Daniel needs an appointment at the immigration office, but the first free slot is in 2030, so he builds a time machine in his kitchen — and his neighbour takes it to the moon.
The story
Daniel vive en Madrid y necesita una cita en la oficina de extranjería. Había pedido una cita durante ocho meses, pero la primera cita libre es en el año 2030. Aunque llama al teléfono cada mañana, la respuesta es siempre la misma: «No hay citas». Daniel tendría que esperar seis años, y eso es demasiado.
Daniel lives in Madrid and needs an appointment at the immigration office. He had been trying to get an appointment for eight months, but the first free appointment is in 2030. Although he calls every morning, the answer is always the same: 'There are no appointments.' Daniel would have to wait six years, and that is too much.
Daniel decide construir una máquina del tiempo en su cocina, aunque no sabe nada de física. Usa el microondas, un ventilador enorme y cuarenta y siete metros de papel de aluminio. Su vecina dice que es imposible, pero Daniel tendría que llegar a 2030 de alguna manera. Había pedido ayuda a tres científicos, pero los tres se rieron de él.
Daniel decides to build a time machine in his kitchen, although he knows nothing about physics. He uses the microwave, a huge fan and forty-seven metres of aluminium foil. His neighbour says it is impossible, but Daniel would have to get to 2030 somehow. He had asked three scientists for help, but all three laughed at him.
El martes, Daniel pone la fecha 2030 en el microondas y pulsa el botón. Aunque hay mucho humo y un ruido terrible, la máquina funciona: Daniel aparece en 2030. En la calle hay coches voladores y la gente lleva zapatos de oro, pero la oficina de extranjería todavía está en el mismo edificio gris. Daniel tendría que entrar rápido, porque su cita es a las nueve.
On Tuesday, Daniel sets the date 2030 on the microwave and presses the button. Although there is a lot of smoke and a terrible noise, the machine works: Daniel appears in 2030. In the street there are flying cars and people wear gold shoes, but the immigration office is still in the same grey building. Daniel would have to go in quickly, because his appointment is at nine.
En la oficina, una empleada muy amable le dice: «Su cita era ayer». Daniel explica que había pedido esa cita en 2024, y la empleada sonríe: «Lo siento, en 2030 solo damos citas por internet». Aunque Daniel tiene una máquina del tiempo, no tiene internet en 2030, porque internet desapareció en 2029. La empleada añade: «Tendría que volver en 2031; hay una cita libre en marzo».
At the office, a very kind employee says to him: 'Your appointment was yesterday.' Daniel explains that he had requested that appointment in 2024, and the employee smiles: 'I'm sorry, in 2030 we only give appointments online.' Although Daniel has a time machine, he does not have internet in 2030, because the internet disappeared in 2029. The employee adds: 'You would have to come back in 2031; there is a free appointment in March.'
Daniel vuelve a su cocina, en 2024, y mira el móvil: ¡hay una cita libre mañana a las ocho! Aunque grita de alegría, su vecina entra y dice: «He usado tu máquina para ir a 2050; allí tú ya eres español». Daniel había pedido una cita durante ocho meses y ahora ya no la necesita. Pero tendría que devolver la máquina a la luna, porque su vecina la ha aparcado allí.
Daniel returns to his kitchen, in 2024, and looks at his mobile: there is a free appointment tomorrow at eight! Although he shouts with joy, his neighbour comes in and says: 'I used your machine to go to 2050; there you are already Spanish.' Daniel had been trying to get an appointment for eight months and now he no longer needs it. But he would have to return the machine to the moon, because his neighbour has parked it there.
