El partido de baloncesto y la guagua perdida
The basketball game and the lost bus
1 · Spanish Story
La historia
El sábado en la tarde, Luis llegó al parque con su celular en el bolsillo. Había quedado con Carla para ver un juego de baloncesto del barrio. El ambiente era agradable y la cancha estaba llena de vecinos. Luis pensaba que solo iba a mirar, pero el entrenador le dijo: "¿Tú puedes jugar un rato? Nos falta un muchacho".
Luis dudó porque no había calentado, pero aceptó. Al principio, se sintió torpe. Después de dos pases buenos, agarró confianza. Carla le gritaba desde las gradas que jugara tranquilo. El equipo contrario metió varias canastas seguidas y el partido se puso difícil. Entonces Luis robó el balón y se lo pasó a un compañero, que logró otra canasta.
El juego terminó empatado y todos aplaudieron. El entrenador le dio las gracias a Luis. Mientras recogían las botellas, Carla le dijo que su mamá los recogería en la guagua de su familia. Luis no la escuchó bien. Oyó a dos niños decir que el autobús salía pronto y creyó que Carla hablaba del mismo vehículo. Fue hacia la parada para esperarla.
Cinco minutos después, Luis vio la guagua salir del parque y pensó que Carla se había ido sin él. Le escribió: "¿Dónde estás?". Carla contestó: "Aquí, en la entrada. Te estoy esperando". Luis miró alrededor y no la encontró. Entonces la llamó. "Un momento", dijo ella. "Estoy detrás de un grupo de padres. Voy hacia ti".
Cuando se encontraron, Luis se puso rojo de vergüenza, pero también se rió. Carla le explicó la confusión. Su mamá todavía no había llegado y en su vehículo quedaba espacio para los dos. Esperaron juntos junto a la parada, hablando del juego. Cuando llegó su mamá, Luis dijo que la próxima vez llegaría más temprano para calentar. Carla sonrió: "El equipo te va a necesitar".
2 · Key Phrases
Language to keep
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llegó al parque con su celular en el bolsillo
arrived at the park with his cellphone in his pocketDescribes someone's arrival and where they were carrying their phone.
Ana llegó al parque con su celular en el bolsillo para encontrarse con su hermano.
Ana arrived at the park with her cellphone in her pocket to meet her brother.
guagua
bus or vanThe vehicle being discussed determines the meaning here, which causes Luis's misunderstanding.
Usage: In Puerto Rico, guagua can mean a bus or a van. More specific alternatives are autobús and camioneta.
La guagua de esta ruta tiene espacio para treinta pasajeros.
The bus on this route has room for thirty passengers.
no había calentado
he had not warmed upDescribes physical preparation that had not happened before another past event.
No había calentado antes de correr y empezó despacio.
He had not warmed up before running and started slowly.
agarró confianza
he gained confidenceDescribes becoming more comfortable and sure of one's ability.
Usage: Informal; best for casual conversation.
Después de practicar unos días, agarró confianza al hablar en público.
After practicing for a few days, he gained confidence speaking in public.
Un momento
One momentA short phrase used to ask someone to wait briefly.
Un momento, voy a buscar las llaves y regreso.
One moment, I'm going to look for the keys and come back.
quedaba espacio
there was still roomDescribes space that was still available in a place or vehicle.
En la mesa quedaba espacio para una silla más.
There was still room at the table for one more chair.
3 · English Translation
The full story in English
On Saturday afternoon, Luis arrived at the park with his cellphone in his pocket. He had arranged to meet Carla to watch a neighborhood basketball game. The atmosphere was pleasant and the court was full of neighbors. Luis thought he was only going to watch, but the coach said to him, "Can you play for a while? We're missing one player."
Luis hesitated because he had not warmed up, but he accepted. At first, he felt clumsy. After two good passes, he gained confidence. Carla shouted from the stands for him to play calmly. The opposing team made several baskets in a row and the game got difficult. Then Luis stole the ball and passed it to a teammate, who scored another basket.
The game ended in a tie and everyone applauded. The coach thanked Luis. While they picked up the bottles, Carla told him that her mother would pick them up in her family's van. Luis did not hear her clearly. He heard two children say that the bus was leaving soon and thought Carla was talking about the same vehicle. He went toward the stop to wait for her.
Five minutes later, Luis saw the bus leave the park and thought Carla had left without him. He wrote to her, "Where are you?" Carla answered, "Here, at the entrance. I'm waiting for you." Luis looked around and could not find her. Then he called her. "One moment," she said. "I'm behind a group of parents. I'm coming toward you."
When they found each other, Luis blushed with embarrassment, but he also laughed. Carla explained the confusion to him. Her mother had not arrived yet and there was still room in her vehicle for both of them. They waited together beside the stop, talking about the game. When her mother arrived, Luis said that next time he would arrive earlier to warm up. Carla smiled. "The team is going to need you."