Un saludo en la sala de espera
A greeting in the waiting room
1 · Spanish Story
La historia
El lunes en la mañana, Ana llegó temprano a la clínica. Llevaba una carpeta azul y miraba la pantalla con los turnos. Había mucha gente, pero el ambiente era tranquilo. Ella se sentó y esperó su número mientras revisaba el papel de su cita.
A su lado, un hombre revisaba su celular con cara de preocupación. Ana lo miró y le dijo: "¿Está buscando su turno?" Él sonrió, aunque parecía nervioso. "Sí, llegué hace poco y no entiendo bien el sistema", respondió. Ana le explicó que la pantalla cambiaba rápido y que él debía oír su nombre con cuidado.
Ana abrió la carpeta y vio que él tenía una cita en el mismo piso. "Qué pena, yo también pensé que estaba perdida", dijo ella. Él se rió. "Entonces somos dos", contestó. Conversaron un rato sobre el trabajo y el barrio, y la espera se hizo más corta. Después, él le contó que era nuevo en la zona y que buscaba un médico para su madre.
Cuando llamaron el turno de Ana, ella se paró, pero el hombre también se levantó. Los dos miraron el papel y entendieron el error. La cita era para Ana María Rojas, no para Ana Ruiz. Ana se puso colorada, pero él dijo con calma: "No pasa nada, ya lo aclaramos." Luego, una enfermera confirmó el nombre correcto y les pidió que esperaran unos minutos más.
Después de la revisión, salieron al corredor y tomaron agua. Él se llamaba Daniel y trabajaba cerca de allí. Antes de irse, sacó una tarjeta de su bolso y le dijo: "Si quiere, le escribo para tomar un café otro día." Ana aceptó con gusto y guardó la tarjeta en la carpeta. Al salir, ambos sonrieron, porque un saludo sencillo había cambiado la mañana.
2 · Key Phrases
Language to keep
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llegó temprano
arrived earlyIt describes arriving before the expected time.
Llegó temprano para ayudar a ordenar las sillas.
He arrived early to help arrange the chairs.
cara de preocupación
worried lookIt describes the expression on someone’s face when they are uneasy.
Tenía cara de preocupación cuando vio el correo.
She had a worried look when she saw the email.
qué pena
sorryThis phrase is common in Colombian Spanish to show polite regret or embarrassment.
Usage: This phrase is a very common polite way to show regret or embarrassment in Colombia.
Qué pena, llegué tarde a la reunión.
Sorry, I arrived late to the meeting.
se rió
laughedIt shows that a person found something funny.
Se rió cuando vio la foto vieja.
He laughed when he saw the old photo.
se puso colorada
blushedIt describes a face becoming red from embarrassment or shyness.
Se puso colorada cuando la presentaron.
She blushed when they introduced her.
con gusto
gladlyIt is a polite way to say someone agrees willingly.
Usage: This phrase is polite and common in Colombia when accepting an offer or helping someone.
Con gusto le explico otra vez el camino.
I will gladly explain the route again.
3 · English Translation
The full story in English
On Monday morning, Ana arrived early at the clinic. She was carrying a blue folder and looking at the screen with the appointments. There were many people, but the atmosphere was calm. She sat down and waited for her number while she checked her appointment paper.
Next to her, a man was checking his cellphone with a worried face. Ana looked at him and said, "Are you looking for your turn?" He smiled, although he seemed nervous. "Yes, I arrived a little while ago and I do not understand the system very well," he replied. Ana explained that the screen changed quickly and that he should listen for his name carefully.
Ana opened the folder and saw that he had an appointment on the same floor. "Sorry, I also thought it was lost," she said. He laughed. "Then there are two of us," he answered. They talked for a while about work and the neighborhood, and the wait felt shorter. After that, he told her that he was new in the area and that he was looking for a doctor for his mother.
When they called Ana's turn, she stood up, but the man also got up. They both looked at the paper and understood the mistake. The appointment was for Ana María Rojas, not for Ana Ruiz. Ana blushed, but he said calmly, "It is all right, we already cleared it up." Then a nurse confirmed the correct name and asked them to wait a few more minutes.
After the checkup, they went out into the hallway and drank some water. His name was Daniel and he worked nearby. Before leaving, he took a card from his bag and said to her: "If you want, I will write to you so we can have coffee another day." Ana accepted gladly and put the card in the folder. When they left, both of them smiled, because a simple greeting had changed the morning.