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Level: B1

  • The Flatmate

    The Flatmate

    Emma felt lucky to have found a place to live so quickly, and this flat seemed perfect. It was small but bright, on a quiet street near the park. After her recent breakup with her boyfriend, she wanted a new start, away from all the things that reminded her of her old life.

    She had found the place through an online ad which said, “Room to rent. Must like peace and privacy.” It sounded perfect.

    When she arrived to see the flat, Daniel opened the door. He was tall and polite, with a calm voice. The flat was clean and tidy, with books on the shelves and the smell of coffee. “It’s quiet here,” Daniel said. “I work from home, so I like things to stay that way.” He seemed kind and trustworthy. Emma moved in the next week.

    At first, everything was excellent. Daniel was friendly but not too talkative. He made tea for both of them in the evenings, and they sometimes watched TV together. Emma told her friends that she was finally feeling safe again. But after a few weeks, strange things began to happen.

    One morning, her phone was not where she had left it. Another day, her laptop said, “Password changed successfully.” She was sure she hadn’t changed it. When she asked Daniel, he laughed softly. “You probably forgot,” he said. “You’ve been under stress.”

    Emma wanted to believe him, but soon she noticed more strange things. Her bedroom door, which she always locked, was sometimes open when she came home. She often heard quiet footsteps in the hallway late at night. Once, when she woke up suddenly, she saw a shadow move outside her door. Her heart beat fast, but when she opened it, the hallway was empty.

    A few days later, Emma found something that made her feel sick. While looking for a charger, she opened a drawer in the living room. Inside were printed photos—of her. Some were from before she had moved in, taken from far away, near her old flat and at the park. Her hands started to shake. When Daniel came in, she quickly closed the drawer.

    He smiled as if nothing was wrong. “You shouldn’t look through other people’s things, Emma,” he said quietly. “That’s not polite.” His eyes stayed on her a little too long.

    That night, Emma couldn’t sleep. She decided she had to leave, but she was afraid. Daniel knew her passwords and had copies of her keys. So, she made a plan. The next day, she told him she was visiting a friend for the weekend. He smiled again. “Of course. Have fun.”

    When he went out to buy food, she packed her bag, grabbed her passport, and ran. She didn’t look back. From a café nearby, she called the police and told them everything.

    Two days later, they arrested Daniel. He wasn’t who he said he was. The real Daniel had disappeared years ago. The man Emma had lived with had another name — and a history of following women.

    Weeks passed before Emma could sleep properly again. She moved to a new city and found another flat — this time, she lived alone. But sometimes, when she looked at her phone, she saw a message from someone she didn’t know. 

    The profile picture was always the same: a photo of a quiet street and a door that looked very much like hers.

    📒 Key vocabulary

    • flat – an apartment; a place to live in a building
    • ad – short for advertisement; a notice about something for sale or rent
    • tidy – clean and organized; not messy
    • trustworthy – someone you can trust; honest and reliable
    • footsteps – sounds made by someone walking
    • hallway – a long passage inside a building connecting rooms
    • shadow – a dark shape made when something blocks light
    • drawer – a box-shaped part of furniture that slides out to store things
    • shake (shake, shook, shaken) – move slightly because of fear or emotion
    • arrest (arrest, arrested, arrested) – take to prison because of a possible crime

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  • The Money Tree

    The Money Tree

    One summer day, the people of Newton Village woke to strange news. Children ran through the streets shouting, “Come and see! Come and see!” Neighbours opened their doors and hurried to the square. Where an old apple tree had stood for many years, a new tree had grown. But this was not a normal tree. On its branches were coins instead of leaves, and paper notes moved slowly in the wind. In the morning light, the tree looked full of money, and the villagers stared wide-eyed.

    At first, people were delighted. Tom the baker took a few coins to buy flour. Anna the teacher took just enough to fix her roof. Maria, the mother, picked one note to buy medicine for her child. Life felt fair, and the people smiled at one another. The tree gave hope, and for a short time the village was full of peace.

    But soon, greed began to grow. Peter the shopkeeper brought a large bag and filled it with money. Lucy, the farmer, climbed the tree and broke its branches. Neighbours pushed each other in the square. People argued and shouted. Friends stopped talking. Families began to fight.

    Old Mr Green, who had cared for the apple tree before it died, tried to warn them. He said, “If you take too much, the tree will not live.” But nobody listened. Day after day, the people pulled more and more money from the tree. The coins lost their colours. The paper money tore and fell apart. At last, the tree stood with no money and no leaves, only broken wood.

    The people were unhappy, the square was empty, and the tree was dead. The money had disappeared. But worst of all, their kindness had disappeared too. Tom no longer helped his customers. Anna no longer spoke to her neighbours. Maria ate alone with her child.

    From that day onwards, the dead tree stayed in the square. Children asked, “Why is the tree like that?” And the parents had to answer, “Because we were greedy, and we forgot to share.”

    The children of Newton Village listened carefully. They promised each other that when they grew up, they would not make the same mistake.

    📒 Key vocabulary

    • branches – parts of a tree that grow from the trunk or from another branch; can also mean divisions or sections of an organization
    • notes – paper money issued by a bank that is used as currency
    • wide-eyed  – with astonishment
    • flour – a powder made by grinding grains (especially wheat), used in baking and cooking
    • greed – an intense and selfish desire for something, especially wealth, power, or food
    • warn (warn, warned, warned) – to tell someone about possible danger, trouble, or a problem so they can be careful or prepared
    • tear (tear, tore, torn) – the past tense of “tear”; to pull something apart forcefully
    • greedy – having or showing an intense desire for more than is needed or fair, especially wealth or food

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  • Tweet

    Tweet

    Most people in town noticed Ed’s anger before his smile. He had always been a little cross with the world, but since his wife had died the month before, his mood had grown much darker. The house felt too big, the silence too heavy. He spent his days in his chair, staring at the garden without really seeing it, and at night he complained to himself about the cold sheets.

    One afternoon, while he was reading the newspaper, there was a sudden thump against the window. Ed jumped. He went to look and saw a small bird lying still on the ground. “Stupid thing,” he said. “Can’t even see where it’s flying.” He opened the door, ready to tell it to go away. But when he bent down, he noticed the bird’s wing was hanging strangely. It was hurt.

    Ed frowned. “This is all I need,” he said, but he couldn’t just leave it. He phoned the local animal home. A calm voice answered, “We can come tomorrow, sir. Just keep the bird safe until then.” Ed sighed loudly but went back inside, found an old box, and put the bird gently inside. He placed the box on the kitchen table and shook his head. “Don’t get used to it. Tomorrow you’re gone.”

    The next morning, there was a bad storm. Rain hit the glass, and the wind roared through the trees. At lunchtime, the animal home called. “I’m sorry, sir, but we can’t come today. The roads are closed.” Ed banged the phone down. “Great. Now I’m running a hotel for birds.”

    That afternoon, while he was half asleep in his chair, he suddenly heard music. At first, he thought it was the radio. But no, it was coming from the kitchen. His heart gave a strange jump—the tune was familiar. It was the song his wife used to sing while she cleaned the house. Her voice had filled every corner, light and cheerful, and Ed had not heard it since she passed.

    He hurried into the kitchen and froze. The bird was standing in the box, its small chest moving quickly as it whistled the melody. Ed sat down slowly. “Impossible,” he whispered. Yet the tune was clear, note for note, just as his wife had sung it.

    That evening, Ed tore a piece of bread and offered it. The bird pecked at it and then, as if in thanks, sang the song again. Ed listened with wet eyes. For the first time in weeks, his house did not feel empty. He smiled for the first time in a long while. “I’ll call you Tweet,” he said softly.

    The storm went on for days, and each day Tweet sang. Sometimes it hopped across the kitchen table in a way that reminded Ed of his wife moving about the room. He began to talk to it as if it could answer. Slowly, the weight on his chest began to lift.

    When the weather finally cleared, the animal home called again. “We can collect the bird today.” Ed looked at Tweet, who was now much stronger. He smiled. “No, thank you,” he said firmly. “I’ll look after it myself.”

    In time, Tweet became able to fly again. But it never left him. Each morning it returned, landing by the window, singing the same song. Ed was no longer lonely. Each note reminded him that love had not left his house—it had simply found a new voice.

    📒 Key vocabulary

    • cross – a little angry or unfriendly
    • frown (frown, frowned, frowned) – make a serious or unhappy face
    • roar (roar, roared, roared) – make a very loud, deep sound
    • freeze (freeze, froze, frozen) – stop suddenly
    • whistle (whistle, whistled, whistled) – make a high musical sound by blowing air
    • melody – a song or tune
    • peck (peck, pecked, pecked) – hit or eat with the beak (bird’s mouth)
    • hop (hop, hopped, hopped) – jump up and down
    • weight on his chest – a heavy feeling of sadness

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  • Younger

    Younger

    Rita’s fortieth birthday was approaching, and she wasn’t feeling happy about it. Every time she looked in the mirror, she saw grey hairs and lines around her eyes. When she touched her skin, it no longer felt smooth. Other women in the street looked young and full of life, but Rita only felt older each day. She wanted to look young again, no matter what it cost.

    One day, she read about an old woman in the town who could make special creams and drinks. People said the woman’s cream could stop ageing and make you look younger. Rita was curious. She visited the woman in a small dark house at the end of the street.

    The woman smiled and gave her a small jar. “Use this cream every night,” she said. “It will make you feel young again. But remember—never stop using it.”

    Rita went home and put the cream on her face. When she looked in the mirror the next morning, she started crying with happiness. Her skin was smooth. The lines were gone. She looked twenty-five. She laughed and danced around the room.

    Every day, she used the cream. People at work said, “Rita, you look wonderful! What is your secret?” She only smiled. Inside, she was proud. She was young again.

    But after a few weeks, strange things started to happen. At night, she felt her skin burning. Occasionally, she woke up with scratches on her face. Once, she saw a shadow move across the mirror when she was alone.

    Rita went back to the old woman. “Something is wrong,” she said.

    The woman looked at her with cold eyes. “You wanted youth. The cream takes something in return.”

    Rita felt afraid. “What does it take?”

    The woman whispered, “Take your time.”

    That night, Rita stared at herself in the mirror. She still looked young, but her eyes were dark, and her smile seemed strange. She put the cream back on her skin. She could not stop—she remembered the warning.

    Days passed. Rita’s body felt weak, even though her face looked young. She needed more and more sleep. When she walked, her legs shook. Her friends asked, “Are you sick?” but she only smiled. She could not tell them.

    One evening, Rita dropped the jar. The last of the cream spilt onto the floor. She screamed. She tried to put it back into the jar, but it was gone.

    That night, she went to bed without the cream. At midnight, she woke up to a terrible pain. Her skin was changing. Wrinkles appeared on her face. Her hair turned white. She felt her body grow smaller, weaker, older.

    She ran to the mirror and saw an old woman, a stranger she didn’t recognise. The eyes were hollow, and the mouth was dry and thin.

    Rita screamed again, but no sound came out.

    The next morning, the neighbours found her house empty. On the table, they saw a broken mirror and a photo of Rita smiling when she was young. But no one ever saw Rita again.

    📒 Key vocabulary

    • creams – soft, thick liquids you put on your skin
    • ageing – the process of getting older
    • curious – wanting to know or learn something
    • scratches – thin marks or cuts on the skin or surface
    • shadow – a dark shape made when something blocks the light
    • youth – the state of being young
    • whisper (whisper, whispered, whispered)  – speak very quietly, with a soft voice
    • warning – words that tell someone to be careful about danger
    • weak – not strong
    • shook (shake, shook, shook) – move up and down or side to side quickly
    • spill (spill, spilt, spilt) – when liquid falls out of a container by accident
    • wrinkles – small lines on the skin that come with age
    • hollow – empty inside

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  • The Old Phone

    The Old Phone

    Jenny sat on the school bus, staring sadly at her classmates. They all had shiny new smartphones, which she knew cost a lot of money. Together, they played games, watched videos, and sent photos to one another. They were all having so much fun and Jenny felt left out.

    She wished she could join in. But she didn’t have a phone—at least not a phone like theirs. Her mum had saved for weeks and finally bought her a second-hand phone from a small shop in town. It was old, with a tiny screen and big buttons. It couldn’t take pictures or go on the internet. The only game was “Snake”.

    Jenny tried to be grateful, but every time she saw her friends’ phones, she felt sad. She wished she could have one of the new ones, the kind that made you feel like you belonged.

    That night, she sat on her bed, holding the old phone in her hand. She pressed the button for messages. To her surprise, a message appeared on the screen. But no one even knew her number.

    The message said, “Need help? Look outside.”

    Jenny ran to the window. Across the street, an old woman was carrying two heavy bags. Jenny rushed out to help. When she came back, the phone buzzed softly. A new message appeared on the screen: “Good job.”

    The next day, Jenny wrote, ‘What should I do?’

    The phone answered instantly: “Go to the back of the school.”

    Jenny went there at lunch and found a tiny kitten in a box. She lifted it carefully and smiled. Again the words appeared: “Good job.”

    Over the next few weeks, the phone guided her to help more people. She found a boy’s lost wallet, warned a teacher about water on the floor, and even called an ambulance when an old man fell in the park. Each time, the phone rewarded her with the same words: “Good job.”

    Her friends still laughed at her. “Why don’t you have a real smartphone, Jenny?” they asked.

    Jenny just smiled. Her phone wasn’t new, but it was special.

    One evening, her mum saw her holding it and smiling. “You like that phone now, don’t you?”

    Jenny nodded. “Yes, Mum. It’s very special.”

    Her mum kissed her head. “Sometimes the best things aren’t the newest.”

    Jenny looked at her phone. She knew she would never trade it for anything—not even the most expensive smartphone in the world.

    📒 Key vocabulary

    • smartphones – modern phones that have small computers inside and can do many things
    • left out – excluded, not a part of something
    • second-hand – not new; owned or used by someone else before
    • screen – the flat surface on a phone, computer, or TV where you see pictures and words
    • buzz (buzz, buzzed, buzzed) – to make a low, vibrating sound like “bzzzz” (for example, when a phone vibrates)
    • kitten – a baby cat
    • wallet – a small case for money and cards
    • warn (warn, warned, warned) – to tell someone about danger or something bad that might happen so they can be careful
    • ambulance – a special car that takes sick people to hospital
    • trade (trade, traded, traded) – to give something and get something else back

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  • The End of the Line

    The End of the Line

    Ben opened his eyes. His head hurt and his body felt heavy. It was Friday night, and he had been at the pub with his friends. As usual, he’d drunk too much beer and then fallen asleep on the train.

    However, this time something felt different.

    The carriage was silent. Ben sat up and looked around. Every seat was empty. No people, no voices, no footsteps. Only the sound of the train on the tracks.

    Something felt wrong. The train should have stopped already. It should have reached the last station. He pulled out his phone, but the screen was black. It did not work.

    The train slowed down. Then it stopped. Ben stood and held the rail. He looked out the window. There was a platform with a few weak lights. The place looked old and strange.

    He stepped out. The doors closed behind him. When he turned, the train was gone. It had disappeared into the dark tunnel.

    The platform was long and empty. No people, no shops, no signs. Only one big board above him. It had no name, no letters—just a blank board.

    “Hello?” Ben called. But nobody answered.

    Then he heard it. Step. Step. Step. The sound came from the far end of the platform.

    He tried to see what it was, but he was too far away. A shape moved slowly toward him. At first it looked like a man. But as it came closer, Ben realised it was not human. The body was thin. The arms and legs were too long. The head moved from side to side in a strange way.

    Ben frowned, too scared to say anything. He stepped back.

    The board above him lit up.

    LAST STOP, the letters read.

    Then the words disappeared. The board was blank again.

    The shape came closer. Its hand reached out. The fingers were long and sharp.

    Ben opened his mouth to scream—

    Suddenly, a hand touched his shoulder.

    “Sir, wake up!” a voice said.

    Ben’s eyes opened wide. He was on the train again. The lights were bright. A man in uniform stood in front of him. The conductor.

    “You slept the whole way,” the man said with a small smile. “We are at the end of the line. Time to get off.”

    Ben’s heart beat quickly. He looked around. The carriage was normal again—bags, bottles, papers. No shadow, no strange board, no shape.

    He stood up, legs shaking, and walked out into the cool night air. He touched his head.

    It was a dream, he told himself. Just a dream.

    But when he closed his eyes, he thought he could still hear footsteps following behind him.

    📒 Key vocabulary

    • carriage – one of many parts of a train in which passengers sit
    • tracks – the metal rails that trains run on
    • rail – a metal bar you can hold for support
    • platform – the flat area beside a train where people get on or off
    • weak – not strong; easy to break or hard to see
    • tunnel – a long, dark passage under the ground or through a hill
    • blank – empty
    • frowned (frown, frowned, frowned) – make a serious face by pulling the eyebrows down
    • conductor – the person who checks tickets and helps people on a train
    • shadow – a dark shape made when light is blocked

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  • The Waiter

    The Waiter

    Roger was a waiter in a trendy French restaurant. Every day he carried heavy plates, delivered drinks, and carefully took orders from the tables. He greeted every customer politely and smiled, even when he was exhausted. But many customers did not treat him the same way. Some snapped their fingers to grab his attention, others shouted across the room, and a few made silly jokes about the food. Roger never shouted back. On the outside he appeared calm, but inside he was angry. He worked hard every day, yet nobody seemed to respect him.

    One evening the restaurant was full. Every table was taken, and the noise of voices filled the room. Roger was serving a group of businessmen. From the beginning, they were difficult. First, they complained that the soup was ‘too cold’. They sent it back to the kitchen, then sent it back again a second time, claiming it was still not hot enough.

    Roger’s patience was running out. The third time, he made it so hot that steam filled the air. When the men tasted it, they burnt their tongues. They shouted and waved their hands, but Roger only smiled politely. Inside, he felt a secret joy.

    Later, one man asked for more pepper on his steak. Roger took the steak back to the kitchen and put so much pepper on it that the meat was barely visible. Then, when the man tried to eat his peppery steak, he couldn’t stop sneezing.

    Soon after that, another man shouted for water. Roger brought him a glass filled right to the top. The moment the man touched it, water spilt over the table and onto his expensive suit. Roger smiled politely and said, ‘So sorry, sir,’ while the man tried to dry his clothes.

    The businessmen were already upset, but Roger was not finished. When they asked for bread, he brought the hardest bread from the basket. It was old and dry, and when they tried to break it, small crumbs flew across the table and onto their clothes. The other diners turned their heads, trying not to laugh as the men fought with the bread.

    Next, the businessmen ordered an expensive bottle of wine. Roger went to the kitchen, but he did not bring wine. Instead, he brought a wine bottle filled with grape juice. He poured it slowly into their glasses. The men sipped and nodded with serious faces. ‘Excellent wine,’ one of them said proudly. Roger kept his face serious too, but inside he was almost laughing out loud.

    At last, the meal was finished. Roger carried the bill to the table. Inside the folder was not only the bill but also a small note, written in neat handwriting:

    ‘I hope you enjoyed your meal. I made a few changes to your meal tonight. Some of these changes may have escaped your notice. Be careful how you treat your waiter. Next time, the changes will be more obvious.’

    The businessmen stared at the note with confused faces. When they looked up, Roger was no longer there. His apron lay folded on the counter, and nobody had seen him leave.

    📒 Key vocabulary

    • trendy – fashionable or popular at the moment
    • snap (snap, snapped, snapped) – make a quick, sharp sound or movement, often with fingers, to get attention
    • steam – the hot gas that comes from boiling water
    • sneezing – suddenly blowing air through the nose and mouth, often because of dust or pepper
    • spill (spill, spilled, spilt)– cause liquid to flow out by accident
    • crumbs – very small pieces of bread, cake, or other food
    • diners – people eating in a restaurant or café
    • sip (sip, sipped, sipped) – drink slowly in small amounts
    • nod (nod, nodded, nodded) – move head up and down to show agreement
    • folder – a cover or container used to hold papers
    • handwriting – writing done by hand, not printed by a machine
    • apron – a piece of clothing worn over the front of the body to protect clothes, usually while cooking or serving

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  • The Donor

    The Donor

    Henry sat in the hospital waiting room, holding his head in his hands. The place had started to feel like a second home since his wife Claire had become so sick. Both her kidneys had now stopped working. Doctors said she had only weeks left to live.

    Claire needed a new kidney, and she was running out of time.

    Family and friends had all been tested, but no one was a match. Henry thought he was going to lose her.

    As a last resort, Henry decided to post his wife’s story on social media in the hope that a donor would come forward. Days passed, but nothing happened.

    Then, just as he was losing hope, a stranger got in touch who offered to donate one of his kidneys. His name was Victor, and his kidney was a perfect match.

    For the first time in months, Henry felt hopeful. Delighted, he ran into Claire’s room and told her she would live.

    The operation was planned. Henry bought flowers. He even smiled again. But on the morning of the surgery, the doctor walked into the room, his face pale.

    “Victor has changed his mind,” he said.

    Henry stared at him. “What do you mean?”

    “He won’t do it. He says it’s too dangerous for him.”

    Henry’s world broke. He was furious. Claire lay in the next room, fighting for her life, while the one man who could save her turned away.

    That night, Henry drove to Victor’s house. He sat in the car, watching the lights inside. Through the window, Victor ate dinner with his wife and little daughter. They laughed together.

    Watching the joyful family scene made Henry even angrier. Claire should be here too, he thought. We should be eating dinner, not waiting for death.

    He knocked on the door.

    Victor opened it, surprised. “Henry? What are you doing here?”

    “You promised,” Henry whispered. “She’s dying.”

    Victor shook his head. “I can’t. I have a family. I can’t risk my life.”

    Henry’s eyes went to the heavy candlestick on the table inside. His hand moved toward it.

    “Please,” he said, his voice shaking.

    Victor didn’t answer. He only pulled the door closer to shut it.

    Henry lost control. His hand grabbed the candlestick. He swung. Once. Twice. Victor fell to the ground with a thud. Blood spread on the carpet.

    Henry froze, breathing hard. His ears rang. Then he heard small footsteps.

    Victor’s daughter stood in the hallway, holding a toy bear, staring at him.

    “Daddy?” she whispered.

    Henry’s stomach twisted. But it was too late to stop now. He stepped past the girl and dragged Victor’s body toward the car.

    The next morning, Henry sat by Claire’s bed, his clothes clean, his face calm. The doctors entered with serious but hopeful expressions.

    “We’ve had some luck,” one said. “A kidney has just become available. We can do the transplant today.”

    Henry kissed Claire’s hand, his eyes wet with false relief.

    “That’s wonderful,” he said softly.

    Claire smiled weakly. “See? I told you not to give up.”

    Henry forced a smile. He could not tell her the truth. She would never know the price he had paid.

    But as the nurses prepared Claire for surgery, Henry’s heart pounded with a new fear: not of losing her, but of living with what he had done.

    📒 Key vocabulary

    • kidneys – organs in the body that clean the blood and make urine
    • donor – a person who gives something, especially an organ, blood, or money
    • donate – give something to another person
    • surgery – a medical treatment where doctors cut into the body to repair or remove something
    • pale – white, without colour
    • candlestick – a holder for a candle
    • thud –  a heavy, dull sound made when something falls or hits
    • dragged – pulled with effort
    • transplant – a medical operation where an organ is taken from one person and put into another
    • pound – hit something again and again, or beat strongly (like a fast heartbeat)

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  • Wealth

    Wealth

    From the outside, Jim’s life looked perfect. He had everything most people dreamed of. He was successful at work; he lived in a big house and had a garage full of sports cars.

    He and his beautiful wife had a busy and exciting social life. They enjoyed expensive holidays with friends and loved entertaining guests.

    But inside, Jim felt empty. He told himself that money and success should be enough. Still, he had the feeling that something was missing from his life.

    Slowly, Jim’s life began to fall apart. At work, the company was losing money. His boss no longer trusted him. Each month, the pressure increased. Finally, one morning, Jim was called into a meeting where he was dismissed from his job. He was devastated.

    With no money coming in, Jim could no longer afford to maintain his expensive lifestyle. His friends and invitations to parties disappeared. He felt very alone.

    At home, things were no better. Without a busy social life, Jim and his wife began to drift apart. When they were at home together, they hardly spoke. One day she packed her bags and told Jim she was leaving him for someone else. He never saw her again.

    Without his job, Jim could not pay for the house or the cars. One by one, they were sold. The big house stood empty. Finally, he had to leave. The man who once had everything now had nothing.

    Unable to pay for a hotel room, Jim found himself living in a small tent at the edge of the city. Nights were cold, and food was hard to find. He searched in bins behind shops and restaurants. Sometimes he ate old bread, sometimes nothing at all. The man who had once worn clean suits now wore the same old jacket every day. His wallet was empty, and his stomach was too.

    One evening, a stray dog came near Jim’s tent. Its fur was dirty and its body thin. But in its mouth was a piece of food. The dog dropped it in front of Jim. At first Jim wanted to push it away, but hunger was stronger. He ate and then shared what was left with the dog. The animal licked his hand. For the first time in weeks, Jim smiled.

    The next day the dog returned. Sometimes it brought pieces of food, sometimes only its company. Jim began to talk to it. The dog listened, as if it understood. Slowly, they became friends.

    Weeks passed. Jim and the dog were always together. They looked for food during the day and slept close to each other at night. The dog gave Jim comfort, and Jim gave the dog care. Their lives were hard, but they were not alone.

    One evening, Jim sat outside his tent, the dog’s head resting comfortably on his leg. He thought about the wealth he had once had and how it had left him feeling empty. Now, with nothing but a loyal friend by his side, he felt richer than he had ever felt before.

    📒 Key vocabulary

    • successful – doing well in work or life
    • empty – without meaning, not full
    • missing – absent
    • boss – the person who leads at work
    • dismissed – sacked; removed from a job
    • devastated – extremely upset
    • drift apart – become more distant
    • tent – small cloth shelter used for camping
    • bins – garbage cans
    • stray – without a home (used for animals)
    • fur – the soft hair covering certain animals
    • wealth – money and possessions
    • loyal – faithful and reliable

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  • Ten of Hearts

    Ten of Hearts

    It was nearly midnight. Tim sat at his kitchen table, holding his head in his hands. In front of him was a pile of unpaid bills that seemed to be growing by the day. His hands were cold, and his head hurt from weeks of worry.

    Every letter he opened seemed to be worse than the last. He had never felt so desperate.

    “There’s no way out,” he said to himself.

    Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. Wondering who could be visiting so late on a Monday night, Tim opened the door cautiously. A tall man in a dark coat stood there.

    His face was calm, but his eyes were sharp.

    “Good evening, Tim,” the man said. “I know about your problems, and I can help you. Please let me explain.”

    The man walked into the kitchen and put a deck of cards on the table. The cards looked old.

    “All your debts can disappear tonight,” the man said. “All you need to do is pick one card.”

    Tim looked at the deck. “This sounds like a trick.”

    “Not a trick,” the man said. “But there is a risk. If you pick the ten of hearts, something terrible will happen. Not to you, but to someone you know.”

    Tim felt sick. He thought of his sister. He thought of his best friend, Mark.

    But he felt he had no choice. Besides, what were the chances of him picking the ten of hearts when there were 51 other cards in the deck?

    The man pushed the deck closer. “Pick, Tim.”

    Nervously, Tim picked a card. When he turned it over, he froze.

    The ten of hearts.

    Tim dropped the card on the table. His body felt cold. “No…”

    The man’s smile grew wide. “A bold choice, Tim. But I’m afraid that fate can be cruel.”

    At that moment, Tim’s phone rang. His sister’s name appeared on the screen. He answered with shaking hands.

    Her voice was full of fear. “Tim… Mark’s been in an accident. He is in the hospital. They don’t know if he will live.”

    Tim dropped the phone. The man picked up the ten of hearts, put the deck into his coat, and stood.

    “Your debts are gone,” he said. “But freedom always has a price.”

    The door closed behind him, leaving Tim alone in silence. The bills were gone from the table, but the cost was already too high.

    📒 Key vocabulary

    • bills – pieces of paper that show money you must pay
    • debts – money you must pay back
    • cautiously – in a careful or nervous way
    • deck – a full set of playing cards
    • risk – the chance that something bad may happen
    • bold – not afraid, showing courage
    • fate – what happens in life that you cannot control
    • cruel – very unkind, causing pain

    🤔 Comprehension quiz

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