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El regalo perfecto
The Perfect Gift
Clara gives her sister a vintage camera, but struggles to let go of something she wants for herself.
Three short parts. Read each part in Spanish first; tap “Show English” under a paragraph when you need the translation.
Part 1
Clara llevaba toda la tarde preparando el regalo para su hermana. Había elegido una caja azul, papel blanco y una cinta roja que combinaba perfectamente con la tarjeta. Después de varios intentos, consiguió envolverlo sin una sola arruga.
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Clara had spent the whole afternoon preparing the gift for her sister. She had chosen a blue box, white paper, and a red ribbon that matched the card perfectly. After several tries, she managed to wrap it without a single wrinkle.
Se apartó un poco para admirarlo. El paquete había quedado tan bonito que le costaba imaginarlo en manos de otra persona. Dentro había una cámara antigua que Clara había encontrado en una tienda de segunda mano. Su hermana siempre había querido una igual, así que la compró en cuanto la vio.
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She stepped back a little to admire it. The package had turned out so beautiful that she could hardly imagine it in someone else’s hands. Inside was an old camera Clara had found in a secondhand shop. Her sister had always wanted one just like it, so Clara bought it as soon as she saw it.
Sin embargo, mientras escribía el nombre de su hermana en la tarjeta, Clara empezó a sentirse incómoda. A ella también le gustaba mucho la cámara. Podía quedársela y comprarle otro regalo más sencillo, pensó. Pero entonces recordó la emoción de su hermana cada vez que hablaba de aquella cámara.
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However, as she wrote her sister’s name on the card, Clara began to feel uneasy. She also really liked the camera. She could keep it and buy her sister a simpler gift, she thought. But then she remembered how excited her sister got every time she talked about that camera.
Cuando sonó el timbre, Clara escondió el paquete detrás de la espalda. Su hermana ya estaba en la puerta, sonriendo. Clara miró el regalo y respiró hondo antes de decidir qué hacer.
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When the doorbell rang, Clara hid the package behind her back. Her sister was already at the door, smiling. Clara looked at the gift and took a deep breath before deciding what to do.
Part 2
Clara sonrió y le entregó el paquete.
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Clara smiled and handed her the package.
—Feliz cumpleaños —dijo, intentando que su voz sonara tranquila.
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“Happy birthday,” she said, trying to make her voice sound calm.
Su hermana lo tomó con cuidado. Primero admiró la cinta y después abrió la caja lentamente, como si temiera estropear algo. Al ver la cámara, se quedó en silencio. Luego la levantó con las dos manos y sonrió.
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Her sister took it carefully. First she admired the ribbon, then she opened the box slowly, as if she were afraid of damaging something. When she saw the camera, she fell silent. Then she picked it up with both hands and smiled.
—Es preciosa. No puedo creer que la hayas encontrado.
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“It’s beautiful. I can’t believe you found it.”
Clara sintió alivio, pero también una pequeña tristeza. Durante un momento imaginó la cámara sobre su propia mesa, lista para usarla los domingos por la mañana.
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Clara felt relieved, but also a little sad. For a moment, she imagined the camera on her own table, ready to use on Sunday mornings.
—Hay algo más —añadió su hermana—. Sé que tú también la querías.
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“There’s something else,” her sister added. “I know you wanted it too.”
Clara negó con la cabeza demasiado deprisa.
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Clara shook her head much too quickly.
—No importa. Era perfecta para ti.
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“It doesn’t matter. It was perfect for you.”
Su hermana acarició la cámara y la observó con atención.
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Her sister stroked the camera and examined it closely.
—Entonces tenemos un problema. No quiero aceptar un regalo que te haga arrepentirte.
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“Then we have a problem. I don’t want to accept a gift that will make you regret giving it to me.”
Clara miró la caja abierta. Por primera vez, su hermana le estaba ofreciendo una salida. Quizá esa salida era exactamente lo que más le costaba aceptar.
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Clara looked at the open box. For the first time, her sister was offering her a way out. Perhaps that way out was exactly what she found hardest to accept.
Part 3El regalo compartido(A Gift to Share)
Clara bajó la mirada y dejó escapar una risa nerviosa.
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Clara lowered her eyes and let out a nervous laugh.
—Sí, la quería mucho —admitió—. Pero también quería verte feliz al abrirla. Solo necesito un momento para acostumbrarme a no tenerla.
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“Yes, I wanted it very much,” she admitted. “But I also wanted to see you happy when you opened it. I just need a little time to get used to not having it.”
Su hermana cerró la caja y le puso la cámara en las manos.
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Her sister closed the box and placed the camera in Clara’s hands.
—Entonces no tiene sentido que sea solo mía. Podemos usarla juntas. Los domingos salimos a hacer fotos, y tú eliges la primera.
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“Then it doesn’t make sense for it to belong only to me. We can use it together. On Sundays, we’ll go out and take pictures, and you can choose the first one.”
Clara miró la cámara. La propuesta alivió parte de su tristeza, aunque todavía le costaba separarse de ella.
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Clara looked at the camera. The offer eased some of her sadness, though she still found it hard to part with it.
—¿De verdad no te importa compartirla?
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“You really don’t mind sharing it?”
—Me importa más que disfrutemos juntas del regalo.
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“I care more about us enjoying the gift together.”
Clara sonrió y volvió a colocar la cámara en la caja. Esta vez no sintió que estuviera perdiendo algo, sino que estaba dando comienzo a un plan. Después de comer la tarta, salieron al parque cercano e hicieron la primera foto: las dos sentadas en un banco, riéndose.
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Clara smiled and put the camera back in the box. This time, she didn’t feel she was losing something, but that she was starting a plan. After they ate the cake, they went out to the nearby park and took the first picture: the two of them sitting on a bench, laughing.
Al regresar, la cámara se quedó en casa de su hermana, pero Clara guardó una copia de aquella foto. El regalo ya no le parecía perfecto solo por su aspecto, sino por todo lo que iban a vivir juntas.
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When they got back, the camera stayed at her sister’s house, but Clara kept a copy of that picture. The gift no longer seemed perfect just because of how it looked, but because of everything they would experience together.
Practise this Spanish story
Vocabulary in context
Important words and phrases
de segunda mano
phrasesecond-hand
Encontró una mesa de segunda mano que quedaba perfecta en el salón.
She found a second-hand table that fit perfectly in the living room.
envolver
verbto wrap
Necesito envolver el regalo antes de salir.
I need to wrap the gift before leaving.
sin una sola arruga
phrasewithout a single wrinkle
Guardó la camisa sin una sola arruga.
She put away the shirt without a single wrinkle.
con cuidado
phrasecarefully
Abrió la caja con cuidado para no romper nada.
He opened the box carefully so as not to break anything.
respirar hondo
verb phraseto take a deep breath
Respiró hondo antes de entrar en la sala.
She took a deep breath before entering the room.
quedarse en silencio
verb phraseto fall silent
Se quedó en silencio cuando oyó la respuesta.
He fell silent when he heard the answer.
por primera vez
adverbial phrasefor the first time
Vio el mar por primera vez el verano pasado.
She saw the sea for the first time last summer.
acostumbrarse a
verb phraseto get used to
Me costó acostumbrarme a levantarme tan temprano.
It was hard for me to get used to getting up so early.
dar comienzo a
verb phraseto begin; to kick off
La ceremonia dio comienzo a las siete en punto.
The ceremony began at seven o'clock sharp.
salir a hacer fotos
verb phraseto go out to take photos
Los sábados solemos salir a hacer fotos por el centro.
On Saturdays we usually go out to take photos around the city center.
Check your understanding
Comprehension questions
Choose an answer, check it, then move to the next question.
Question 1 of 3
- Question 1: current not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
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