Monday, April 23, 2007

The Watchful Store Clerk

The second Spanish story, written by Brittany Cole, tells how a vigilant store clerk spoiled a shoplifting attempt and earned a reward.


Brittany Cole, grade 9

La Dependiente Vigilante

Había sido un invierno muy frío. La gente venía y iba de tienda a tienda buscando la ropa del invierno. Todas se llevaron mucha ropa que les protegen del frío intenso.

Un dia por la tarde, una muchacha entró la tienda de ropa. Se llevaba los jeans sucios y una camiseta blanca. También tuvo una bolsa grande.

La dependiente pagaba atención a la chica porque ella no parecía como la mayoría de sus clientes. No tuvo abrigo ni bufanda como los demás.

La dependiente se acercó y dijo: “¿Puedo ayudarte, señorita?”

“No, justo quiero mirar,” repuso la chica.

La dependiente volvió a su tarea. Tuvo que colgar unas blusas nuevas. Mientras colgaba la ropa, mantuvo en visto la muchacha. La dependiente creyó que ella actuaba extrañamente.

La muchacha quizo probarse unas artículos de ropa: una chaqueta de cuero, un par de guantes y una bufanda. La dependiente abrió la puerta del camerino y la muchacha entró.

La dependiente preguntó al gerente, “¿Crees que ella va a comprar o robar las prendas?”

El gerente repuso, “Quién sabe. Ponga atención. Me parece que ella tiene poco dinero.”

Pasaron cinco minutos. La chica salió del camerino pero no tuvo los guantes y la bufanda. Después de pagar por la chaqueta, ella se dirigió a la puerta.

La dependiente buscó los guantes y la bufanda en el camerino, pero no estuvieron allí. Entonces ella avanzó y interceptó a la chica enfrente de la puerta.

“Puedo ver tu bolsa?” pidió la dependiente amablemente.

“No. Es mi bolsa,” la chica repuso en voz alta.

En ese momento, vino el gerente con una guardia. La guardia pidió permiso abrir la bolsa y la chica, quien estaba asustada, no habló.

“Usted intentó a robar,” dijo el gerente. “Tienes que ir a la oficina con la guardia.”

La chica frunció los labios y siguió guardando silencio mientras andaba con la guardia a la oficina.

El gerente de la tienda dijo a la dependiente, “Gracias. Eres una dependiente heróica. Mereces una recompensa por su acción.”

La dependiente recibió cien dólares y un día libre. Ella decidió a gozar su día libre en la primavera, cuando ella podría tomar el sol.



English

The Watchful Store Clerk


It had been a very cold winter. People were coming and going from store to store, looking for winter clothing. Everyone was wearing a lot of clothes to protect them from the intense cold.

One afternoon, a girl entered the clothing store. She was wearing dirty jeans and a white tee-shirt. She also carried a large handbag.

The store clerk payed attention to the girl because she wasn't like the majority of her customers. She had neither a coat nor a scarf like the others.

The clerk approached and asked the girl, "Can I help you?"

"No, I just want to look," replied the girl.

The store clerk returned to her work. She had to hang up some new blouses. While she hung up the blouses she keep her eyes on the girl. The clerk believed that the girl was acting strangely.

The girl wanted to try on some articles of clothing: a leather jacket, a pair of gloves and a scarf. The clerk opened the door of the dressing room and the girl entered.

The clerk asked the manager, "Do you think that she is going to buy or steal the clothes?"

"Who knows," replied the manager. "Pay attention. It seems to me that she has little money."

Five minutes passed. The girl came out of the dressing room but she didn't have the gloves and the scarf. After paying for the jacket, she headed to the door.

The clerk searched for the gloves and the scarf in the dressing room but they weren't there. Then she advanced and intercepted the girl in front of the door.

"May I see your handbag," asked the clerk amiably.

"No. It's my handbag," replied the girl in a loud voice.

At that moment the manager arrived with a guard. The guard asked permission to open the handbag, and the girl, who was frightened, didn't speak.

"You tried to steal," said the manager. "You have to go to the office with the guard."

The girl puckered her lips and kept silent while she walked with the guard to the office.

The manager of the store said to the clerk, "Thank you. You are a heroic clerk. You deserve a reward for your action."

The clerk received $100. and a free day. She decided to enjoy her free day in the spring when she would be able to sunbathe.

1 comment:

Alice C. Linsley said...

Brittany, I loved your story! That was a cute ending, that tied back to the beginning of the story where you told your readers that it had been a very cold winter.