Fluent Fiction - Serbian: Laughter's Magic in the Old Tavern
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Story Transcript:

Sr: Bio jednom jedan komičar koji je imao veliki izazov pred sobom.
En: Once upon a time, there was a comedian who faced a great challenge.

Sr: Njegovo ime je Nikola, a pred njim je bila grupa mrzovoljnih starijih gospodina koji su sedeli za stolom u starinskoj kafani u srcu Beograda.
En: His name was Nikola, and in front of him sat a group of grumpy older gentlemen at a table in an old-fashioned tavern in the heart of Belgrade.

Sr: Nikola je bio poznat po svojoj sposobnosti da nasmije i najtužnije duše, ali ovi gospoda su bili pravi izazov.
En: Nikola was known for his ability to bring laughter to even the saddest souls, but these gentlemen were a real challenge.

Sr: Uzdisao je dok je osmišljavao svoj plan.
En: He sighed as he pondered his plan.

Sr: Njegova prijateljica Milica bila je konobarica u ovoj kafani i ona mu je predložila da pokuša svoju sreću sa ovom teškom publikom.
En: His friend Milica was a waitress in this tavern, and she suggested that he try his luck with this tough audience.

Sr: "Ovo su Sofijini deda i njegovi prijatelji," rekla je Milica.
En: "These are Sofija's grandfather and his friends," Milica said.

Sr: "Sofija kaže da se oni nisu nasmejali godinama!
En: "Sofija says they haven't laughed in years!"

Sr: "Kada su gospoda naručila još jednu rundu kajsijevače, Nikola je zauzeo mesto na malenoj bini u uglu kafane i počeo svoj nastup.
En: As the gentlemen ordered another round of apricot brandy, Nikola took his place on a small stage in the corner of the tavern and began his performance.

Sr: "Zašto kokoška prelazi put?
En: "Why did the chicken cross the road?"

Sr: " počeo je s klasičnim šalom.
En: he started with a classic joke.

Sr: Ali umesto smeha, usledio je samo tihi mrmor i mrki pogledi.
En: But instead of laughter, there was only a quiet murmur and stern looks.

Sr: Ništa.
En: Nothing.

Sr: Ne ni osmeh.
En: Not even a smile.

Sr: Nikola nije odustajao.
En: Undeterred, Nikola continued.

Sr: "Šta jedan zid kaže drugom?
En: "What does one wall say to another?

Sr: Srešćemo se na uglu!
En: We'll meet at the corner!"

Sr: " opet je pokušao, ali stariji gospodin mu je samo odmahnuo rukom, kao da tera dosadnu muvu.
En: he tried again, but an older gentleman just waved his hand as if shooing away a pesky fly.

Sr: Vrijeme je prolazilo, i Nickola je sve više tonuo, kada je u kafanu ušetala Sofija, devojka sa iskričavim očima i zaraznim osmehom.
En: As time passed, Nikola began to sink, until Sofija walked into the tavern, a girl with sparkling eyes and an infectious smile.

Sr: "Zdravo, deda!
En: "Hello, grandpa!"

Sr: " pozdravila je.
En: she greeted.

Sr: "Čula sam da je večeras ovde komičar.
En: "I heard there's a comedian here tonight.

Sr: Dajte mu šansu!
En: Give him a chance!"

Sr: "Sofijin deda i njegovi prijatelji pogledali su je, a ona je nasmešena sela na prazan sto.
En: Sofija's grandfather and his friends looked at her, and she sat down at an empty table with a smile on her face.

Sr: Nikola je skupljao snagu.
En: Nikola gathered his strength.

Sr: Odlučio je da isproba još jedan štos.
En: He decided to try another joke.

Sr: "Šta radi električar kada se penzioniše?
En: "What does an electrician do when he retires?

Sr: Osloni se na svoje žice!
En: He leans on his wires!"

Sr: " Tada se nešto desilo.
En: Then something happened.

Sr: Sofija se zasmejala tako srdačno da se osmeh nije mogao ignorisati.
En: Sofija laughed so heartily that her smile couldn't be ignored.

Sr: I, kao da je magija njenog smeha probudila duhove stare kafane, jedan po jedan, Sofijin deda i njegovi prijatelji počeli su da se smeju, prvo stidljivo, zatim sve jače i jače.
En: And as if the magic of her laughter awakened the spirits of the old tavern, one by one, Sofija's grandfather and his friends began to laugh, first timidly, then louder and louder.

Sr: Kafana se ispunila toplinom i smehom, a Nikola, Milica i Sofija zajedno su uživali u promeni koja se dogodila.
En: The tavern was filled with warmth and laughter, and Nikola, Milica, and Sofija enjoyed the change that had occurred.

Sr: Nikola je shvatio da ponekad nije važan štos koliko energija i osmesi koje donesemo sa sobom.
En: Nikola realized that sometimes it's not just about the joke but the energy and smiles we bring with us.

Sr: Na kraju večeri, Sofijin deda je prišao Nikoli, potapšao ga po ramenu i rekao: "Nisam se ovako nasmejao od kako sam bio mladić.
En: At the end of the evening, Sofija's grandfather approached Nikola, patting him on the shoulder and said, "I haven't laughed like this since I was a young man.

Sr: Hvala ti, dečko.
En: Thank you, son.

Sr: Trebalo nam je malo tvog duha ovde.
En: We needed a bit of your spirit here."

Sr: "Od te večeri, Nikola je postao redovan gost u kafani, a gospoda su se uvek smejala njegovim šalama.
En: From that evening on, Nikola became a regular at the tavern, and the gentlemen always laughed at his jokes.

Sr: A u kafani se priča kako njegov smeh ima magičnu moć, koja razbija čak i najtvrdokorniji mrak.
En: And the tavern had a story of how his laughter had a magical power, capable of dispelling even the most stubborn darkness.


Vocabulary Words:

• challenge: izazov
• comedian: komičar
• grumpy: mrzovoljni
• gentlemen: gospodina
• tavern: kafani
• laughter: smeh
• sighed: uzdisao
• pondered: osmišljavao
• waitress: konobarica
• tough: teškom
• grandfather: deda
• laughed: nasmejali
• classic: klasičnim
• murmur: mrmor
• stern: Mrki
• smile: osmeh
• undeterred: Nikola nije odustajao
• wall: zid
• shooing away: tera dosadnu muvu
• sparkling: iskričavim
• greeted: pozdravila
• empty: prazan
• greeted: potapšao
• laughter: smeh
• regular: redovan
• jokes: šalama
• magical: magičnu
• dispelling: razbija
• stubborn: najtvrdokorniji