Un favor pequeño
A Small Favor
1 · Spanish Story
La historia
Lucía salió de su apartamento con el celular en la mano y con una cara de apuro. Tenía una reunión por videollamada en veinte minutos, y su computadora no estaba cargando. Miró el pasillo, respiró hondo y tocó la puerta de su vecina, Marta. La había visto solo un par de veces, pero siempre le había parecido amable.
Marta abrió con una taza de café y una expresión curiosa. Lucía sonrió con un poco de vergüenza. "Perdón que te moleste", dijo. "¿Tendrías un cargador? El mío falló y no quiero llegar a la reunión con la batería casi muerta". Marta levantó las cejas. "Claro, entra. Yo tengo uno, pero creo que es de otro tipo".
Lucía entró rápido y revisó el cable. En efecto, no servía para su computadora. Marta le ofreció buscar otro en una caja de cosas viejas, y Lucía aceptó sin pensarlo mucho. Mientras Marta revisaba la caja, empezó a sonar el teléfono de Lucía. Era su jefe. Ella dudó un segundo antes de contestar. "No pasa nada si te tardas", dijo Marta desde la sala. "Yo te ayudo".
La llamada terminó antes de lo que Lucía esperaba. Su jefe no quería la videollamada de inmediato. La había movido para la tarde, pero el mensaje había llegado a otra carpeta. Lucía soltó una risa nerviosa. "Qué vergüenza", dijo. "Te hice correr por nada". Marta negó con la cabeza. "Nada de eso. A mí también me ha pasado. A veces uno ve un mensaje tarde y se armó un enredo".
Al final, Marta encontró un cargador compatible en una gaveta y Lucía pudo quedarse tranquila. Antes de irse, le preguntó si podía devolverle el favor otro día. Marta pensó un momento y sonrió. "Sí, de una vez", dijo. "El sábado voy al mercado temprano, y me vendría bien que me cuides al perro diez minutos". Lucía se quedó sorprendida y después rió. "Trato hecho".
Cuando Lucía bajó en el ascensor, ya no tenía prisa. Había llegado por un favor pequeño y se iba con una ayuda nueva y una vecina más cercana. En la puerta del edificio, miró su celular y vio el mensaje de su jefe otra vez. Esta vez sí sonrió, porque sabía que todo saldría bien.
2 · Key Phrases
Language to keep
con una cara de apuro
with an anxious lookUse this to describe someone who looks rushed or worried.
Llegó con una cara de apuro porque perdió el autobús.
He arrived with an anxious look because he missed the bus.
Tendrías un cargador?
Would you happen to have a charger?This is a polite, indirect way to ask if someone has something.
Usage: Formal; suitable for polite or professional situations.
¿Tendrías un bolígrafo para firmar aquí?
Would you happen to have a pen to sign here?
no pasa nada
it is fine, no problemA very common way to reassure someone or reduce worry.
No pasa nada si llegas un poco tarde.
It is fine if you arrive a little late.
se armó un enredo
a mess got made, things got tangled upThis phrase suggests confusion or a small complication.
Usage: Conversational; common in relaxed speech. This phrase is common in everyday speech. It sounds natural and informal.
Con tantos mensajes, se armó un enredo.
With so many messages, a mess got made.
de una vez
right awayOften used to say something should happen immediately or without delay.
Usage: Conversational; common in relaxed speech. This phrase is very common in Venezuelan speech. In this context, it means immediately, not impatience.
Si quieres, lo revisamos de una vez.
If you want, we can check it right away.
Trato hecho
DealA short way to agree to a proposal.
Si tú cocinas, yo limpio. Trato hecho.
If you cook, I will clean. Deal.
todo saldría bien
everything would turn out fineThis expresses confidence about a future outcome from a past point of view.
Con un poco de calma, todo saldría bien.
With a little calm, everything would turn out fine.
3 · English Translation
The full story in English
Lucía came out of her apartment with her cell phone in her hand and with an anxious look. She had a video meeting in twenty minutes, and her computer was not charging. She looked down the hall, took a deep breath, and knocked on her neighbor Marta's door. She had seen her only a couple of times, but she had always seemed kind.
Marta opened the door with a cup of coffee and a curious expression. Lucía smiled with a little embarrassment. "Sorry to bother you," she said. "Would you happen to have a charger? Mine stopped working and I do not want to reach the meeting with the battery almost dead." Marta raised her eyebrows. "Of course, come in. I have one, but I think it is a different type."
Lucía came in quickly and checked the cable. In fact, it did not work for her computer. Marta offered to look for another one in a box of old things, and Lucía accepted without thinking much about it. While Marta searched the box, Lucía's phone began to ring. It was her boss. She hesitated for a second before answering. "It is fine if you take a while," Marta said from the living room. "I will help you."
The call ended sooner than Lucía expected. Her boss did not want the video meeting right away. He had moved it to the afternoon, but the message had arrived in another folder. Lucía let out a nervous laugh. "How embarrassing," she said. "I made you rush for nothing." Marta shook her head. "Not at all. That has happened to me too. Sometimes one sees a message late and a mess gets made."
In the end, Marta found a compatible charger in a drawer and Lucía was able to stay calm. Before leaving, Lucía asked if she could return the favor another day. Marta thought for a moment and smiled. "Yes, right away," she said. "On Saturday I am going to the market early, and it would be useful if you watched my dog for ten minutes." Lucía was surprised and then laughed. "Deal."
When Lucía went down in the elevator, she was no longer in a hurry. She had come for a small favor and left with new help and a neighbor who felt closer. At the building entrance, she looked at her cell phone and saw her boss's message again. This time she smiled, because she knew everything would turn out fine.