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Every Sunday, my
whole family goes to my grandmother's house. Abuela always makes arroz and pollo for dinner.
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Arroz is how you say rice in Spanish,
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I can't speak Spanish like the grown-ups in my family, but I CAN say arroz
and pollo.
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Last Sunday, Abuela said something really funny in Spanish.
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All the grown-ups laughed,
but I didn't understand one word.
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"What did Abuela say, Tia Nancy?" I asked my aunt, who was
sitting next to me. "What did she say
that was so funny?" Tia Nancy didn't
hear me. She was laughing too loud.
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"Abuelo!" I shouted, tugging
on my grandfather's shirt.
"What did Abuela say?"
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Abuelo tried to answer me, but every time he'd start to speak, he would start laughing again. I was starting to get really mad.
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After dinner, I helped
Abuela wash the dishes.
"Why do you look so
sad?" Abuela asked me in
English. She always talks
to me in English.
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"I wish I could speak Spanish like
everyone else in the family," I said.
"I want to understand what
everyone is saying."
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Abuela kissed me on the
forehead and smiled.
"I know exactly how you feel
Allie," she said. "I'm going to
tell you the funny story
I told everyone
at dinner."
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"When I moved to America with my family, I was just a little niña like you. I couldn't speak English like everyone else, but I could say 'hello' and 'thank you.'"
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"People spoke English everywhere we went, but I didn't understand one word."
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"'One day at dinner, my aunt asked me,"Do you like the food?" I didn't understand, but she was pointing to the rice. I thought she was asking me if I wanted more.
"Do you like the food?" she asked again. I shook my head and said, "No, thank you.'"
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"Everyone at the table was laughing.
I didn't know what was so funny."
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"But how did you learn to speak
English so well?" I asked.
"My family from America helped
me learn," Abuela said. "And
from now on, I'm going to help
you learn Spanish."
I gave Abuela a big hug.
"Thank you so much!" I shouted.
"In Spanish," she said, smiling,
"You say 'muchas gracias.'"
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After the dishes were washed, the family sat down for dessert. Mami asked me, "Do you want a piece of flan?" Flan is a yummy custard dessert.
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"Yes, Mami, muchas gracias," I said with a big smile on
my face. Abuela and I looked at each other and laughed.
We were the only ones who knew what was so funny.
