Pip the Tiny Helper

Lars is seventy years old. He lives alone in a small house by a lake. His son sends him a gift for his birthday. It is a tiny helper called Pip.

Lars tiene setenta años. Vive solo en una casa pequeña junto a un lago. Su hijo le manda un regalo de cumpleaños. Es un ayudante diminuto llamado Pip.

Pip is the size of a button. It sits on the collar of Lars's coat. It has one little green light. It can listen, and it can talk.

Pip es del tamaño de un botón. Se sienta en el cuello del abrigo de Lars. Tiene una lucecita verde. Puede escuchar y puede hablar.

"Hello, Lars," says Pip in a small voice. "I am here to help you."

«Hola, Lars», dice Pip con voz pequeñita. «Estoy aquí para ayudarte».

Lars looks at his collar. "Hello, Pip," he says.

Lars mira su cuello. «Hola, Pip», dice.

On the first morning, Lars wants to know the time. He is in the kitchen. His clock is behind the door. He asks, "Pip, do you know the time?"

La primera mañana, Lars quiere saber la hora. Está en la cocina. Su reloj está detrás de la puerta. Pregunta: «Pip, ¿sabes qué hora es?».

"Yes," says Pip.

«Sí», dice Pip.

Lars waits. Pip says nothing.

Lars espera. Pip no dice nada.

"Well? What is the time?"

«¿Y bien? ¿Qué hora es?».

"It is seven forty," says Pip. "You asked if I know it. I do."

«Son las siete cuarenta», dice Pip. «Preguntaste si la sabía. Sí la sé».

Lars laughs very hard. His tea moves in the cup. "You are funny," he says. "But I want the answer, not a yes."

Lars se ríe con muchas ganas. El té se mueve en la taza. «Eres gracioso», dice. «Pero yo quiero la respuesta, no un sí».

"Please ask me what you want," says Pip.

«Por favor, pregúntame lo que quieres», dice Pip.

Lars drinks his tea. He thinks about this. Pip answers exactly what he asks. It does not guess.

Lars toma su té. Piensa en esto. Pip responde exactamente lo que le preguntan. No adivina.

At nine o'clock, Lars looks for his glasses. He looks on the table. He looks on the chair. He looks in the bathroom. "Pip, can you help me? I cannot find my glasses."

A las nueve, Lars busca sus lentes. Mira en la mesa. Mira en la silla. Mira en el baño. «Pip, ¿puedes ayudarme? No encuentro mis lentes».

"Yes, I can help you," says Pip.

«Sí, puedo ayudarte», dice Pip.

"Good," says Lars. "Then help me."

«Bien», dice Lars. «Entonces ayúdame».

"How?" asks Pip.

«¿Cómo?», pregunta Pip.

Lars sits down and puts his head in his hands. "This is hard," he says.

Lars se sienta y se agarra la cabeza con las manos. «Esto es difícil», dice.

At ten o'clock, Lars walks to the shop. A neighbor says hello at the gate. "Good morning, Lars! What is that on your coat?"

A las diez, Lars camina a la tienda. Un vecino lo saluda en la reja. «¡Buenos días, Lars! ¿Qué es eso que llevas en el abrigo?».

"This is Pip," says Lars. "It is my new helper. Pip, say hello."

«Este es Pip», dice Lars. «Es mi nuevo ayudante. Pip, saluda».

"Hello," says Pip. The neighbor laughs and waves at the tiny green light.

«Hola», dice Pip. El vecino se ríe y saluda con la mano a la lucecita verde.

"It answers everything," the neighbor says.

«Responde a todo», dice el vecino.

"Only if you ask well," says Lars.

«Solo si le preguntas bien», dice Lars.

At the shop, he wants bread, eggs, and apples. He says to Pip, "I need the list." Pip does not move. Then he says, "Pip, show me my list." The green light turns on. A small voice says, "Bread, eggs, apples."

En la tienda quiere pan, huevos y manzanas. Le dice a Pip: «Necesito la lista». Pip no se mueve. Entonces dice: «Pip, muéstrame mi lista». La luz verde se enciende. Una vocecita dice: «Pan, huevos, manzanas».

Lars smiles. "That is it! I must ask in the right way."

Lars sonríe. «¡Eso es! Tengo que preguntar de la manera correcta».

All day, he practices. "What is the weather?" he asks, and Pip says, "It is cold and sunny."

Todo el día practica. «¿Qué tiempo hace?», pregunta, y Pip dice: «Hace frío y sol».

"Where is the bus stop?" Pip says, "It is on the next street." Lars likes this very much. He talks to Pip all the way home. They talk about birds, bread, and rain. Pip knows a lot about all three. It is a good day for Lars. He is not alone.

«¿Dónde está la parada del autobús?». Pip dice: «Está en la calle siguiente». A Lars le gusta mucho esto. Habla con Pip todo el camino a casa. Hablan de pájaros, de pan y de lluvia. Pip sabe mucho de los tres temas. Es un buen día para Lars. No está solo.

In the evening, Lars sits in his chair. It is near the window. The lake is orange in the late light. He feels warm and a bit tired. He wants to read his book. But he cannot see the words.

Por la tarde, Lars se sienta en su sillón. Está cerca de la ventana. El lago se ve anaranjado con la luz del atardecer. Siente calor y un poco de cansancio. Quiere leer su libro. Pero no puede ver las palabras.

He looks on the table. He looks on the shelf. He looks in the kitchen.

Mira en la mesa. Mira en el estante. Mira en la cocina.

"Pip," he says in a clear voice. "Where are my glasses?"

«Pip», dice con voz clara. «¿Dónde están mis lentes?».

"On your head," says Pip.

«En tu cabeza», dice Pip.