Las llaves en la biblioteca
The Keys at the Library
El martes por la tarde, Clara fue a la biblioteca del barrio. Llevaba un libro para devolver y unos cuadernos para estudiar. Escogió una mesa cerca de los periódicos. Sacó sus cosas y dejó las llaves sobre un periódico abierto.
Después de estudiar una hora, Clara guardó sus cuadernos. Buscó las llaves en su bolso y en los bolsillos. No estaban allí. También miró debajo de la silla. Necesitaba las llaves para entrar a su apartamento. Su hermana no llegaba hasta la noche.
Clara pidió ayuda a un empleado. Él preguntó: "¿Dónde estaba sentada?" Clara señaló su mesa. Ahora había un señor al lado de la ventana. Tenía varios periódicos y leía uno con atención. El empleado se acercó para hablar con él.
"Buscamos unas llaves", dijo el empleado en voz alta. El señor levantó el periódico. Algo cayó al suelo con un ruido pequeño. ¡Eran las llaves! Estaban entre las páginas del periódico. El señor las recogió y se las entregó a Clara.
El señor explicó: "Cerré el periódico y las llaves quedaron dentro". Clara sonrió y les dio las gracias a los dos. Ya podía volver a casa. Antes de salir, guardó las llaves en un bolsillo pequeño del bolso.
On Tuesday afternoon, Clara went to the neighborhood library. She had a book to return and some notebooks to study. She chose a table near the newspapers. She took out her things and left her keys on an open newspaper.
After studying for an hour, Clara put away her notebooks. She looked for her keys in her bag and pockets. They were not there. She also looked under the chair. She needed the keys to get into her apartment. Her sister was not coming home until nighttime.
Clara asked an employee for help. He asked, "Where were you sitting?" Clara pointed to her table. Now there was a man beside the window. He had several newspapers and was reading one carefully. The employee approached to speak with him.
"We are looking for some keys," the employee said out loud. The man lifted the newspaper. Something fell to the floor with a small noise. They were the keys! They were between the pages of the newspaper. The man picked them up and handed them to Clara.
The man explained, "I closed the newspaper and the keys ended up inside." Clara smiled and thanked them both. Now she could go back home. Before leaving, she put the keys in a small pocket of her bag.
Key Phrases
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pidió ayuda a un empleado
asked an employee for helpNames the person someone asked for assistance, using the past tense.
Julia pidió ayuda a un empleado para buscar una chaqueta.
Julia asked an employee for help looking for a jacket.
al lado de la ventana
beside the windowDescribes a location next to a window.
Pusimos una planta al lado de la ventana.
We put a plant beside the window.
en voz alta
out loudDescribes speaking so other people can hear.
Marta leyó la pregunta en voz alta.
Marta read the question out loud.
volver a casa
to go back homeA common expression for returning home after being somewhere else.
Queremos volver a casa antes de las ocho.
We want to go back home before eight.
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