American accent
Marta was 39. She had a job, a chair, and a back that hurt every day. She worked long hours and sat too much. Her company said they cared about “health”. This meant many emails, short breaks, and free fruit that nobody ate.
One Monday morning, the boss called a meeting. People came with tired faces. Some still held coffee. They sat down and waited.
The boss stood near the screen. “Today we start a new health plan,” he said. “It will make you feel healthier and help you work better.”
No one asked questions.
He showed a picture of a green drink. “Every morning, you drink this,” he said. “It helps your body. It helps your mind.”
Leo raised his hand. “Do we have to?”
The boss smiled a little. “It is better if everyone does it,” he said.
Sara from Human Resources added, “It is part of our new way of working.”
Marta looked at her empty coffee cup.
The next day, the coffee machine was gone. In its place was a table with green powder, glasses, and a small sign:
“START WELL. WORK WELL”
“Where is the coffee?” Marta asked.
“No more coffee,” Sara said. “Coffee is not good for stress.”
Marta felt worried.
She made the drink. It smelt like plants. She drank it. It tasted bad.
“How do you feel?” Sara asked.
Marta looked around. People were watching.
“Okay,” she said.
By Friday, everyone felt “okay”. Leo said he had more energy. Sara said she could think better. Tom said he slept well.
Marta felt the same. But now she felt people were watching her.
Every day, the boss sent emails: How do you feel? Tell us your progress.
People began to change. They used words like ‘clean’ and ‘natural’. They stopped eating normal food.
“No bread,” said Tom.
“No sugar,” said Sara.
Marta said nothing.
One day, Leo came to work looking weak.
“I feel bad,” he said.
“Did you drink it?” Sara asked.
Leo said no.
The room became quiet.
Leo went to the kitchen and drank one glass. Then another. After a few minutes, he smiled.
“Better,” he said.
Everyone felt calm again.
That afternoon, the boss sent an email: Work is getting better.
Marta read it. Then she looked at her work. It was the same. Same hours. Same pain in her back.
Nothing was really better.
That night, she looked at the green bag. Very small words said, “Plant mix.”
“What plant?” she said.
No answer.
She searched online. The website showed happy people and big smiles. But there was no real information. Only words: pure, power, focus.
The next day, Marta went to a park. She sat and looked at the grass. It was green and everywhere.
She touched it. Then she laughed.
That evening, she tried something. She took some grass, washed it, and mixed it with water.
Same colour. Same smell.
She tasted it.
Same bad taste.
The next morning, she told Leo, “I think it is just grass.”
Leo looked tired. He held his drink.
“I don’t care,” he said. “I feel better.”
“Do you?” Marta asked.
Leo did not answer. He drank.
Marta went to the kitchen. She looked at the powder and the people. They were quiet and smiling.
Then she opened a drawer. Inside was a small coffee machine.
She turned it on.
The sound was loud. People looked at her.
Sara did not smile.
Marta made a cup of coffee. It smelt real.
“I feel better,” she said.
No one answered.
That afternoon, a new email came: Some habits are not part of our new way.
The next morning, Marta arrived at work.
The green drink was ready. People stood in line.
Marta went to her desk.
The coffee machine was gone.
There was a note: Please see HR.
Marta went to the HR office.
Sara looked at her. “This plan is important,” she said. “We need everyone to follow it.”
Marta said nothing.
“If this is not right for you,” Sara said, “maybe this is not the right place for you.”
Marta understood.
She went back to her desk, took her bag, and left.
No one stopped her.
Outside, she bought a coffee.
It tasted strong and real.
Marta smiled a little.
Then she walked away.
📒 Key vocabulary
- hurt (hurt, hurt, hurt) – to feel pain in your body
- boss – the person who is in charge at work
- screen – a flat surface on a computer or TV where you see images and words
- mind – the part of you that thinks and feels
- powder – a very fine, dry substance like dust
- weak – not strong; having little energy
- pain – a bad feeling in your body that hurts
- plant mix – a mix of different plants (often dried and used for food or drinks)
- grass – green plants that grow on the ground in parks or gardens
- drawer – a box in a desk or table that you can pull out to keep things inside
- habits – things you do often, usually without thinking
🤔 Comprehension quiz
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