Short Stories in English for Beginners

lonely
, you came here?’ asked Kira.
‘Yes. My father is always working. My mother is always travelling. I stay
at home with 
carers
. My father pays them to care for me. I don’t like being
with them.’
Aldin was beginning to understand. The girl had 
run away
 from home!
‘Just a second, Maha. Are you telling me that you left home? That you
ran away?’
The girl looked down. ‘Yes,’ she answered.
Aldin stood. He looked down at the girl. ‘Excuse me. I need to go out.’
Aldin left the house. Kira followed. Aldin stood looking at Kira’s pretty
farm. He was thinking. He seemed uncomfortable with something.
‘What are you thinking about, Aldin?’ Kira asked.
‘Something is not right here.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘The girl ran away from home. But she can’t fly a spaceship. She’s 13.’
‘I get it. Someone helped her.’
‘Yes. But who?’
‘Let’s find out.’

---

Aldin and Kira walked back inside. They walked into the bedroom.
‘Hello,’ Maha said.
‘Hello again,’ Aldin said, smiling at her.
Maha looked Aldin directly in the eye. ‘I will not go home. I want to stay
here,’ she said firmly.
‘And why do you want to stay here?’
‘Like I said, I don’t like my carers.’
‘I don’t believe you,’ said Aldin calmly.
‘It’s the truth.’
‘Yes. But there’s more, isn’t there?’
She 
sighed
. ‘Yes, there is more.’
‘I thought so. Tell me.’
‘We are losing the war. People have no food. Many people have nowhere
to live. We can’t 
survive
 much longer. I’m frightened.’
Aldin sat down beside Maha. He looked at her closely. ‘You can stay here
for now,’ he explained. ‘But you have to understand. Our two worlds are at
war.’
‘I know that,’ she stated quickly. ‘I’m 13, not 6!’
Aldin laughed. ‘Then you understand. There are many factors here,’ he
explained. ‘There could be huge developments because of this. There will
be effects at national and international levels.’
‘Yes,’ Maha said, looking down. ‘But they still don’t know where I am!’
she quickly added. ‘I can just wait a few days. Then I can go somewhere
else.’
Aldin looked at her. It was time to figure out how the child had got here.
‘Maha, a capsule is not an easy method of travel. You didn’t come here
alone. You’re too young to travel across space without help.’
Maha looked up. ‘You’re right,’ she said 
quietly
. ‘I can’t fly a
spaceship.’
‘Who did then?’
‘I can’t tell you.’

---

Aldin was very patient. As a minister, he was used to dealing with
people. ‘Maha, we need to know who helped you. If we don’t know that, we
can’t help you.’
Maha was silent. Then she spoke. ‘It’s … It’s …’
‘Don’t worry. You’re safe,’ said Kira quietly.
Maha looked at them. Then she said it. ‘It’s Valior, your Emperor. He
helped me.’
Aldin stood up quickly. He looked at Maha with concern. Then he looked
at Kira. The guards looked at all of them.
‘Valior?’ said Aldin. ‘That can’t be true!’
Maha looked down again. ‘Yes, it can. I received a message from him
weeks ago. He said he knew I wanted to leave. He wanted to help me. So he
had his 
spies
 find me.’
‘Spies?’
‘Yes, there are many Earthling spies on Kalkia.’
Aldin put his hand to his head. He walked around the room. So, the
Emperor had helped a Kalkian child leave. He just couldn’t understand
why. ‘This is unbelievable,’ he finally said with a sigh.
After a short while, Maha spoke again. ‘Well, actually, there’s more,’ she
said quietly.
Aldin turned and looked at Maha. What more could there be? he thought.
At last he asked, ‘And what is that?’
Maha looked him in the eye. ‘My father.’
‘What about your father?’ asked Aldin quietly.
‘My father is the Emperor of the Kalkians.’