The First Paycheck

Arash worked at a small café every weekend for four weeks. On Friday, his boss gave him an envelope. It was his first paycheck. Inside was $140. He counted it twice.

Arash trabajó en una cafetería pequeña todos los fines de semana durante cuatro semanas. El viernes, su jefe le dio un sobre. Era su primer sueldo. Adentro había 140 dólares. Los contó dos veces.

He walked home slowly and thought about it. The café was busy, and his feet hurt every night.

Caminó a casa despacio y pensó en ello. La cafetería estaba llena de gente, y cada noche le dolían los pies.

First, he wanted new headphones. His old ones only worked on the left side. He saw a good pair in a shop window for $130. They were on sale this week.

Primero, quería unos audífonos nuevos. Los viejos solo funcionaban del lado izquierdo. Vio un buen par en el escaparate de una tienda por 130 dólares. Estaban en oferta esta semana.

Second, he wanted to take his parents to dinner. They always paid for everything. They paid for his phone, his bus card and his school books. His father worked late three nights a week. His mother walked to work to save money.

Segundo, quería llevar a sus padres a cenar. Ellos siempre pagaban todo. Pagaban su teléfono, su tarjeta del autobús y sus libros de la escuela. Su padre trabajaba hasta tarde tres noches a la semana. Su madre caminaba al trabajo para ahorrar dinero.

A dinner for three at the little restaurant cost about $110. It had red lamps on every table. He could not buy both things.

Una cena para tres en el pequeño restaurante costaba unos 110 dólares. Tenía lámparas rojas en cada mesa. No podía comprar las dos cosas.

At home, he put the money on his desk. He looked at it for ten minutes.

En casa, puso el dinero sobre su escritorio. Lo miró durante diez minutos.

"The headphones will not go away," he said to himself. "But Dad is tired. And this is my first paycheck."

«Los audífonos no se van a ir», se dijo a sí mismo. «Pero papá está cansado. Y este es mi primer sueldo».

On Saturday, he called the restaurant. He asked for a table for three at seven.

El sábado, llamó al restaurante. Pidió una mesa para tres a las siete.

At the end of the dinner, the waiter brought the bill. Arash's father reached for it.

Al final de la cena, el mesero trajo la cuenta. El padre de Arash se estiró para tomarla.

"Not tonight, Dad," Arash said, and he opened his envelope.

«Esta noche no, papá», dijo Arash, y abrió su sobre.