Day 96: A Pun Painted Without Permission

Dialogue

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1. 1
   A

   ¿Qué le parece, vecina? Terminado el letrero, me pasé media hora en la banqueta nomás admirándolo.

   What do you think, neighbor? Once the sign was finished, I stood on the sidewalk for half an hour just admiring it.

   Line 1
2. 2
   B

   Don Vicente, yo le pedí “Abarrotes El Volcán”. El hecho de que diga “precios por las nubes” no estaba en el trato.

   Don Vicente, I asked you for “Abarrotes El Volcán.” The fact that it says “prices up in the clouds” wasn't part of the deal.

   Line 2
3. 3
   A

   Pintado el volcán con su fumarola, las nubes tenían que ir en algún lado. Es un doble sentido, vecina, no una confesión.

   With the volcano painted, smoke plume and all, the clouds had to go somewhere. It's a double meaning, neighbor, not a confession.

   Line 3
4. 4
   B

   Pues la clientela lo tomó como confesión. El que una tiendita anuncie precios por las nubes es lo último que me conviene.

   Well, the customers took it as one. A corner store advertising sky-high prices is the last thing I need.

   Line 4
5. 5
   A

   Al contrario, vecina. Leyendo el letrero, la gente se ríe, y quien se ríe, entra.

   On the contrary, neighbor. Reading the sign, people laugh, and people who laugh come in.

   Line 5
6. 6
   B

   Sí, esta mañana entraron tres a preguntar si aceptaba dólares, como en Manzanillo. Ni un chicle compraron.

   Yes, three came in this morning to ask if I took dollars, like in Manzanillo. They didn't buy so much as a piece of gum.

   Line 6
7. 7
   A

   Pero entraron, ¿no? El que alguien entre a burlarse ya es medio negocio; lo demás le toca a usted.

   But they came in, didn't they? Someone coming in to make fun is already half a sale; the rest is up to you.

   Line 7
8. 8
   B

   No me haga reír, que estoy enojada. Le fío a media colonia: van a pensar que me hice rica a costillas de ellos.

   Don't make me laugh, I'm mad. Half the neighborhood buys from me on credit: they'll think I got rich at their expense.

   Line 8
9. 9
   A

   Entonces le agrego abajo, en chiquito: “las nubes son del volcán; los precios, a ras de suelo”.

   Then I'll add underneath, in small letters: “the clouds are the volcano's; the prices are down to earth.”

   Line 9
10. 10
    B

    Ni lo toque: ya le tomaron foto veinte mirones y anda en redes. Pensándolo bien, voy a tener que subir los precios, para que no mienta.

    Don't touch it: twenty gawkers have already taken photos of it, and it's all over social media. Come to think of it, I'll have to put my prices up, so it isn't lying.

    Line 10
11. 11
    A

    Así se habla. Y aclarado el asunto, le paso la cuenta: ahora que es famoso, mi chiste también anda por las nubes.

    That's the spirit. And now that's settled, here's my bill: now that it's famous, my joke has gone sky-high too.

    Line 11