I don’t normally make New Years resolutions, but this year I did: I want to become more fluent in Spanish.
I took Spanish in college, leaving with enough skill to get the gist of it in writing and pick up a word or two in conversation. After years of knowing just enough to be annoyed by my own ignorance, I decided to do something about it. I’ve been using the Duolingo app to practice daily. So far, I can tell you that “I eat apples” and “I am a boy,” among a handful of other phrases.
While my goal is related to communicating with a significant portion of our local population, there’s more to it than that. I’ve always loved the power and beauty of language, and by limiting myself to a single language, I felt I was missing out on a whole dynamic of human existence.
Basically, I’m learning it to enrich my life experience. Which brings me to this week’s flash fiction prompt over at Carrot Ranch: In 99 words (no more, no less) write a story that includes the idea of enrichment.
I hope you enjoy my take on it.
Surprise
The boy sits in a tight ball in the produce section. Arms clutch his folded legs and his eyes press into his knees. His back shakes with his breath.
Cautiously, I crouch and touch his shoulder. “Sweetie? Are you lost?”
His head snaps up, his brown, tear-soaked eyes fixating on me. “Necesito a mi mamá.” His eyes return to his knees.
“Cuál es tu nombre?”
His head snaps up again, perhaps in surprise that I speak Spanish. “Gabriel.”
“Yo soy Brianna. Vamos a buscar a tu madre.” Smiling, I reach out.
He wipes his eyes and takes my hand.
Allison Maruska 
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Hola!
yo estudio espanol. Wandana. Es me nombre. Mucho Gusto.
Tu escribes en espanol?
Ok thats about it. Hope what I wrote was correct! The story es muy interesante!
I am new at blogging. Just started writing.
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I could read it! 😁
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Thanks for sharing. I love it! You described so well the same reasons I want to become fluent. I’m encouraged. I hope you reach your goal!
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Thanks! 🙂
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Language is beautiful, and learning to communicate in another is a way to appreciate the depth of another culture. I don’t speak it well, but I could read Spanish fluently enough to enjoy Pablo Narada. Your flash shows the humanity in learning to cross the language barrier to embracing another. Sometimes, I think not speaking Spanish is a wall of its own to dehumanize a beautiful neighbor we all have. Thanks for joining us this week, Allison!
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Thanks for reading! I hope to pop in more often. 🙂
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99 words are just enough to make a bit of artistry with and yet also let us explore outside or within our writing projects. I hope it brings you some writing joy.
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Oh it certainly does. 💜
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Great idea!
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Thanks!
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What a wonderful story Allison. Apparently I remember enough Spanish to not have to translate. 😉 I do recall in class we used ¿cómo te llamas? I wonder what the distinction is, if any?
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Como te llamas translates to “how are you called?” I think it’s just a different way to ask someone their name, but maybe someone more fluent than I will chime in. 😏
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This is a great take, Allison, and learning Spanish is a marvelous ambition.
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Thanks! It’s fun. 😎
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Nice!
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Thanks! 🙂
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