Un café en la tarde
A coffee in the afternoon
1 · Spanish Story
La historia
Ana entra a una cafetería pequeña. Hay una mesa libre. Ella deja su mochila. La mesa está junto a la ventana.
Ella mira el menú. Pide un café y un pan dulce. Elige una silla. La silla está cerca de la puerta.
El trabajador trae un té. Ana mira la taza. Ella dice: "Yo pedí café". El trabajador mira otra vez.
El trabajador sonríe. Ve la charola. Toma la taza correcta. También trae el pan dulce. Todo sale bien.
Ana prueba el café. Está caliente y rico. Ella saca su cuaderno. Escribe una lista corta. Luego mira la ventana.
Después paga la cuenta. El trabajador dice: "Gracias". Ana sale tranquila. Piensa en volver ahorita. La tarde sigue tranquila.
2 · Key Phrases
Language to keep
una cafetería pequeña
a small coffee shopA simple way to name the place where people buy coffee and snacks.
Busco una cafetería pequeña cerca del parque.
I am looking for a small coffee shop near the park.
pide un café
orders a coffeeThis shows the action of asking for coffee in a shop.
María pide un café por la mañana.
María orders a coffee in the morning.
Yo pedí café
I ordered coffeeThis phrase is useful when correcting an order in a shop.
Yo pedí agua en la mesa.
I ordered water at the table.
ahorita
right now or in a momentIn Mexico, this phrase can mean right now or soon. The exact meaning depends on context.
Usage: Conversational; common in relaxed speech. In Mexico, this phrase can mean right now or soon.
Ahorita pago la cuenta.
I will pay the bill right now.
3 · English Translation
The full story in English
Ana enters a small coffee shop. There is a free table. She leaves her backpack. The table is next to the window.
She looks at the menu. She orders a coffee and a sweet bread. She chooses a chair. The chair is near the door.
The worker brings a tea. Ana looks at the cup. She says: "I ordered coffee." The worker looks again.
The worker smiles. He sees the tray. He takes the correct cup. He also brings the sweet bread. Everything goes well.
Ana tastes the coffee. It is hot and good. She takes out her notebook. She writes a short list. Then she looks at the window.
Afterward she pays the bill. The worker says: "Thank you." Ana leaves calmly. She thinks about coming back ahorita. The afternoon stays calm.