Short Stories in English for Beginners

Chapter 3 – The Motorway
I wake up early at the hotel and have a shower. I order some food to my
room. I have little money at this point. But I’m hungry again so I take my
time and enjoy.
After that, I get dressed and leave. I notice the time on a clock in the hall.
It’s ten o’clock in the morning. I wonder if Mum has talked to Julia yet. My
sister is a nervous person. I hope she’s all right.
I get to the hotel 
entrance
. As I leave, I stop to think. ‘How am I going
to get back to Barcelona? I spent most of my money on the hotel. I don’t
know where a bank is. I can’t get money from my account. And Julia is
probably waiting for me. I need a 
solution
 –fast!
Then I notice two workers. They are carrying boxes towards a 
lorry
. On
the lorry, there’s a picture with the name of the company. I look more
closely. Then I start laughing very loudly. I stop myself quickly. I don’t
want to be embarrassed again! I can’t believe it. The picture on the lorry is
of paella. It’s a lorry from La Paella Loca restaurant!
I go over to one of the workers. ‘Hello,’ I say.
‘Good morning,’ he answers. ‘How can I help you?’
‘Do you work for this restaurant in Barcelona?’ I ask and point to the
picture on the lorry.
‘No, I’m just a lorry driver,’ the man says.
‘Do you know the restaurant La Paella Loca?’
‘Yes, we bring rice there every week. It’s for their paella, but I don’t
work there.’
The driver gets into the lorry. Suddenly, I have an idea! ‘Excuse me?’ I
say.
‘Yes?’ the driver answers.
‘Could you take me back to Barcelona?’ I ask.
‘Now?’ he says.
‘Yes,’ I reply. ‘I have little money. I must get back to my sister!’

---

The driver stops to think. Then he replies. ‘OK, I guess so. Get into the
lorry. Sit between the rice boxes. And don’t tell anybody!’
‘I won’t. Thank you,’ I say.
‘No problem,’ he says. Then he adds, ‘Quickly, please. I have to leave
now. I can’t be late!’
I get into the back of the lorry. I sit down between a couple of boxes of
rice. The driver starts the lorry. We head for Barcelona. I think it’s a great
idea. A lorry is faster than a bus. I can gain some time that way. And, it
costs me no money. I sit back happily to enjoy the ride.
It’s very dark in the back of the lorry. I can’t see anything. I can just hear
the lorry’s