Tom has a meeting with his friend Sarah. The meeting is at a coffee shop at 3 o'clock. Tom looks at his watch. It is already 3:15. He is late! Tom runs to the bus stop. The bus comes quickly. Tom gets on the bus. He sits near the window. The bus is slow today. There is a lot of traffic. Tom feels nervous. He sends a message to Sarah. 'I am so sorry. I am on the bus now.' Sarah reads the message. She writes back: 'No problem. I am waiting.' The bus finally arrives. Tom runs to the coffee shop. He opens the door. Sarah is sitting at a table. She waves at Tom. Tom walks to the table. 'I am really sorry for being late,' Tom says. 'The traffic was bad,' he explains. Sarah smiles. 'It is okay,' she says. 'I ordered some coffee for us.' Tom sits down. 'Thank you for waiting,' he says. 'You are a good friend.' They drink their coffee together. Tom promises to be on time next time.
English Story (A1)Apologizing for Being Late
This A1 English story is designed for beginners learning English. It includes simple vocabulary and short sentences to help you improve your reading and listening skills. Click any word to see translations and hear pronunciation.
About this story
Tom is late for a meeting with his friend Sarah at a coffee shop. He takes the bus but gets stuck in traffic. He sends a message to apologize, and Sarah tells him not to worry. When Tom arrives, he apologizes again. Sarah is understanding and has already ordered coffee. They enjoy their time together and Tom promises to be on time next time.
Translations in English
Linked wordUnderlined wordOther words
Comprehension Questions
3 questions
1
Where was Tom supposed to meet Sarah?
2
Why was Tom late to the meeting?
3
What did Sarah do while waiting for Tom?
Vocabulary
20 words from this story
