El Carpintero
The Carpenter
An experienced carpenter arrives to renovate a nervous homeowner's kitchen, and his calm patience turns her worry into trust.
El camión se detuvo
The truck stopped
frente a la casa azul.
in front of the blue house.
Eran las siete de la mañana.
It was seven in the morning.
Manuel apagó el motor
Manuel turned off the engine
y tomó un sorbo de café.
and took a sip of coffee.
Revisó sus notas en el portapapeles.
He reviewed his notes on the clipboard.
"Cocina nueva," leyó en voz baja.
"New kitchen," he read quietly.
Llamó a la puerta.
He knocked on the door.
Una mujer abrió enseguida.
A woman opened it right away.
"Buenos días," dijo Manuel.
"Good morning," said Manuel.
"Vengo por el trabajo."
"I'm here for the job."
"Soy la señora Méndez."
"I'm Mrs. Méndez."
"Mucho gusto," respondió él.
"Nice to meet you," he replied.
Se dieron la mano.
They shook hands.
Ella sonreía, pero parecía nerviosa.
She was smiling, but seemed nervous.
"Es mi primera renovación," confesó.
"It's my first renovation," she confessed.
"No se preocupe," dijo Manuel.
"Don't worry," said Manuel.
"¿Me puede mostrar la cocina?"
"Can you show me the kitchen?"
Ella lo llevó por el pasillo.
She led him down the hallway.
"Quiero gabinetes nuevos," explicó.
"I want new cabinets," she explained.
"Y una ventana más grande
"And a bigger window
sobre el fregadero."
over the sink."
"También quiero una isla pequeña,
"I also want a small island,
para más espacio de trabajo."
for more counter space."
Manuel escuchó con atención.
Manuel listened carefully.
Sacó su cinta métrica
He took out his tape measure
y midió la pared.
and measured the wall.
"Diez pies de ancho," murmuró.
"Ten feet wide," he murmured.
"La ventana mide treinta pulgadas."
"The window is thirty inches."
"¿Qué tan alta la quiere?"
"How tall do you want it?"
"¿A qué se refiere?" preguntó ella.
"What do you mean?" she asked.
"La altura, sobre el fregadero."
"The height, above the sink."
"Ah, así de grande," dijo ella.
"Ah, this big," she said.
Manuel dibujó un boceto rápido.
Manuel drew a quick sketch.
"La isla cuesta un poco más."
"The island costs a little more."
"¿Cuánto tiempo va a tomar?"
"How long will it take?"
"Dos semanas, más o menos."
"Two weeks, more or less."
"¿Está bien así?" preguntó él.
"Is this correct?" he asked.
"Sí, me parece perfecto."
"Yes, that works for me."
"Entonces, estamos de acuerdo."
"Then we agree."
Señora Méndez respiró aliviada.
Mrs. Méndez breathed in relief.
"Yo me encargo de todo," dijo él.
"I'll take care of everything," he said.
Manuel volvió a su camión.
Manuel went back to his truck.
Abrió su caja de herramientas.
He opened his toolbox.
Revisó todo con cuidado:
He checked everything carefully:
el martillo, el taladro, la sierra,
the hammer, the drill, the saw,
el nivel y los destornilladores.
the level and the screwdrivers.
Las cuchillas estaban afiladas.
The blades were sharp.
Las brocas estaban ordenadas.
The drill bits were organized.
Tomó la pistola de clavos,
He grabbed the nail gun,
las prensas, el papel de lija,
the clamps, the sandpaper,
la cola de madera y los lentes.
the wood glue and the safety glasses.
Cargó todo en su cinturón.
He loaded everything onto his belt.
Respiró hondo y sonrió.
He took a deep breath and smiled.
Volvió a la puerta y tocó.
He went back to the door and knocked.
"¿Alguna pregunta antes de empezar?"
"Any questions before we start?"
"Solo una," dijo ella, sonriendo.
"Just one," she said, smiling.
"¿Cuándo tomamos un café juntos?"
"When will we have a coffee together?"
Manuel se rió. "Cuando termine la cocina."
Manuel laughed. "When the kitchen is finished."