Sara walked past the old house every day on her way to work. The house had been empty for five years. Nobody knew who owned it anymore. The garden was wild and the windows were dirty. One morning, Sara noticed something different. There was a light in one of the upstairs windows. Sara stopped and looked at it for a moment. 'Strange,' she thought. She was late for work, so she continued walking. That evening, Sara walked home the same way. The light was still on. Now she could see a shadow moving behind the curtain. Someone was living in the empty house. Sara told her neighbor about it the next day. 'You should not go near that house,' the neighbor said. 'Why not?' Sara asked. 'People say strange things happen there at night.' Sara did not believe in ghosts. She decided to find out who was living there. The next Saturday, she walked to the old house. The front gate was old and rusty. Sara pushed it open and walked into the garden. The grass was very tall. She walked to the front door. She knocked three times. Nobody answered. She tried the door handle. The door was not locked. Sara slowly opened the door and stepped inside. The house was dark and dusty. Old furniture was covered with white sheets. She heard a sound coming from upstairs. It sounded like music. Sara walked up the old stairs. The wood creaked under her feet. The music was getting louder. She found a door at the end of the hallway. Light was coming from under the door. Sara took a deep breath and knocked. 'Come in,' said a soft voice. Sara opened the door. Inside, she saw an old woman sitting in a chair. The woman was listening to a small radio. 'Hello,' Sara said. 'I saw the light in the window and wanted to check if everything was okay.' The old woman smiled. 'That is very kind of you,' she said. 'My name is Martha. I used to live here many years ago.' 'Why did you come back?' Sara asked. 'I had to leave this house when I was young,' Martha explained. 'My family moved to another country.' 'But I always dreamed of coming back.' Sara sat down on a small chair near Martha. 'Tell me about your memories of this house,' Sara said. Martha's eyes became bright with happiness. 'I remember playing in the garden with my sister,' she said. 'We had a big apple tree. We used to climb it every summer.' Sara looked out the window at the overgrown garden. She could see an old apple tree in the corner. 'Is that the tree?' she asked. Martha nodded slowly. 'Yes, it is still there after all these years.' Sara visited Martha every Saturday after that. She brought tea and cake. Martha told her stories about the old days. The neighbors stopped talking about ghosts. They understood that the house was not empty anymore. It was full of memories and friendship.
English Story (A2)The Empty House
This A2 English story is designed for elementary learners. Click any word for instant translation and build your vocabulary as you read.
aboutStory
Sara notices a light in an old empty house and decides to investigate. She discovers Martha, an elderly woman who has returned to her childhood home after many years abroad. They become friends, and Sara visits her every Saturday to hear stories about the past.
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Comprehension Questions
4 questions
1
What did Sara notice in the window of the old house?
2
Why did Martha leave the house when she was young?
3
What was Martha doing when Sara found her?
4
