El día de la gran reunión
The Day of the Big Reunion
A nervous young man meets his girlfriend's huge family at a backyard barbecue full of food, music, and surprises.
—¿Listo? —preguntó Lucía,
"Ready?" asked Lucía,
con la mano en la puerta.
with her hand on the door.
Daniel tragó saliva.
Daniel swallowed hard.
Detrás de esa puerta esperaba toda la familia.
Behind that door waited the whole family.
—Son muchos —dijo él—.
"There are a lot of them," he said.
—¿Cuántos exactamente?
"Exactly how many?"
Lucía sonrió y abrió la puerta.
Lucía smiled and opened the door.
Una ola de música los golpeó.
A wave of music hit them.
El patio estaba lleno de gente.
The yard was full of people.
El humo de la parrilla subía al cielo.
Smoke from the grill rose to the sky.
—¡Ya llegó Lucía! —gritó alguien.
"Lucía's here!" someone shouted.
De pronto, todos voltearon a mirarlo.
Suddenly, everyone turned to look at him.
Daniel sintió que el corazón le latía fuerte.
Daniel felt his heart beating hard.
Una mujer mayor se acercó primero.
An older woman came up first.
—Soy la abuela. Dame un abrazo.
"I'm the grandmother. Give me a hug."
Lo apretó con una fuerza sorprendente.
She squeezed him with surprising strength.
—Estás muy flaco —dijo ella—.
"You're very skinny," she said.
—Tienes que comer.
"You have to eat."
Después llegaron los tíos.
Then came the uncles and aunts.
El tío Roberto le dio la mano con firmeza.
Uncle Roberto shook his hand firmly.
—Así que tú eres el famoso Daniel.
"So you're the famous Daniel."
Daniel no sabía si eso era bueno o malo.
Daniel didn't know if that was good or bad.
—Ven, prueba la carne —dijo el tío.
"Come, try the meat," said the uncle.
Le pasó un plato lleno hasta el borde.
He handed him a plate full to the brim.
Costillas, chorizo y pollo dorado.
Ribs, sausage, and golden chicken.
Estaba delicioso, pero era demasiado.
It was delicious, but it was too much.
Antes de terminar, llegó otra tía.
Before he finished, another aunt arrived.
—¿No has probado mis frijoles?
"You haven't tried my beans?"
Y le sirvió otra montaña de comida.
And she served him another mountain of food.
Los primos lo rodearon, riéndose.
The cousins surrounded him, laughing.
—¿Sabes bailar? —preguntó una prima.
"Can you dance?" asked a cousin.
—Un poco —mintió Daniel.
"A little," Daniel lied.
Los niños tiraron de sus manos.
The children pulled at his hands.
—¡Baila con nosotros! —gritaron los sobrinos.
"Dance with us!" shouted the nieces and nephews.
Sin escapatoria, dejó el plato.
With no escape, he set down the plate.
Empezó a moverse, torpe y nervioso.
He began to move, clumsy and nervous.
Pero la música lo fue soltando.
But the music gradually loosened him up.
La abuela aplaudía desde su silla.
The grandmother clapped from her chair.
El tío Roberto le guiñó un ojo.
Uncle Roberto winked at him.
Lucía lo miraba desde lejos, sonriendo.
Lucía watched him from afar, smiling.
De pronto, Daniel ya no tenía miedo.
Suddenly, Daniel was no longer afraid.
Comió, bailó y rió hasta el anochecer.
He ate, danced, and laughed until nightfall.
Cuando por fin se sentó, agotado,
When he finally sat down, exhausted,
la abuela le puso otro plato delante.
the grandmother set another plate in front of him.
—Ahora sí eres de la familia —dijo.
"Now you're really family," she said.
Daniel miró el plato y sonrió.
Daniel looked at the plate and smiled.
—Gracias, abuela. ¿Hay más?
"Thank you, grandma. Is there more?"