Wrong Appointment Time

Marcus has a doctor's appointment this afternoon. He checks his phone and sees the time: three o'clock. He leaves his house early because he wants to be on time.

Marcus tiene una cita con el médico esta tarde. Revisa su celular y ve la hora: las tres en punto. Sale de su casa temprano porque quiere llegar a tiempo.

He arrives at the clinic at half past two. The waiting room is quiet, so he sits down and waits. A few minutes later, a nurse calls his name.

Llega a la clínica a las dos y media. La sala de espera está tranquila, así que se sienta y espera. Unos minutos después, una enfermera lo llama por su nombre.

"Marcus Cole?" she asks. "The doctor is ready for you now."

«¿Marcus Cole?», pregunta. «El doctor ya está listo para atenderlo».

Marcus looks confused. "I think my appointment is at three o'clock," he says.

Marcus se ve confundido. «Creo que mi cita es a las tres», dice.

The nurse checks the computer. "Let me look at that for you," she says. She reads the screen carefully. "Actually, your appointment was booked for two-thirty."

La enfermera revisa la computadora. «Déjeme revisar eso», dice. Lee la pantalla con cuidado. «En realidad, su cita se reservó para las dos y media».

"Oh, I'm sorry," Marcus says. "I read the message wrong."

«Ay, lo siento», dice Marcus. «Leí mal el mensaje».

"That's okay," the nurse says with a smile. "It happens more than you think."

«No se preocupe», dice la enfermera con una sonrisa. «Pasa más seguido de lo que uno piensa».

Marcus feels relieved that he is not late after all. He follows the nurse down the hallway to the doctor's office.

Marcus se siente aliviado de no estar tarde después de todo. Sigue a la enfermera por el pasillo hasta el consultorio del doctor.

The doctor greets him and checks his blood pressure. She asks him a few questions about his health. Marcus answers each one clearly and honestly.

La doctora lo saluda y le revisa la presión arterial. Le hace algunas preguntas sobre su salud. Marcus responde cada una con claridad y honestidad.

"Everything looks fine," the doctor says. "Come back in six months for another check."

«Todo se ve bien», dice la doctora. «Vuelva en seis meses para otro chequeo».

"Thank you," Marcus says. He stands up and shakes her hand.

«Gracias», dice Marcus. Se pone de pie y le da la mano.

Before he leaves, he opens his phone and sets a clear reminder. He writes the correct time in large letters: two-thirty, not three.

Antes de irse, abre su celular y pone un recordatorio claro. Escribe la hora correcta en letras grandes: las dos y media, no las tres.

"I won't make that mistake again," he says quietly.

«No volveré a cometer ese error», dice en voz baja.

He walks out the door.

Sale por la puerta.