Click any sentence to jump to that moment
Tap an underlined word to see what it means.
Soren works in a big office building. He starts work early every morning. Today, he is very hungry. It is lunchtime, and he wants to eat. The staff is on the second floor. Soren walks up the stairs. He is happy because lunch smells very good. He can smell soup and fresh bread. There are many people in the . Everyone is going to the too. Soren reaches the door. The door is large and heavy. It has a big silver . Soren puts his hand on the . He the door hard. The door does not open.
Soren again. It still does not open. He a third time, very hard. His bag falls off his shoulder. A woman behind him starts to laugh quietly. Soren feels a little . His face turns red. He looks at the door again. There is a small on the door. The says "" in big black letters. Soren did not see the before. He shakes his head and smiles. He the door with his hand. The door opens easily. It was simple all along. Soren laughs at himself.
Soren walks into the . It is warm and bright inside. There are long tables and many chairs. The smell of food is even stronger now. A named Petra is sitting near the door. She saw everything from inside. "Did you have trouble with the door, Soren?" she asks. Soren laughs and sits down next to her. "I the door, but the says ," he says. "I feel so silly!" Petra smiles kindly. "Don't worry," she says. "It happens to everyone." Soren gets his lunch from the counter. He sits back down and eats his soup. He is happy and relaxed now. He does not think about the door anymore.
a place in a building where people can buy and eat meals
"Soren goes to the staff canteen every day at lunchtime."
the part of a door or object that you hold to open or carry it
"He puts his hand on the door handle and pulls."
to move something towards you by using force
"Soren pulls the door, but it does not open."
to move something away from you by using force
"The sign on the door says you must push it to open it."
a piece of writing that gives information or an instruction
"There is a sign on the door that says "PUSH"."
feeling shy or ashamed because of something you did
"Soren feels embarrassed when the woman behind him laughs."
a long passage in a building with doors on each side
"Many people walk through the corridor on their way to the canteen."
a person you work with
"His colleague Petra is already sitting in the canteen."
all along
from the beginning; the whole time
"The answer was simple all along — he just needed to push the door."
feel silly
to feel embarrassed or foolish about something you did
"Soren says, "I feel so silly!" after he reads the sign."
don't worry
used to tell someone not to feel upset or embarrassed
""Don't worry," says Petra. "It happens to everyone.""
it happens to everyone
used to comfort someone by saying that their mistake is very common
"Petra smiles and says, "It happens to everyone," to make Soren feel better."
laugh at yourself
to find your own mistakes or problems funny
"Soren laughs at himself when he finally opens the door."
shake your head
to move your head from side to side, often to show disbelief or amusement
"Soren shakes his head when he sees the "PUSH" sign."
all along
used to say that something was true or simple from the start
"The door was easy to open all along — you just had to push it."
have trouble with
to have difficulty doing something
""Did you have trouble with the door, Soren?" asks Petra."
Finished the A2 version? Challenge yourself with the B1 intermediate story.
One short story every morning at your level, with audio, key words and a quiz. Free. Unsubscribe any time.