La mochila perdida
The lost backpack
1 · Spanish Story
La historia
Lucía entró en la librería con una lista corta. Quería comprar un cuaderno y una birome. Dejó su mochila junto a una mesa de ofertas. Después caminó hasta la sección de novelas. Miró algunos libros y leyó los títulos.
Cuando volvió a la mesa, no vio su mochila. Miró debajo de la mesa y llamó a un empleado. "Disculpá, ¿viste una mochila negra?", preguntó. El empleado revisó el lugar y dijo: "Todavía no. Tal vez quedó en otra mesa". Lucía se puso nerviosa y buscó otra vez.
Entonces una mujer se acercó con una mochila parecida. "¿Es esta?", dijo. Lucía la miró y negó con la cabeza. La mujer sonrió y señaló el fondo del local. Allí estaba la mochila negra, cerca de las revistas. Lucía fue hasta ese lugar rápido y la reconoció.
Dentro estaban su celular, su billetera y el cuaderno nuevo. No faltaba nada. Lucía respiró hondo y agradeció a todos. "Qué bueno", dijo el empleado. "A veces las cosas se cambian de mesa". Lucía sonrió y compró lo que necesitaba. Salió de la librería tranquila y con su mochila bien cerrada.
2 · Key Phrases
Language to keep
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Dejó su mochila junto a una mesa de ofertas
She left her backpack next to a sale tableThis phrase describes where something is placed for a short time.
Dejó su taza junto a la ventana.
She left her cup by the window.
no vio su mochila
she did not see her backpackThis is a simple past negative form for noticing something missing.
No vio su llave en la cocina.
She did not see her key in the kitchen.
¿Es esta?
Is this it?This short question is useful when showing an item to check it.
¿Es esta tu campera?
Is this your jacket?
señaló el fondo del local
she pointed to the back of the storeThis phrase uses a common verb for giving directions.
Señaló el fondo del pasillo.
She pointed to the back of the aisle.
No faltaba nada
Nothing was missingThis phrase is common when checking lost or packed items.
No faltaba nada en la caja.
Nothing was missing in the box.
salió de la librería tranquila
she left the bookstore calmlyThis phrase shows the result after a problem is solved.
Salió de la oficina tranquila.
She left the office calmly.
3 · English Translation
The full story in English
Lucía entered the bookstore with a short list. She wanted to buy a notebook and a pen. She left her backpack next to a sale table. After that, she walked to the novel section. She looked at some books and read the titles.
When she returned to the table, she did not see her backpack. She looked under the table and called an employee. "Excuse me, did you see a black backpack?" she asked. The employee checked the place and said: "Not yet. Maybe it was left at another table." Lucía got nervous and searched again.
Then a woman came over with a similar backpack. "Is this it?" she said. Lucía looked at it and shook her head. The woman smiled and pointed to the back of the store. There was the black backpack there, near the magazines. Lucía went to that place quickly and recognized it.
Inside were her cell phone, her wallet, and the new notebook. Nothing was missing. Lucía took a deep breath and thanked everyone. "That's good," said the employee. "Sometimes things get moved from one table to another." Lucía smiled and bought what she needed. She left the bookstore calmly and with her backpack closed well.