La cena de Marta
Marta's dinner
1 · Spanish Story
La historia
Marta llegó a casa temprano. Quería preparar una cena sencilla para su hermano y su amigo. Puso el pollo sobre la mesa. También puso la ensalada allí. "Hoy cocino yo", dijo ella. Luis llegó con pan en una bolsa y sonrió.
Marta encendió la estufa y buscó una olla. Luego abrió la alacena y vio un envase vacío. Allí debía estar el arroz. Se quedó quieta un momento. Marta miró el envase. "¡Ay, no! Olvidé comprar arroz".
Luis miró la cocina y sacó el celular. "Mi vecina tiene arroz", dijo. Marta le respondió: "¡Qué chévere!" Luis llamó a la vecina y le explicó el problema. Ella dijo que sí. Marta le prestó una taza.
Después, Luis y Marta fueron al apartamento de la vecina con la taza en la mano. La vecina sonrió y les dio arroz. También les explicó cómo cocinarlo más rápido. Marta regresó a casa contenta. Lavó el arroz y puso la olla en la estufa otra vez.
Más tarde, la comida estuvo lista. El pollo olía bien y la ensalada estaba fresca. Todos se sentaron. Marta dijo: "Ahora sí. A comer". Luis levantó su plato y dijo: "Esta cena quedó chévere". Todos rieron y comieron en paz.
2 · Key Phrases
Language to keep
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una cena sencilla
a simple dinnerThis describes a dinner that is easy to prepare and not fancy.
Quiero hacer una cena sencilla esta noche.
I want to make a simple dinner tonight.
Se quedó quieta un momento
She stayed still for a momentThis phrase describes a short pause without moving.
Se quedó quieta un momento delante de la puerta.
She stayed still for a moment in front of the door.
Mi vecina tiene arroz
My neighbor has riceThis says that a female neighbor has some rice.
Mi vecina tiene arroz para la cena de mañana.
My neighbor has rice for tomorrow's dinner.
le prestó una taza
lent him a cupThis describes giving someone a cup to use temporarily.
La abuela le prestó una taza a su nieto.
The grandmother lent her grandson a cup.
quedó chévere
turned out greatThis phrase praises how something turned out.
Usage: Conversational; common in relaxed speech. In Puerto Rico and elsewhere in the Caribbean, quedó chévere informally means quedó muy bien.
La foto quedó chévere.
The photo turned out great.
3 · English Translation
The full story in English
Marta arrived home early. She wanted to prepare a simple dinner for her brother and her friend. She put the chicken on the table. She also put the salad there. "Today I'm cooking," she said. Luis arrived with bread in a bag and smiled.
Marta turned on the stove and looked for a pot. Then she opened the cabinet and saw an empty container. The rice was supposed to be there. She stayed still for a moment. Marta looked at the container. "Oh no! I forgot to buy rice."
Luis looked at the kitchen and took out his cellphone. "My neighbor has rice," he said. Marta replied: "How nice!" Luis called the neighbor and explained the problem. She said yes. Marta lent him a cup.
After that, Luis and Marta went to the neighbor's apartment with the cup in hand. The neighbor smiled and gave them rice. She also explained how to cook it faster. Marta returned home happy. She washed the rice and put the pot on the stove again.
Later, the meal was ready. The chicken smelled good and the salad was fresh. Everyone sat down. Marta said: "Now we're ready. Let's eat." Luis lifted his plate and said: "This dinner turned out great." Everyone laughed and ate in peace.