Short Stories in English for Beginners

packed
at this time.’
‘OK. Thank you!’ we say.
As we walk to the nearest bus stop, Julia and I talk. She is not
comfortable
 with taking the bus. ‘Daniel,’ she says, ‘Let’s just eat at the
fish restaurant. It’s easier. I don’t want to take a packed bus.’
‘I know …’ I begin. Then I have an idea. ‘Wait! I’ll take the bus to La
Paella Loca. You go to the fish restaurant.’
‘Why?’
‘Because that way we can compare the two restaurants.’
‘Oh. Good idea. OK. Enjoy! I’ll call your 
mobile
 later,’ she calls and
walks off.
I get on the next bus and sit down. I’m very 
tired
. I quickly go to sleep.
The bus system in Barcelona is very good. I know there is nothing to worry
about.
I 
wake up
 a while later. The bus has stopped. There’s no one else on it
except for the driver. ‘Excuse me,’ I say. ‘Where are we?’
‘We’ve arrived in Valencia,’ he replies.
‘What? Valencia? We’re in Valencia? How can that be?’ I say.
‘Well this is the 
express bus
. It goes directly from Barcelona to
Valencia,’ he tells me.
I can’t believe it. I took the wrong bus. But what can I do?

---

I thank the driver and get off the bus. Then I take out my mobile. I want
to call my sister, but I can’t turn it on. My 
battery has died
! I check my
watch. It’s just after five o’clock in the afternoon. My sister doesn’t know
where I am. She must be really worried. I have to contact her. I need a
phone box
!
I ask a woman on the street for a phone box. ‘There’s one,’ she says,
pointing. ‘It’s just over there.’
I thank her and head for the phone box. But when I get there, I realize
something. Julia’s phone number is in my mobile’s memory. I can’t turn my
mobile on. I finally have a phone, but I don’t have a number! Now what?
I think for a while. Then I realize something. I’m really hungry. I haven’t
eaten since breakfast! I decide to find a restaurant. I can think about my
problems later.
I find a restaurant up the street. The waiter comes to my table. ‘Good
evening!’ he says happily.
‘Good evening,’ I reply.
‘What would you like?’ he asks slowly in Spanish.
I look quickly at the 
menu
. ‘I’d like … paella?’ I say in Spanish.
‘Sorry? I didn’t understand you,’ he answers in Spanish.
I try again. My Spanish can’t be that bad. ‘Um … I’d like paella?’ I point
madly
 at the word paella on the menu. Then I say it again in English.
Finally, the waiter then smiles and says in English, ‘Thanks. I’m not from
here. I’m new and my Spanish isn’t that great.’
I start to laugh very loudly. A lot of people in the restaurant turn and
look. At this point, I’m