esquina

Question

This is from the book El rufugio secreto, and it is discussing the Dutch underground resistance during the German occupation in World War II. I get the idea that the boy was to be asked for change as a sort of passcode, but I have no idea what esquina="corner"? has to do with it.

Cuando Mietje apareció a la mañana siguiente, tomé un billete pequeño de mi cartera y le arranqué una esquina.
--Esto es para su hijo -- le dije--. . . . [instrucciónes para el hijo dado aquí] . . . Tiene que esperar junto al tronco, mirando hacia el canal. Un hombre se le va a acercar y le va a preguntar si tiene cambio de un billete de banco. Su hijo debe tener a mano la esquina que le falta al billete y luego seguir a este hombre sin hacer preguntas.

Answer 1

yes you are right, I read the whole thing again and it says the son has the little piece of the bill that was torn off from the bill.

Heidita said:

When Mietje appeared the following morning, I took a small bill from my wallet and ripped off a little piece of its corner."This is for your son," I said . . . . He should wait next to the trunk, looking towards the canal. A man is going to come up to him and ask him if he has change for a banknote. Your son should have at hand the missing piece of the banknote and then follow the man without asking questions.Natasha, a little confusing the place where you can mix up billete and *wallet.**tomé un billete pequeño de mi cartera y le arranqué una esquina.*So, this *could* mean: he ripped off a piece of the banknote...or a piece of his wallet (which, of course, makes no sense). so, I understand your confusion.So, the man who is asking for change, has the actual banknote , one corner missing, in his hand, and the son, the missing corner.

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Answer 2

Heidita said:

When Mietje appeared the following morning, I took a small bill from my wallet and ripped off a little piece of its corner."This is for your son," I said . . . . He should wait next to the trunk, looking towards the canal. A man is going to come up to him and ask him if he has change for a banknote. Your son should have at hand the missing piece of the banknote and then follow the man without asking questions.Natasha, a little confusing the place where you can mix up billete and *wallet.**tomé un billete pequeño de mi cartera y le arranqué una esquina.*So, this *could* mean: he ripped off a piece of the banknote...or a piece of his wallet (which, of course, makes no sense). so, I understand your confusion.So, the man who is asking for change, has the actual banknote , one corner missing, in his hand, and the son, the missing corner.

Thank you everybody, it is clear now. Obviously it's a good thing I'm not a smuggler . . . ha ha ha

Answer 3

When Mietje appeared the following morning, I took a small bill from my wallet and ripped off a little piece of its corner."This is for your son," I said . . . . He should wait next to the trunk, looking towards the canal. A man is going to come up to him and ask him if he has change for a banknote. Your son should have at hand the missing piece of the banknote and then follow the man without asking questions.

Natasha, a little confusing the place where you can mix up billete and wallet.

tomé un billete pequeño de mi cartera y le arranqué una esquina.

So, this could mean: he ripped off a piece of the banknote...or a piece of his wallet (which, of course, makes no sense). so, I understand your confusion.

So, the man who is asking for change, has the actual banknote , one corner missing, in his hand, and the son, the missing corner.

Answer 4

I took a small bill from my wallet and pulled her ___|\___|?
I think this isbetterr, I took a small bill from my wallet and torn of one of its corners.

Your son should have at hand the bill with the missing corner and, then follow the man without asking questions.

Answer 5

"le arranqué una esquina."

he tore off a corner?

"la esquina que le falta al billete"

The (bank)note's missing corner...surely'

Answer 6

Gus said:

the bill was marked by tearing off a little piece of its corner.I know I got this one right.

Thanks!!!! I got it now! I interpreted le as referring to the woman, not the bill . . . ARGH! Some things about Spanish I can never get right!

Answer 7

I get:

When Mietje appeared the following morning, I took a small bill from my wallet and pulled her ___|\___|?
"This is for your son," I said . . . . He should wait next to the trunk, looking towards the canal. A man is going to come up to him and ask him if he has change for a banknote. Your son should have at hand ___|\___|_ that is missing from the wallet'''? and then follow the man without asking questions.

Answer 8

the bill was marked by tearing off a little piece of its corner.

I know I got this one right.