Un pequeño favor
A Small Favor
1 · Spanish Story
La historia
Ana estaba cocinando en su apartamento cuando se dio cuenta de que no tenía azúcar. Miró la alacena dos veces y luego revisó la mesa. Nada. Quería terminar el postre esa misma tarde, así que decidió pedirle un pequeño favor a su vecino Luis.
A las cinco, Ana tocó la puerta de al lado. Luis abrió con una sonrisa y le dijo que pasara. Ana explicó su problema con calma. Luis respondió que sí, pero le pidió que esperara un momento porque estaba buscando una caja en la cocina.
Ana pensó que él no la había entendido. Entonces repitió su pedido y habló más despacio. Luis se rió y le mostró un frasco casi lleno. La caja era para guardar arroz, no azúcar. «Yo te presto esto de una vez», dijo. Ana suspiró aliviada y le agradeció mucho.
Mientras esperaba, Ana vio que en la cocina había una torta pequeña. Luis le contó que era para el cumpleaños de su hermana y que estaba un poco atrasado. Ana recordó que aún tenía crema en su nevera. «Si quieres, te la puedo prestar», le dijo. Luis levantó las cejas y sonrió. Los dos se pusieron a hablar un rato y la lluvia sonó más fuerte afuera.
Minutos después, Ana volvió a su apartamento con el azúcar y una sonrisa. Más tarde, Luis llamó a su puerta para devolverle la crema y llevarle un pedazo de torta. Los dos se despidieron contentos. A veces, un pequeño favor cambia un día entero. Y esa tarde, los dos quedaron con ganas de hablar otra vez.
2 · Key Phrases
Language to keep
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se dio cuenta de que
realized thatUse this phrase when someone notices or understands something after thinking or looking.
Me di cuenta de que era tarde.
I realized that it was late.
un pequeño favor
a small favorThis phrase is common when asking for a little help.
¿Puedes hacerme un pequeño favor?
Can you do me a small favor?
con una sonrisa
with a smileThis describes how someone speaks, looks, or acts while smiling.
Ella me saludó con una sonrisa.
She greeted me with a smile.
le pidió que esperara
he asked her to waitThis structure is common after pedir que plus a verb in the subjunctive.
El vendedor me pidió que esperara afuera.
The seller asked me to wait outside.
de una vez
right awayThis phrase is common in everyday speech and means without delay.
Usage: Conversational; common in relaxed speech. This phrase is very common in Venezuelan everyday speech.
Voy a llamarlo de una vez.
I am going to call him right away.
a veces
sometimesThis phrase is used for something that happens on some occasions, not always.
A veces caminamos al parque.
Sometimes we walk to the park.
3 · English Translation
The full story in English
Ana was cooking in her apartment when she realized that she had no sugar. She looked in the pantry twice and then checked the table. Nothing. She wanted to finish the dessert that same afternoon, so she decided to ask her neighbor Luis for a small favor.
At five o'clock, Ana knocked on the door next door. Luis opened with a smile and told her to come in. Ana explained her problem calmly. Luis said yes, but he asked her to wait a moment because he was looking for a box in the kitchen.
Ana thought that he had not understood her. Then she repeated her request and spoke more slowly. Luis laughed and showed her an almost full jar. The box was for storing rice, not sugar. "I will lend you this right away," he said. Ana sighed with relief and thanked him a lot.
While she waited, Ana saw that there was a small cake in the kitchen. Luis told her that it was for his sister's birthday and that he was a little behind. Ana remembered that she still had cream in her fridge. "If you want, I can lend it to you," she told him. Luis raised his eyebrows and smiled. The two started talking for a while and the rain sounded louder outside.
Minutes later, Ana returned to her apartment with the sugar and a smile. Later, Luis knocked on her door to return the cream and bring her a piece of cake. The two said goodbye happily. Sometimes, a small favor changes an entire day. And that afternoon, the two were left wanting to talk again.