Pasen y siéntense

Story

Es de noche en casa de los Pereira. Hoy hay una cena grande. El padre de la familia, don Tomás, ya es muy mayor, y esta noche es el invitado de honor. Laura y su madre ponen la mesa. Hay pan, agua, vino y mucha comida. "Vamos a hacer una buena cena para tu abuelo," dice la madre. "Vamos a empezar pronto."

It is night at the Pereira house. Today there is a big dinner. The father of the family, don Tomás, is now very old, and tonight he is the guest of honour. Laura and her mother set the table. There is bread, water, wine and plenty of food. "Let's make a good dinner for your grandfather," says the mother. "Let's start soon."

Don Tomás llega tarde, despacio, con un viejo amigo al lado. Pedro abre la puerta. "¡Pasen, por favor! ¡Pasen y siéntense!" dice Pedro. "Entren, entren. Tomen asiento, no se preocupen por nada." Los dos viejos entran. "Don Tomás, perdone usted la hora tan tarde de la cena. Siéntese aquí, a mi lado. Y usted también, siéntese, por favor."

Don Tomás arrives late, slowly, with an old friend beside him. Pedro opens the door. "Come in, please! Come in and sit down!" says Pedro. "Come in, come in. Take a seat, don't worry about anything." The two old men come in. "Don Tomás, forgive the late hour of the dinner. Sit here, beside me. And you too, please sit down."

Con don Tomás, la familia habla de usted. Es lo que se hace con un padre tan mayor. Pero entre los Pereira, Laura habla de tú a su madre, a su padre, a su hermano. "¿Me ayudas?" dice a Pedro en voz baja. Pedro dice que sí. Después habla a don Tomás otra vez: "¿Quiere usted agua o vino? Dígame. Y coman, coman, no esperen más."

With don Tomás, the family speaks formally. It is what one does with such an elderly father. But among themselves the Pereiras use the informal "you": Laura speaks to her mother, her father, her brother that way. "Can you help me?" she says to Pedro in a low voice. Pedro says yes. Then she speaks to don Tomás again: "Would you like water or wine? Tell me. And eat, eat, don't wait any longer."

Don Tomás es muy amable. "Gracias, hija. Esperen un momento, por favor. Tengo hambre, sí, pero antes quiero ver a toda la familia en la mesa." La madre se sienta. Pedro se sienta. "Bueno," dice Laura, "vamos a comer. Sentémonos todos. Empecemos." Don Tomás está feliz. "Coman ustedes primero," dice, pero la familia no lo deja. "No, no. Coma usted, don Tomás. Tome usted la carne. Beba un poco de vino."

Don Tomás is very kind. "Thank you, dear. Wait a moment, please. I am hungry, yes, but first I want to see the whole family at the table." The mother sits. Pedro sits. "Right," says Laura, "let's eat. Let's all sit down. Let's begin." Don Tomás is happy. "You eat first," he says, but the family won't let him. "No, no. You eat, don Tomás. Have the meat. Drink a little wine."

La cena pasa despacio y bien. Don Tomás habla del tiempo, de los días viejos, de la familia. "No se preocupen por mí," dice. "Estoy muy bien aquí." La madre le pone más carne. "Coma, papá. Coma con calma." Laura ve a su abuelo feliz y se siente orgullosa. Don Tomás es un padre mayor, y la familia lo cuida.

The dinner goes by slowly and well. Don Tomás talks about the weather, about the old days, about the family. "Don't worry about me," he says. "I am very well here." The mother gives him more meat. "Eat, Dad. Eat calmly." Laura sees her grandfather happy and feels proud. Don Tomás is an elderly father, and the family looks after him.

Ya es muy tarde cuando don Tomás quiere irse. "Gracias por todo," dice. "Una cena muy buena." Pedro se pone de pie. "Espere, don Tomás. No se vaya sin un poco más de pan para casa." Don Tomás se queda un momento más, feliz. "Son ustedes muy amables. Vengan a verme pronto." "Vamos, papá, te llevo a la puerta," dice Pedro, ahora de tú, porque es su padre. Y don Tomás se va a casa tranquilo, bien cuidado, con su familia en el corazón.

It is very late when don Tomás wants to leave. "Thank you for everything," he says. "A very good dinner." Pedro stands up. "Wait, don Tomás. Don't go without a little more bread for home." Don Tomás stays a moment longer, happy. "You are all very kind. Come and see me soon." "Come on, Dad, I'll take you to the door," says Pedro, now informally, because he is his father. And don Tomás goes home calm, well looked after, with his family in his heart.