoel, en Lerato het geweet dat alhoewel sommige verhale eindig, begin ander net.

With the arrival of Max, the farm felt a bit more complete, and Lerato knew that although some stories end, others just begin.

En daar, tussen die ritsel van die blare en die sagte geluid van melk wat in emmers klokslag neerplons, het sy 'n nuwe bokvriend gevind.

And there, amid the rustling of the leaves and the gentle sound of milk splashing into buckets, she found a new goat friend.