Un favor pequeño
A Small Favor
1 · Spanish Story
La historia
María salió de su departamento temprano y vio a Luis en el pasillo. Él llevaba una bolsa de mercado y buscaba sus llaves. Ella le sonrió. Iba al trabajo y necesitaba un favor pequeño.
"¿Me puedes guardar esta caja por unas horas?", preguntó ella. "Mi mamá me la mandó. No quiero llevarla en el autobús. Voy a recogerla en la tarde. ¿De acuerdo?"
Luis respondió. "Sí, no hay problema". "Voy a ponerla en la mesa y cuidarla bien". Pero la caja pesaba mucho. Luis escuchó un ruido dentro. Pensó en una taza de vidrio. Quizá había algo frágil.
Durante la mañana, Luis miró la caja varias veces. Quizá era un regalo importante. No quería moverla. La caja estaba lejos del borde de la mesa. No puso nada encima de ella.
Más tarde, María volvió antes de lo previsto. Luis la vio y sonrió. "¡Qué bien! Llegaste temprano. Tu caja está aquí". María se rió y explicó el contenido. La caja solo tenía libros y una taza de plástico. Nada era frágil.
"Tenía miedo de romper algo", dijo Luis. "Pensé en una taza de vidrio". María negó con la cabeza y le dio las gracias. Luego tomó la caja y bajó con él hasta la puerta. "También puedes pedirme ayuda", le dijo antes de irse.
2 · Key Phrases
Language to keep
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un favor pequeño
a small favorDescribes a simple request for help.
Necesito un favor pequeño: ¿me prestas tu lápiz?
I need a small favor: can you lend me your pencil?
guardar esta caja
keep this boxUsed when asking someone to hold a box for a while.
¿Puedes guardar esta caja mientras voy a la tienda?
Can you keep this box while I go to the store?
no hay problema
no problemA friendly response when agreeing to help.
"¿Me ayudas con la silla?" "Sí, no hay problema".
"Will you help me with the chair?" "Yes, no problem."
algo frágil
something fragileRefers to an object that can break easily.
Llevo algo frágil en la bolsa.
I'm carrying something fragile in the bag.
antes de lo previsto
earlier than expectedSays that something happened sooner than planned.
El autobús llegó antes de lo previsto.
The bus arrived earlier than expected.
3 · English Translation
The full story in English
María left her apartment early and saw Luis in the hallway. He was carrying a grocery bag and looking for his keys. She smiled at him. She was going to work and needed a small favor.
"Can you keep this box for me for a few hours?" she asked. "My mother sent it to me. I don't want to carry it on the bus. I'm going to pick it up this afternoon. Okay?"
Luis answered. "Yes, no problem." "I'm going to put it on the table and take good care of it." But the box was very heavy. Luis heard a noise inside. He thought of a glass cup. Perhaps there was something fragile.
During the morning, Luis looked at the box several times. Perhaps it was an important gift. He didn't want to move it. The box was far from the edge of the table. He didn't put anything on top of it.
Later, María returned earlier than expected. Luis saw her and smiled. "How nice! You arrived early. Your box is here." María laughed and explained the contents. The box only contained books and a plastic cup. Nothing was fragile.
"I was afraid of breaking something," Luis said. "I thought of a glass cup." María shook her head and thanked him. Then she took the box and went downstairs with him to the door. "You can ask me for help too," she told him before leaving.