Un plan para la playa
A Plan for the Beach
1 · Spanish Story
La historia
El sábado, Camila despertó temprano en su casa de Lima. Quería ir a la playa con su prima Dani y su tía Rosa. Había guardado su ropa de baño la noche anterior, pero no encontraba su bloqueador. Revisó su mochila y miró la mesa de la cocina. "¿Has visto mi bloqueador?", le preguntó a su mamá. Su mamá señaló una repisa. "Está ahí, junto a las llaves", le dijo.
A las ocho, las tres salieron al paradero. Tomaron una combi que iba hacia la costa. Camila se sentó junto a la ventana. Dani estaba contenta porque era su primera salida después de los exámenes. "Por fin vamos a descansar", dijo Dani. La tía Rosa sonrió y respondió: "Sí, pero primero tenemos que llegar sin olvidarnos de nada".
Cuando bajaron cerca de la playa, Camila buscó otra vez el bloqueador en su mochila. No estaba. También faltaban los lentes de sol de Dani. Quisieron revisar el asiento de la combi, pero el vehículo ya se había ido. "Qué vergüenza", murmuró Camila. La tía Rosa dijo: "No se preocupen. Podemos comprar otro bloqueador en la tienda de la esquina".
Antes de entrar a la arena, compraron agua, galletas y un bloqueador nuevo. Camila llamó a su mamá desde el celular y le contó lo que había pasado. Su mamá dijo que los lentes estaban en la mesa del comedor. "No pasa nada. Lo importante es que estén bien y que usen bloqueador". Camila respiró más tranquila. Dani compró un helado y dijo que el viaje ya le parecía agradable.
Pasaron la mañana jugando cartas, caminando cerca del mar y conversando. Más tarde, la tía Rosa repartió los sándwiches de pollo que habían llevado. Camila pensó que el día había empezado mal, pero ahora estaba perfecto. De regreso a casa, en la combi, encontró su bloqueador en el fondo de la mochila. Sonrió y dijo: "La próxima vez revisaré todo antes de salir".
2 · Key Phrases
Language to keep
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no encontraba su bloqueador
she could not find her sunscreenThe imperfect tense describes a search that had not yet succeeded.
Luis no encontraba su bloqueador entre las toallas.
Luis could not find his sunscreen among the towels.
combi
minibusThis word names the type of vehicle the family takes to the coast.
Usage: In Peru, combi commonly refers to a shared minibus that carries passengers along a set route.
La combi estaba llena esta mañana.
The minibus was full this morning.
Por fin vamos a descansar
at last we are going to restThis phrase expresses relief that a long-awaited break is about to begin.
Por fin vamos a descansar después de una semana de trabajo.
At last we are going to rest after a week of work.
No se preocupen
don't worryThis expression reassures several people who are worried about something.
No se preocupen, tenemos tiempo para llegar.
Don't worry, we have time to get there.
ya le parecía agradable
already seemed pleasant to herThis describes a positive impression that had developed by that point.
Después de hablar con sus vecinos, el barrio ya le parecía agradable.
After talking with her neighbors, the neighborhood already seemed pleasant to her.
La próxima vez revisaré todo antes de salir
next time I will check everything before leavingThe future tense expresses an intention based on a lesson learned.
La próxima vez revisaré todo antes de salir hacia la oficina.
Next time I will check everything before leaving for the office.
3 · English Translation
The full story in English
On Saturday, Camila woke up early in her house in Lima. She wanted to go to the beach with her cousin Dani and her aunt Rosa. She had packed her swimsuit the night before, but she could not find her sunscreen. She checked her backpack and looked at the kitchen table. "Have you seen my sunscreen?" she asked her mom. Her mom pointed to a shelf. "It is there, next to the keys," she told her.
At eight o'clock, the three of them went out to the bus stop. They took a minibus that was going toward the coast. Camila sat by the window. Dani was happy because it was her first outing after the exams. "At last we are going to rest," Dani said. Aunt Rosa smiled and replied: "Yes, but first we have to arrive without forgetting anything."
When they got off near the beach, Camila looked for the sunscreen in her backpack again. It was not there. Dani's sunglasses were also missing. They wanted to check the seat in the minibus, but the vehicle had already left. "How embarrassing," Camila murmured. Aunt Rosa said: "Don't worry. We can buy another sunscreen at the corner store."
Before going onto the sand, they bought water, cookies, and a new sunscreen. Camila called her mom from her cellphone and told her what had happened. Her mom said that the sunglasses were on the dining room table. "It is fine. The important thing is that you are fine and that you use sunscreen." Camila breathed more calmly. Dani bought an ice cream and said that the trip already seemed pleasant to her.
They spent the morning playing cards, walking near the sea, and talking. Later, Aunt Rosa handed out the chicken sandwiches they had brought. Camila thought that the day had started badly, but now it was perfect. On the way home, in the minibus, she found her sunscreen at the bottom of the backpack. She smiled and said: "Next time I will check everything before leaving."