Tom was excited about his company's annual party. He had worked there for only three months. This was his first big company event. He wanted to make a good impression on his new colleagues. The invitation said the dress code was 'tropical theme.' Tom smiled when he read this. He thought he knew exactly what to wear. He went to a costume shop after work. He bought a bright Hawaiian shirt with big flowers. He also got some shorts with palm trees on them. He found flip-flops and a straw hat to complete the look. The night of the party arrived. Tom looked at himself in the mirror and felt ready. His Hawaiian shirt was very colorful. He drove to the hotel where the party was being held. He parked his car and walked toward the entrance. Suddenly, he stopped and his smile disappeared. He saw his colleagues arriving at the party. The men were wearing elegant suits. The women wore beautiful dresses. Everyone looked formal and sophisticated. Tom looked down at his Hawaiian shirt and shorts. He felt his face turn red with embarrassment. 'Tropical theme' did not mean beach clothes. It meant tropical decorations inside the ballroom. Tom had completely misunderstood the invitation. He thought about running back to his car. Maybe he could go home and change his clothes. But it was too late. His manager, Sarah, had already seen him. She walked over to him with a surprised expression. 'Tom, that is quite an outfit,' she said. Tom wished the floor would swallow him. 'I thought tropical theme meant...' he started. Sarah started laughing. It was not a mean laugh, but a friendly one. 'Come inside, Tom,' she said. 'You will be the life of the party.' Tom took a deep breath and walked into the ballroom. Everyone turned to look at him. There was a moment of silence. Then someone started clapping. Soon the whole room was laughing and applauding. Tom decided to enjoy the moment. He bowed like an actor and waved his straw hat. That night, Tom made more friends than he had expected.
English Story (A2)Dress Code Mistake
This A2 English story is designed for elementarys 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 misunderstands a dress code for a company party. He arrives in a Hawaiian shirt and shorts while everyone else wears formal clothes. Instead of being embarrassed, he embraces the mistake and becomes the life of the party.
Translations in English
Linked wordUnderlined wordOther words
Comprehension Questions
4 questions
1
How long had Tom worked at the company?
2
What did 'tropical theme' actually mean at the party?
3
Who first noticed Tom when he arrived at the party?
4
What did Tom do when the whole room started clapping?
Vocabulary
30 words from this story
