1. "¿Pero"But× la gentethe people× del medio?of the middle?× TienenThey have× suficiente.enough.× EstánThey are× sanos.healthy.× DuermenThey sleep× bienwell× por la noche.at night.× HastaEven× los reyeskings× deseanwish× haber nacidothey had been born× enin× la clase media.the middle class.× Los hombres sabiosThe wise men× de antesof before× loit× dijeronsaid× también.too.× SoloOnly× queríanwanted× lo suficiente.enough.× EsoThat× esis× lo quewhat× tienes,you have,× mi hijo."my son."× Slower0.7Slow0.85Normal1Fast1.15Faster1.3Translate paragraph Language tips"But the middle people? They have enough. They are healthy. They sleep well at night. Even kings wish they had been born in the middle class. The wise men of before said it too. They only wanted enough. That's what you have, my son."
2. Mi padreMy father× siguiókept× hablando.talking.× "En"In× la clase mediathe middle class× puedesyou can× tenerhave× paz.peace.× PuedesYou can× tenerhave× amigos.friends.× PuedesYou can× disfrutarenjoy× placeres simples.simple pleasures.× TrabajasYou work× perobut× nonot× muytoo× duro.hard.× TienesYou have× dineromoney× perobut× nonot× demasiado.too much.× No necesitasYou don't need× pelearto fight× porfor× pan.bread.× PuedesYou can× vivirlive× honestamentehonestly× yand× morirdie× enin× paz."peace."× Slower0.7Slow0.85Normal1Fast1.15Faster1.3Translate paragraph Language tipsMy father kept talking. "In the middle class you can have peace. You can have friends. You can enjoy simple pleasures. You work but not too hard. You have money but not too much. You don't need to fight for bread. You can live honestly and die in peace."
3. EntoncesThen× su vozhis voice× se volvióbecame× másmore× dura.harder.× "¿Pero"But× siif× vasyou go× al mar?to sea?× SoloYou will only× encontrarásfind× miseria.misery.× TeYou× avisoI warn× ahora.now.× SiIf× te vas,you leave,× sufrirás.you will suffer.× EstarásYou will be× solo.alone.× TendrásYou will be× hambre.hungry.× EnfrentarásYou will face× tormentasstorms× yand× enfermedad."illness."× Slower0.7Slow0.85Normal1Fast1.15Faster1.3Translate paragraph Language tipsThen his voice became harder. "But if you go to sea? You will only find misery. I warn you now. If you leave, you will suffer. You will be alone. You will be hungry. You will face storms and illness."
4. Empezó aHe started to× llorarcry× cuandowhen× hablóhe spoke× deabout× mi hermanomy brother× quewho× murió.died.× "Tu hermano"Your brother× tampocoeither× meto me× escuchó.didn't listen.× QueríaHe wanted× serto be× soldado.a soldier.× QueríaHe wanted× gloria.glory.× AhoraNow× estáhe is× muertodead× enin× un país extranjero.a foreign country.× ¿QuieresDo you want× morirto die× lejos defar from× casahome× también?"too?"× Mi padreMy father× no pudocouldn't× hablarspeak× más.anymore.× Slower0.7Slow0.85Normal1Fast1.15Faster1.3Translate paragraph Language tipsHe started to cry when he spoke about my brother who died. "Your brother didn't listen to me either. He wanted to be a soldier. He wanted glory. Now he is dead in a foreign country. Do you want to die far from home too?" My father couldn't speak anymore.
5. Me conmovióI was moved× lo quewhat× dijo.he said.× ¿QuéWhat× hijoson× no se conmovería?wouldn't be moved?× DecidíI decided× quedarmeto stay× en casa.at home.× OlvidaríaI would forget× el mar.the sea.× HaríaI would make× felizhappy× a mi padre.my father.× PeroBut× mi decisiónmy decision× no duró.didn't last.× Después deAfter× unos díasa few days× queríaI wanted× irmeto leave× otra vez.again.× Slower0.7Slow0.85Normal1Fast1.15Faster1.3Translate paragraph Language tipsI was moved by what he said. What son wouldn't be moved? I decided to stay at home. I would forget the sea. I would make my father happy. But my decision didn't last. After a few days I wanted to leave again.
6. EsperéI waited× unas semanas.a few weeks.× EntoncesThen× habléI talked× conto× mi madre.my mother.× PenséI thought× quethat× seríait would be× más fácileasier× convencerlato convince her× quethan× a mi padre.my father.× "Madre,""Mother,"× le dije,I said to her,× "tengo"I'm× dieciocho añoseighteen years old× ahora.now.× No puedoI can't× dejar destop× pensarthinking× enabout× viajar.traveling.× SiIf× me quedoI stay× aquíhere× seréI'll be× infelizunhappy× para siempre."forever."× Slower0.7Slow0.85Normal1Fast1.15Faster1.3Translate paragraph Language tipsI waited a few weeks. Then I talked to my mother. I thought it would be easier to convince her than my father. "Mother," I said to her, "I'm eighteen years old now. I can't stop thinking about traveling. If I stay here I'll be unhappy forever."
7. "Por favor"Please× hablatalk× conto× Padre,"Father,"× continué.I continued.× "Pídele"Ask him× queto× me dejelet me× irgo× enon× solojust× un viaje.one trip.× SiIf× no me gustaI don't like it× regresaréI'll return× a casa.home.× Lo prometo.I promise.× TrabajaréI'll work× dos vecestwice× más duroas hard× parato× compensarmake up for× el tiempo perdido."the lost time."× PeroBut× mi madremy mother× se pusogot× muy enojada.very angry.× Slower0.7Slow0.85Normal1Fast1.15Faster1.3Translate paragraph Language tips"Please talk to Father," I continued. "Ask him to let me go on just one trip. If I don't like it, I'll return home. I promise. I'll work twice as hard to make up for the lost time." But my mother got very angry.
