La Peluquería de Don Manuel
(Don Manuel's Barbershop)
Don Manuel llevaba cuarenta años cortando el pelo en el mismo local del barrio de Gracia, en Barcelona.
Don Manuel had been cutting hair for forty years in the same premises in the Gracia neighbourhood of Barcelona.
Conocia a todos sus clientes desde que eran niños.
He knew all his clients since they were children.
Les preguntaba por sus familias, por sus trabajos, por sus preocupaciones.
He asked them about their families, their jobs, their worries.
De hecho, algunos vecinos decian que Don Manuel era mejor que un psicologo porque, además de escuchar, te dejaba mas guapo.
In fact, some neighbours said that Don Manuel was better than a psychologist because, besides listening, he left you looking more handsome.
Sin embargo, Don Manuel ya tenia setenta y dos años y le dolia la espalda.
However, Don Manuel was already seventy-two years old and his back hurt.
Su mujer, Doña Carmen, le repetia cada mañana: Es necesario que descanses, Manuel.
His wife, Dona Carmen, repeated to him every morning: It is necessary that you rest, Manuel.
Ya has trabajado bastante.
You have already worked enough.
El sabia que tenia razón, pero la idea de cerrar la peluquería le ponia triste.
He knew she was right, but the idea of closing the barbershop made him sad.
Por otra parte, su hijo Andres vivia en Madrid y trabajaba en una oficina.
On the other hand, his son Andres lived in Madrid and worked in an office.
Nunca habia mostrado interés por las tijeras.
He had never shown interest in scissors.
Un sábado por la mañana, una joven llamada Lucia entro en la peluquería.
One Saturday morning, a young woman called Lucia came into the barbershop.
Tenia el pelo corto y llevaba un maletin negro.
She had short hair and carried a black briefcase.
Buenos dias.
Good morning.
Me gustaria hablar con usted sobre algo, dijo con voz firme.
I would like to talk to you about something, she said in a firm voice.
Don Manuel le senalo la silla de espera.
Don Manuel pointed her to the waiting chair.
Lucia le explico que acababa de terminar sus estudios de peluquería y que buscaba un lugar donde pudiera aprender de alguien con experiencia.
Lucia explained to him that she had just finished her hairdressing studies and that she was looking for a place where she could learn from someone with experience.
He oido que usted es el mejor del barrio, anadio.
I have heard that you are the best in the neighbourhood, she added.
Don Manuel se quedo en silencio unos segundos.
Don Manuel stayed silent for a few seconds.
Miro las fotografias antiguas que colgaban de la pared: su padre, que le habia ensenado el oficio, y el mismo de joven con su primera navaja.
He looked at the old photographs hanging on the wall: his father, who had taught him the trade, and himself as a young man with his first razor.
A continuacion, se volvio hacia Lucia y le dijo: Mira, yo ya estoy viejo.
Then, he turned towards Lucia and said to her: Look, I am already old.
Me duelen las manos y la espalda.
My hands and my back hurt.
Pero si de verdad quieres aprender, te ensenare todo lo que se.
But if you truly want to learn, I will teach you everything I know.
Eso si, tendrias que tener paciencia conmigo.
Mind you, you would have to be patient with me.
Lucia sonrio y le tendio la mano.
Lucia smiled and held out her hand.
Desde aquel día, la peluquería de Don Manuel tuvo dos pares de tijeras.
From that day on, Don Manuel's barbershop had two pairs of scissors.
El le ensenaba con calma, como su padre le habia ensenado a el.
He taught her calmly, the way his father had taught him.
Doña Carmen, que al principio dudaba del plan, empezo a llevarles comida al mediodia.
Dona Carmen, who at first doubted the plan, started bringing them food at lunchtime.
Poco a poco, los clientes del barrio se acostumbraron a la nueva ayudante.
Little by little, the neighbourhood clients got used to the new assistant.
Y Don Manuel, aunque todavía le dolia la espalda, ya no pensaba en cerrar.
And Don Manuel, although his back still hurt, no longer thought about closing.
Al fin y al cabo, alguien continuaria su historia.
After all, someone would continue his story.
Key Vocabulary
la peluqueria the barbershop, the hairdresser's
el oficio the trade, the craft
las tijeras the scissors
la navaja the razor, the blade
acostumbrarse a to get used to
al fin y al cabo after all, at the end of the day
de hecho in fact, actually
tender la mano to hold out one's hand