Delroy got on the bus in his hometown of Garfield. The bus trip was very long. After 14 hours, the bus arrived in Weston. It stopped outside a supermarket.

Delroy got off the bus. He was very tired and thirsty. He had a big backpack on his back. He was carrying his laptop computer. He looked at his smartphone. It was 10:00am.

The letter from the university dormitory told me to come at 2:00pm, he thought. I will go to the supermarket and buy a bottle of water and something to eat. Maybe I can find a park. I can sit in the park until it is time to go to the dormitory.

Delroy found some sandwiches and fruit in the supermarket. He took a bottle of water from the cooler and went to the checkout.

“Delroy! What are you doing here?”

Delroy looked at the checkout operator. He was very surprised. It was his old school friend Matt.

“Matt. It’s great to see you. I got a place at Weston University.”

“That’s great news. I’m a student at Weston University,” said Matt. “I have a part time job here. Where are you going to live?”

“In the dormitory,” said Delroy. “I will register at 2:00pm.”

Matt was smiling. I live in the dormitory too. We’ll have good times together! But it’s only 10:00am. What are you going to do until 2:00pm?”

“I thought I would find a park.” Delroy pointed to his basket of food. I can have a picnic and wait until it’s time to go to the dormitory.”

“I have a better idea,” said Matt. “I finish work at 1:00pm. Why don’t you wait in my car? We can go to the dormitory together.”

“That would be great,” said Delroy. “Thank you.”

Matt took some keys from his pocket. “Here are my car keys. My car is an old blue Toyota. It’s in the second row of the supermarket car park. I’ll see you there at about 1:05pm.”

He scanned Delroy’s shopping and put it in a bag. Delroy paid. “It was good luck meeting you here,” said Delroy. “See you soon.”

Delroy walked into the carpark. He saw a big blue Toyota car in the second row. It looked old. That will be Matt’s car, he thought.

He took Matt’s keys and went to open the door. But it opened without the keys. That’s strange, he thought. Matt forgot to lock his car.

Delroy put his backpack and computer bag in the boot of the car.

He got into the back seat. There’s more room for me to eat and drink here, he thought.

After he drank and ate a little, he lay down on the back seat and went to sleep. He slept for a long time. He didn’t notice when the car started moving. But suddenly he woke up. Someone was screaming.

“What!” shouted Delroy. He sat up and looked around. He was in a garage. Where am I? he thought. Something is wrong.

“Matt! Where are you?”

Then he saw a woman near the car. She was holding a big hammer.

“Get out of my car!” shouted the woman. “Don’t come near me! I’ll hit you with this hammer! I’ll call the police.”

Delroy couldn’t understand what was happening. He got out of the car very slowly.

“Who are you?” he asked. “Where is Matt?”

“Who’s Matt?” asked the woman. “I went to have coffee with my friend in the café next to the supermarket. Then I come home and I find you, a strange man, in the back of my car. What do you want?”

Oh no! thought Delroy. I got into the wrong car!

“Please don’t be frightened,” he said to the woman. “My name is Delroy. My friend Matt has a part time job in the supermarket. He said I could wait in his car. I’m very sorry. I got into the wrong car and fell asleep. I thought it was strange that the car wasn’t locked.”

The woman put down the hammer and looked at him.

“OK,” she said slowly. “I often forget to lock the car. I believe you.”

Delroy looked at his smartphone. It was 12:45pm. “I must meet my friend. I will take my backpack and computer bag out of the boot. Is it OK? I must hurry back to the supermarket. Is it far?”

“I will drive you,” said the woman.

“Oh no,” said Delroy. “That is too much trouble for you. It was my fault. I got into the wrong car.”

“It’s no trouble. But please sit in the front with me. And don’t go to sleep!”

When they arrived at the supermarket, Matt was walking out the door. “That’s my friend,” said Delroy. “Thank you so much. I am very sorry for my mistake.”

“It was my mistake too,” said the woman. “I always forget to lock the car. It makes my husband very angry. He says, ‘someone will steal the car’. But he never thought I would bring a strange man home with me!”

She laughed. “It will be a good story to tell my friends. But maybe I will never tell my husband.”

This is a short story for learners of English. We hope you enjoy it!

Angus had football practice on Thursday night. It didn’t finish until 8:30pm. When he was walking home, it was dark and cold. He saw the corner shop near his house.

I’d like to go in and buy some chocolate, he thought. I’m hungry.

He stopped outside the shop. No, he thought. I’ll go home. My mother will have made a meal for me. It will be keeping warm in the oven.

Just then a car stopped on the road next to him. Three people jumped out. They were wearing dark clothes and dark hats. They had masks over their faces.

They ran into the store. They were shouting. “Give us all the cigarettes! Give us the money from the till! If you don’t, we will hurt you!”

Angus was very frightened. He didn’t know what to do. He could hear shouting and screaming. He could hear breaking glass.

He looked at the car – the engine was running. The driver was still in the car.

I could take a photograph of the car, he thought. Maybe it would help the police. But I don’t want those robbers to see me.

He moved against the wall where it was dark. He took out his smartphone. He took a photograph of the car. The car window was open. Angus could see the driver. The driver was coughing. Then he pulled his mask down and blew his nose.

That’s my friend Benny! He’s in my class at school.  He’s a good guy. What is he doing driving a getaway car?

The robbers ran out of the shop. They were laughing and shouting. They jumped into the car and it drove away very fast.

Angus went home. He was very worried. I am sorry for the people who own that shop. I should tell the police what I know. I have a photograph of the car and I know who was driving it. But Benny is my friend! What shall I do?

The next day, Angus went to school. Benny was not there. Everyone was talking about the robbery at the corner store. Angus didn’t say anything.

At lunchtime, Angus said to his homeroom teacher, “Mrs Anderson, I’m sorry but I don’t feel well. I want to go home.”

“Oh, Angus,” said Mrs Anderson. “Do you have the flu?”

Angus felt bad for telling lies, but he said, “Maybe. Or maybe it is a cold. But I want to go home.”

“OK,” said Mrs Anderson. “Many students have colds and flu this week. I will call your mother later and find out if you are feeling better.”

Angus went to Benny’s house. He knocked on the door, but no one answered. But he could hear someone coughing. “Benny!” shouted Angus. “I know you’re in there! Open the door!”

There was no answer. So Angus tried the door. It was unlocked. He went into the house. He found Benny in his bedroom. Benny was in bed. He looked very ill.

“Benny! I saw you last night! I saw you driving the getaway car!” shouted Angus,

“Oh, no!” said Benny. “Did you tell the police?”

“No, I didn’t,” said Angus. “But I think I should. Why were you there?”

“There is a gang of young guys who live in the apartments next door,” said Benny. “They came here last night. They knew my father was away. They took my mother. They said I must steal a car and drive them to the corner store. They said ‘If you don’t do what we want, we will hurt your mother’. So I helped them. Then they said, ‘Don’t’ tell anyone or things will be very bad for your mother’.”

“Where is your mother now?” asked Angus.

“I don’t know. I am very frightened. I don’t know what to do,” said Benny.

“Why did they want you to help them?” asked Angus.

“They are bad guys, but they are also very young. They don’t know how to drive a car. I am a good driver. My father taught me,” said Benny.

Angus said, “Benny. We must call the police. They will find your mother. Everything will be OK.”

“OK,” said Benny. “But I am very scared. What if the gang see the police and kill my mother?”

“I am sure the police will be very careful,” said Angus. “We will tell them everything.”

Angus called the police. He told the police everything. He said that Benny’s mother was in danger.

The chief policeman said, “Stay in the house. Don’t go out. We will go to the apartments next door. We will rescue the woman. Then we will come to see you.”

Angus stayed with Benny in his bedroom. He found cough medicine for Benny and made him a hot drink. They waited and waited. It took a long time. Angus texted his mother — I will be late home from school today—

Finally two policemen came to Benny’s house. Benny’s mother was with them. “They tied me up and left me in a bedroom,” she said. She was very tired, but she was OK. Benny told his story.

“We have arrested all the gang,” said one of the policemen.

“I guess you will arrest me too,” said Benny. He was very worried.

“No,” said the policeman. “You were very silly. You should have called us as soon as they took your mother away. But we understand.  So you are not in trouble.”

After the policemen went away, Angus said, “I must go home now.”

Then he laughed.

“What’s funny?” asked Benny.

“That gang next door were all very bad guys. They thought they were very smart. But they are not so great. They didn’t know how to drive a car!”

By I Talk You Talk Press – Easy English Reading

Cora was watching the weather forecast on TV.

The weatherman said, “Tonight the wind will be very strong. Be careful if you go out.”

I hope the wind will be gone by tomorrow, thought Cora. I have a job interview. I want the job very much.

Cora went to bed early but she did not sleep well. The wind was very strong and noisy. She could hear bangs and crashes. The windows rattled. After a while the wind died down, but Cora still couldn’t sleep. I am so nervous about my job interview. I want to do well, she thought.

Finally, it was morning. The sun was shining. There was no wind.

I am so pleased, thought Cora. The weather is OK.

After breakfast, Cora dressed for her job interview. She put on her best two-piece suit and high-heeled shoes. She spent a long time doing her hair and makeup.

Cora lived in an old farmhouse. There was a long driveway from the road to the house.

She got into her car. Do I have everything? Yes. I have my CV. I have my phone. I have my wallet. I have the address of the company I want to work at.

Cora drove down the driveway. She stopped the car quickly. There was a big tree lying across the driveway. There was no room to drive her car onto the road!

Cora jumped out of her car and ran to the tree.

Oh no! That tree fell over in the wind. What can I do? I can’t move it. I will miss my job interview. She started crying.

Then Cora heard a voice. “Cora! Are you OK?”

It was her next door neighbour. His name was Mr Jenkins.

“Yes, I’m OK,” said Cora. “But I can’t get out! And I have a job interview.”

“I came out to the road to look in my mail box,” said Mr Jenkins. “I saw the tree. Then I heard your car. Then I heard you crying. Don’t worry.”

Cora could hear Mr Jenkins on the other side of the tree. “I can’t move it,” he said. “We need men and machinery.”

“But I have a job interview!” Cora was very unhappy.

“OK. You can’t climb over it, but you are a small person. Maybe you can crawl under it,” said Mr Jenkins. “I will get my cutters. I can cut some small branches.”

Cora waited. Mr Jenkins cut the small branches near the ground. He made a small space under the big tree trunk. “Now, you must crawl on the ground like a baby,” he said.

Cora looked at her best suit and her good shoes.

I might get to the interview, but I will look terrible! she thought.

She went back to the car and found a supermarket bag. She put her shoes, jacket and purse in the bag.

Then she got down on the ground. She pushed the bag in front of her and crawled under the tree. Sticks and leaves pulled at her hair. Her face was covered in dust, but she kept moving.

Mr Jenkins was pulling branches to make more room for her. He was shouting. “Come on Cora! You can do it!”

Finally Cora was on the other side of the tree. She stood up. Her face and hands and knees were bleeding. She had leaves in her hair.

“I can’t go to the interview like this! I look like a crazy person,” she said.

Mr Jenkins laughed. “Of course you can. I will drive you there. You can make yourself tidy in the car. Where is the interview?”

“It’s at Safe and Well Insurance Company on Columbo Street,” said Cora.

“Get in my car and wait a minute,” said Mr Jenkins. “I must go and tell my wife I am going out for a while.”

Cora got in the car. She took off her tights. They had many holes in them. She found some tissues and some wet wipes. She cleaned her face and hands and knees.

Mr Jenkins has been gone a long time, she thought. I will be late. It doesn’t matter. No one will give me a job when I look like this!

Mr Jenkins came back. He jumped into the car.

“Thank you, Mr Jenkins,” said Cora. “But I give up. I don’t want to go. I can’t get this job.”

“Don’t worry,” he said. “Everything will be fine.” He drove down the road. He was smiling.

When they reached Columbo Street, Mr Jenkins parked outside the office building.

“Go in,” he said. “I will wait for you here.”

Cora went into the building. Her hands and knees hurt. She felt very bad. She went to the front desk. “My name is Cora Forrester,” she said. “I have an interview with Ms Fargo.”

The receptionist looked at her strangely. “Yes,” she said. Ms Fargo is waiting for you. But do you know you have leaves in your hair? Can I help you take them out?”

“Yes please,” said Cora. The receptionist stood up and came from behind her desk. She took the leaves and small pieces of wood out of Cora’s hair.

“That’s better,” she said. “Ms Fargo’s office is down the hall. Her name is on the door.”

Cora went to the office and knocked on the door. “Come in!” said Ms Fargo.

A beautiful smart woman was waiting for her. “You are Cora!” she said.

“Uh, yes.”

“Sit down.”

“You have the job,” said Ms Fargo.

“What!” Cora could not believe it. “But you haven’t looked at my CV! You haven’t asked me any questions! And I look very untidy. I look very bad.”

“I had a phone call from your neighbour. He told me what happened. He told me what you did. You must want this job very much. So that means I want to hire you.”

By I Talk You Talk Press – Easy English Reading

Candice was an artist. She liked to paint pictures. She sent her paintings to an art shop. Sometimes people bought them, but Candice did not get a lot of money.

Candice saved all her money and bought a house. She was very pleased. It was small and old, but it was cheap. Candice planted roses in the garden. She painted the walls of the house and made new curtains.

For a few months it was perfect. But when winter came, it rained and rained. Water came through the roof. There was water on the floor. Her bed was wet.

Candice called a builder. He came and looked at the house. “You need a new roof,” he said.

“How much will a new roof cost?” asked Candice.

“Maybe $20,000 or $30,000,” said the builder.

“Oh no!” Candice was very worried. “I don’t have the money.”

“I’m sorry,” said the builder. “I can’t help you.” The builder went away.

The house was very cold and wet. Candice put buckets and pots under the places where the rain was coming into the house. It was very difficult.

One morning when Candice woke up, there was a cat sitting on the table in the kitchen. The cat was black.

Where did the cat come from? Candice thought. I never saw that cat before.

Candice put some milk in a bowl for the cat. She put some small pieces of meat on a plate for the cat. But the cat didn’t eat anything. It sat on the table and looked at her.

This cat is very strange, thought Candice. Who does this cat belong to?

Candice called her neighbour. “Hi,” said Candice. “There is a cat in my kitchen. I never saw it before. Do you know someone who owns a black cat?”

“No,” said her neighbour.

“Oh,” said Candice. “I wonder where it came from. It doesn’t want to eat. It just looks at me.”

“I wonder…” said her neighbour slowly. “I think you should talk to the woman who owned your house before. Her name is Mrs Watkins. I will give you her telephone number.”

Candice called Mrs Watkins. “You don’t know me,” she said. “But I bought your house.”

“Yes,” said Mrs Watkins. “Is there a problem?”

Candice didn’t want to tell Mrs Watkins about the holes in the roof. But she said, “There is a cat in the kitchen. I found it this morning. It doesn’t want to eat. It doesn’t move or make any noise. It just looks at me. I think it is very strange.”

Mrs Watkins said,  “I know about that cat. I saw it sometimes.”

“Does it mean bad luck?” asked Candice.

“Oh no!” Mrs Watkins laughed. “It means the cat likes you. It is good luck to see that cat.”

“Thank you,” said Candice.

“You’re welcome,” said Mrs Watkins. “Don’t worry. The cat looks after the house. The cat likes you. Something good is going to happen.”

Candice made a cup of tea and went to sit in her living room.

I need something good to happen, thought Candice. The roof has holes in it. There is water in the house. The carpets are wet. The floor is wet. I have buckets and pots all over the floor. They are full of water.

Just then the phone rang.

Candice answered the phone. “Hello,” she said.

It was the owner of the art shop. He was very excited. “Good news!” he said. “They have built a big new hotel near here. The decorator for the hotel came to the shop this morning. He likes your pictures. He bought all your paintings I had in the shop! He wants more. He wants to put one of your paintings in every bedroom!”

Candice could not believe the news. When she finished talking to the owner of the art shop, she went to the kitchen.

I must thank the cat, she thought. But the cat was gone.

By I Talk You Talk Press – Easy English Reading