This page contains a children's story that I wrote in Spanish while living in Antigua, Guatemala in 1993. While in Antigua, I was taking Spanish at a local school and living with a family. This family included a four year old girl named Claudia Maria. After I had been with this family for a short while, I realized that Claudia Maria had a tendency to cry a lot, even more than the average child her age.

At one point in my stay in Antigua, my Spanish teacher asked me to write a story in Spanish. To fulfill this assignment, I decided to write something for Claudia Maria. After I finished the story, I read it to Claudia Maria, and to my surpise she actually sat silently through the whole thing. She didn't fidget, or talk, (or cry), she just listened. I felt it was a milestone in my struggle to learn this new language -- I had successfully held the attention of a four year old while telling a story in Spanish.

Here's the original Spanish version.

Once upon a time there lived a tiny little girl named Claudia Maria. Claudia Maria lived in a house in the country. One morning she woke up very early, because she wanted to look for a flower to give to her mother. Claudia Maria walked outside her house and looked around very carefully.

"There are lots of flowers today," Claudia Maria said as she looked, "and the most beautiful flower is that one way over there, way far away, because that flower is bluer than the sky."

Claudia Maria walked through the fields towards the blue flower, but when she came near the blue flower, she stopped. Off in the distance, she saw another flower. "There is another flower way over there, way far away," said Claudia Maria, "and that flower is prettier than this one because that flower is whiter than my dress. "

Claudia Maria turned and walked through the fields towards the white flower. But as she drew near white flower, she stopped once again. Off in the distance, she saw yet another flower. "There is another flower way over there, way far away," said Claudia Maria, "and that flower is prettier than this one, because that flower is pinker than my cheeks."

Claudia Maria turned and walked through the fields towards the pink flower. When she reached this flower, she smiled. She knew that this flower was the prettiest. She reached down and plucked the pink flower. Looking at the flower she now held in her hand, she said, "This flower is going to make my mother very happy."

Claudia Maria turned around to walk back home, but when she looked, she couldn't see her house. No matter what direction she looked, all she saw was fields and flowers. "I'm lost!" Claudia Maria said, "How am I going to find my house now?" Claudia Maria began to cry.

As Claudia Maria was crying, a rabbit wearing glasses hopped past. Fortunately, the rabbit could speak a little Spanish.

"That's a pretty pink flower you have, niñita," said the rabbit, "but why are you crying?"

"Mr. Rabbit," Claudia Maria answered between sobs, "I'm lost. Do you know where my house is?"

"Hmm, that's an interesting question. I need to think," replied the rabbit. The rabbit thought moment and then asked, "Niñita, do you have carrots in your house?"

"Yes, sometimes," answered Claudia Maria.

"Good," said the rabbit. "Perhaps I will visit your house someday. Goodbye." And with that, the rabbit with glasses hopped away.

"Goodbye," said Claudia Maria. The rabbit had been friendly, but Claudia Maria was still lost. She began again to cry. As Claudia Maria was crying, a monkey with a cap jogged past.

"That's a pretty pink flower you have, niñita," said the monkey as it jogged in place, "but why are you crying?"

"Mr. Monkey," Claudia Maria answered, "I'm lost. Do you know where my house is?"

"Of course, niñita, because monkeys know everything. But first I have a question for you. Do you have bananas in your house?"

"Yes, sometimes," answered Claudia Maria.

"Good," said the monkey. "Perhaps I will visit your house someday. Goodbye." said the monkey as it jogged away.

"Goodbye. Thank you very much," said Claudia Maria. But Claudia Maria was still lost. Once again, she began to cry. Before long, an elephant with a long nose approached.

"Your pink flower is very pretty, niñita," said the elephant, "but why are you crying?"

"Mr. Elephant," answered Claudia Maria, "I'm lost. Do you know where my house is?"

"Perhaps, perhaps," replied the elephant. "But I need more information. Do you have peanuts in your house?"

"Yes, sometimes," answered Claudia Maria.

"Good," said the elephant. "Perhaps I will visit your house someday." The elephant marched away, and Claudia Maria was alone again. But this time Claudia Maria didn't start to cry, she started to think.

"How can I find my house?" she asked herself. While she thought, she looked around and saw a hill nearby. "Maybe," she thought, "I'll be able to see my house from the top of that hill."

Claudia Maria climbed to the top of the hill. From the top of the hill she could see all around her, and off in the distance, she saw her house. She walked in the direction of her house and before long arrived at home.

Claudia Maria gave the pink flower to her mother. Her mother was happy to see the pink flower and even happier to see Claudia Maria.