Photo: Nairod Reyes on Pexels
La foto que faltaba
The Missing Photo
At a family reunion, Mateo realizes he has taken pictures of everyone except his grandmother and sets out to include her.
Three short parts. Read each part in Spanish first; tap “Show English” under a paragraph when you need the translation.
Part 1
En la reunión familiar, todos habían contado con Mateo para hacer las fotos. Le habían confiado la cámara de su tío y, durante toda la tarde, había ido de un lado a otro, capturando abrazos, brindis y discusiones alrededor de la barbacoa.
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At the family reunion, everyone had counted on Mateo to take the photos. They had entrusted him with his uncle’s camera, and all afternoon he had been going from one place to another, capturing hugs, toasts, and arguments around the barbecue.
Cuando se sentó a revisar las imágenes, descubrió algo terrible: la abuela no aparecía en ninguna. Ni siquiera había salido por casualidad al fondo de una foto. Siempre estaba detrás de la cámara, ayudando en la cocina o preguntando si alguien quería más ensalada.
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When he sat down to look through the pictures, he discovered something terrible: Grandma wasn’t in a single one. She hadn’t even happened to appear in the background of a photo. She was always behind the camera, helping in the kitchen or asking if anyone wanted more salad.
Mateo levantó la vista y la vio junto a la ventana, observando a los demás con una sonrisa tranquila. Sintió que se le encogía el estómago. Si regresaba a casa sin una sola foto de ella, su madre no se lo perdonaría.
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Mateo looked up and saw her by the window, watching the others with a peaceful smile. His stomach clenched. If he went home without a single photo of her, his mother would never forgive him.
Se acercó a la abuela y le explicó el problema. Ella se rio y le dijo que no hacía falta montar ningún drama, pero Mateo ya estaba mirando la luz que entraba por la ventana y pensando en cómo colocarla. Entonces levantó la cámara y le pidió que se quedara quieta un momento.
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He went over to Grandma and explained the problem. She laughed and told him there was no need to make a fuss, but Mateo was already looking at the light coming in through the window and thinking about how to position her. Then he raised the camera and asked her to hold still for a moment.
Part 2Que nadie se quede fuera(Let’s Make Sure No One Is Left Out)
La abuela se quedó junto a la ventana, con las manos apoyadas en el respaldo de una silla. Mateo ajustó el enfoque y esperó a que levantara la mirada. En cuanto sonrió, hizo varias fotos seguidas, cambiando apenas el ángulo para aprovechar la luz.
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Grandma stood by the window, her hands resting on the back of a chair. Mateo adjusted the focus and waited for her to look up. As soon as she smiled, he took several pictures in a row, changing the angle only slightly to make the most of the light.
—Ahora sí —dijo, enseñándole la pantalla.
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“That’s it,” he said, showing her the screen.
La abuela se inclinó para mirar y asintió, satisfecha.
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Grandma leaned over to look and nodded, pleased.
—Está muy bien, pero parezco demasiado seria. Hazme otra en la que se note que estoy disfrutando de la reunión.
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“It’s very nice, but I look too serious. Take another one where you can tell I’m enjoying the reunion.”
Mateo sonrió. La acompañó hasta la mesa, donde todavía quedaban platos, vasos y una fuente de ensalada. Allí le pidió que se sentara entre sus dos hermanas, que estaban conversando sin enterarse de nada. La abuela las llamó y, después de algunas quejas y una risa general, las tres posaron juntas.
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Mateo smiled. He walked her over to the table, where some plates, glasses, and a bowl of salad were still left. There he asked her to sit between her two sisters, who were chatting and hadn’t noticed a thing. Grandma called them over, and after a few complaints and a burst of laughter, the three of them posed together.
Mateo revisó la nueva foto. Era mucho más natural: las mujeres se miraban entre sí, no a la cámara. Entonces la abuela señaló el jardín.
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Mateo checked the new photo. It looked much more natural: the women were looking at one another, not at the camera. Then Grandma pointed toward the garden.
—Ya que tienes la cámara en la mano, ¿podrías hacer una foto de toda la familia? Pero esta vez, que nadie se quede fuera.
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“Since you’ve got the camera in your hand, could you take a picture of the whole family? But this time, make sure no one is left out.”
Part 3La foto de la abuela(Grandma’s Photo)
Mateo salió al jardín y pidió ayuda para organizar a todos. Colocó a los niños delante, sentó a los mayores en las sillas y dejó un espacio en el centro para la abuela. Al principio, algunos seguían hablando y otros miraban hacia la mesa, así que tuvo que levantar la voz.
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Mateo went out into the garden and asked for help getting everyone organized. He put the children in front, seated the older relatives in chairs, and left a space in the middle for Grandma. At first, some people kept talking while others looked toward the table, so he had to raise his voice.
—Solo cinco minutos de atención, por favor. Después podéis volver a comer.
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“Just five minutes of your attention, please. Then you can go back to eating.”
Apoyó la cámara sobre una mesa, activó el temporizador y corrió a colocarse junto a la abuela. Hizo varias fotos para asegurarse de que nadie saliera con los ojos cerrados. En la última, todos miraban al objetivo, incluida la abuela, que sonreía con una expresión alegre y un poco traviesa.
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He set the camera on a table, turned on the timer, and ran to stand beside Grandma. He took several pictures to make sure no one came out with their eyes closed. In the last one, everyone was looking at the lens, including Grandma, who was smiling with a cheerful, slightly mischievous expression.
Mateo revisó las imágenes una por una. Por fin encontró la foto perfecta: aparecía toda la familia y, en el centro, la abuela, rodeada de sus hermanas, sus hijos y sus nietos.
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Mateo reviewed the pictures one by one. At last, he found the perfect photo: the whole family was there, and in the middle stood Grandma, surrounded by her sisters, her children, and her grandchildren.
—Esta es la que vamos a guardar —dijo.
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“This is the one we’re going to keep,” he said.
La abuela le dio un beso en la mejilla.
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Grandma kissed him on the cheek.
—Ahora sí, fotógrafo. Has cumplido con tu trabajo.
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“That’s more like it, photographer. You’ve done your job.”
Mateo volvió a la mesa satisfecho. Esta vez, ella no había quedado detrás de la cámara, sino en el corazón de la reunión.
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Mateo returned to the table, satisfied. This time, she hadn’t been left behind the camera, but at the heart of the reunion.
Practise this Spanish story
Vocabulary in context
Important words and phrases
contar con
verb phraseto count on; to rely on
Contamos con tu ayuda para terminar a tiempo.
We’re counting on your help to finish on time.
le habían confiado la cámara
verb phrasethey had entrusted him with the camera
Le habían confiado la cámara de su tío para la boda.
They had entrusted him with his uncle’s camera for the wedding.
de un lado a otro
adverbial phraseback and forth; from one place to another
Fui de un lado a otro buscando mis llaves.
I went back and forth looking for my keys.
se le encogía el estómago
idiomatic expressionhe felt a knot in his stomach
Se me encogió el estómago al oír la noticia.
I felt a knot in my stomach when I heard the news.
montar ningún drama
verb phraseto make a big fuss; to make a drama out of something
No hace falta montar ningún drama por un retraso pequeño.
There is no need to make a big fuss over a small delay.
ajustó el enfoque
verb phrasehe adjusted the focus
Ajustó el enfoque antes de tomar la foto.
He adjusted the focus before taking the photo.
En cuanto
conjunctionas soon as
En cuanto terminó la cena, empezaron a recoger la mesa.
As soon as dinner ended, they started clearing the table.
que nadie se quede fuera
clause (que + subjunctive, request)make sure nobody is left out
Que nadie se quede fuera de la foto.
Make sure nobody is left out of the photo.
aprovechar la luz
verb phraseto make the most of the light
Quiso aprovechar la luz de la ventana para retratarla.
He wanted to make the most of the window light to photograph her.
en el corazón de la reunión
prepositional phraseat the heart of the gathering
Al final, la cumpleañera quedó en el corazón de la reunión.
In the end, the birthday girl was at the heart of the gathering.
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
Notice the language
Language notes
En cuanto + verbo
This structure means “as soon as” and shows that one action happens immediately after another. It is very useful for narration and sequencing events. You can reuse it in many contexts, not only in this story. Example: “En cuanto terminó el discurso, todos aplaudieron.”
En cuanto terminó el discurso, todos aplaudieron.
As soon as the speech ended, everyone applauded.
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