Un café con sorpresa
A Coffee Shop Surprise
1 · Spanish Story
La historia
Marta entra a una cafetería pequeña en su barrio de Buenos Aires. Hace calor, y ella busca sombra junto a la ventana. Sale de la oficina en su descanso.
El mozo le trae el menú y una servilleta. Marta mira los precios y sonríe. Pide un café con leche y una medialuna. El lugar está tranquilo.
Su celular suena sobre la mesa. Marta lo mira y se pone seria. Su amiga Lila escribe: «Estoy afuera». Marta no la ve todavía. Marta toma aire y espera un minuto.
El celular vibra otra vez. Marta sale rápido y mira la acera. No encuentra a Lila. Entonces vuelve al café y pregunta al mozo. El mozo señala una mesa del fondo. Ella piensa que Lila se fue.
Lila estaba sentada allí con otro abrigo. Marta se ríe y dice: «Te busqué afuera». Lila responde: «Yo también te busqué». Las dos piden una torta y se sientan juntas.
Después, Marta paga la cuenta. El mozo dice: «Dale, volvés cuando quieras». Marta agradece y sale con Lila. Afuera caminan despacio y siguen charlando. Después comparten la torta. La torta tiene crema arriba.
2 · Key Phrases
Language to keep
un café con leche
a coffee with milkA common drink order in a café.
En la mañana, pido un café con leche.
In the morning, I order a coffee with milk.
Su celular suena
Her phone ringsUseful when a phone rings during a visit.
Su celular suena en la mochila.
Her phone rings in the backpack.
Te busqué afuera
I looked for you outsideThe past tense shows a finished action.
Te busqué afuera de la escuela.
I looked for you outside the school.
la cuenta
the billThe amount you pay at the end of a meal or drink.
¿Me traés la cuenta, por favor?
Can you bring me the bill, please?
Dale, volvés cuando quieras
Come on, you can come back anytimeA casual way to invite someone to return.
Usage: Conversational; common in relaxed speech. This phrase uses voseo. In Argentina, 'volvés' is the informal singular form.
Dale, volvés más tarde si querés.
Come on, you can come back later if you want.
3 · English Translation
The full story in English
Marta enters a small café in her Buenos Aires neighborhood. It is hot, and she looks for shade by the window. She leaves the office during her break.
The waiter brings her the menu and a napkin. Marta looks at the prices and smiles. She orders a coffee with milk and a croissant. The place is quiet.
Her phone rings on the table. Marta looks at it and gets serious. Her friend Lila writes: “I am outside.” Marta does not see her yet. Marta takes a breath and waits a minute.
The phone vibrates again. Marta goes out quickly and looks at the sidewalk. She does not find Lila. Then she goes back to the café and asks the waiter. The waiter points to a table at the back. She thinks that Lila left.
Lila was sitting there with another coat. Marta laughs and says: “I looked for you outside.” Lila answers: “I looked for you too.” The two order a cake and sit together.
Then, Marta pays the bill. The waiter says: “Come on, you can come back anytime.” Marta thanks him and leaves with Lila. Outside they walk slowly and keep talking. After that they share the cake. The cake has cream on top.