The Oranges Over the Fence

Florian had a small garden behind his house. Every autumn, oranges from his neighbor's tree fell over the fence. They landed in his flowers and on his chairs. He picked them up every morning, but there were always more.

Florian tenía un jardín pequeño detrás de su casa. Todos los otoños, las naranjas del árbol de su vecina caían por encima de la cerca. Caían sobre sus flores y sobre sus sillas. Las recogía todas las mañanas, pero siempre había más.

"She does not care," he thought. "She never picks them. She never says sorry."

«A ella no le importa», pensó. «Nunca las recoge. Nunca pide disculpas».

He sometimes saw his neighbor in her window, but they never talked. He was angry for a week.

A veces veía a su vecina en su ventana, pero nunca hablaban. Estuvo enojado durante una semana.

One Sunday, he took a big bag and filled it with oranges. Then he walked to her door. He wanted to say, "Please do something about your tree."

Un domingo, tomó una bolsa grande y la llenó de naranjas. Luego caminó hasta su puerta. Quería decirle: «Por favor, haga algo con su árbol».

He knocked. An old woman opened the door slowly. She held a stick in her hand.

Tocó a la puerta. Una anciana la abrió despacio. Tenía un bastón en la mano.

"Yes?" she said.

«¿Sí?», dijo.

Florian held up the bag. "These are from your tree," he said. "They fall into my garden."

Florian levantó la bolsa. «Estas son de su árbol», dijo. «Caen en mi jardín».

Her face changed. "Oh, I am sorry," she said. "I cannot reach the high branches now. My knees hurt, and I cannot carry a ladder. So the fruit just falls." She looked at the bag. "Please, take them. Take as many as you like. I am happy that someone wants them."

Su cara cambió. «Ay, lo siento», dijo. «Ahora no alcanzo las ramas altas. Me duelen las rodillas y no puedo cargar una escalera. Por eso la fruta simplemente cae». Miró la bolsa. «Por favor, llévelas. Tome todas las que quiera. Me alegra que alguien las quiera».

Florian looked at the bag in his hands. His anger was gone.

Florian miró la bolsa en sus manos. Su enojo había desaparecido.

"I am Renske," the woman said.

«Soy Renske», dijo la mujer.

"I am Florian," he said. "Please call me if you need help with the tree."

«Yo soy Florian», dijo él. «Por favor, llámeme si necesita ayuda con el árbol».

The next week, he made fresh orange juice. He brought a big bottle to her door. They drank it together on her porch.

La semana siguiente, preparó jugo de naranja fresco. Llevó una botella grande a su puerta. Lo tomaron juntos en su porche.