Margaret had worked at the company for thirty-five years. Tomorrow would be her last day before retirement. Her colleagues had been planning a surprise party for weeks. The office had never seen such elaborate preparations. Everyone wanted to show their appreciation for her dedication. Margaret arrived at work that morning without suspecting anything. She noticed that her coworkers were acting strangely. They kept whispering and avoiding eye contact with her. 'Is everything alright?' she asked her assistant. 'Of course, just busy with the quarterly reports,' he replied nervously. Margaret shrugged and went to her office to finish packing her belongings. She had accumulated so many memories over the decades. There were photographs of company events on her wall. She remembered her first day when she was just twenty-three years old. The company had been much smaller back then. She had watched it grow into an international corporation. Margaret had trained countless employees during her career. Many of them had become managers and directors. At noon, her assistant knocked on the door. 'Margaret, there is an urgent meeting in the conference room,' he said. She sighed and put down the picture frame she was holding. 'On my second-to-last day? Really?' she asked. 'I am afraid it cannot wait,' he insisted. Margaret walked down the familiar hallway one more time. The conference room doors were closed, which was unusual. She pushed them open and was greeted by darkness. Suddenly, the lights came on and everyone shouted. 'Surprise! Happy retirement, Margaret!' The room was decorated with balloons, streamers, and banners. There was an enormous cake shaped like her favorite book. Margaret was completely overwhelmed by the surprise. Tears began streaming down her face as she looked around. Her husband David was there, along with her two adult children. Former colleagues who had left the company years ago had returned. Even the retired CEO had come to honor her. 'We could not let you leave without a proper celebration,' said the current manager. 'You have meant so much to this company and to all of us.' Margaret could barely find the words to respond. 'I do not know what to say,' she managed. 'Then let us do the talking,' someone replied. One by one, her colleagues stepped forward to share their memories. A young woman named Sarah spoke first. 'Margaret trained me when I was an inexperienced intern.' 'She taught me everything I know about this industry.' 'Without her patience, I would not be where I am today.' Several other employees shared similar stories. They spoke of her kindness, wisdom, and unwavering support. Margaret listened with a mixture of pride and humility. She had never realized how much impact she had made. After the speeches, they presented her with gifts. There was a travel voucher for a trip to Italy. Margaret had always dreamed of visiting Rome and Florence. They also gave her a beautiful leather-bound photo album. It contained pictures from every year of her career. 'We have been collecting these for months,' someone explained. The final gift was a handwritten letter signed by everyone. It expressed their gratitude and wished her well in retirement. Margaret hugged each person who had contributed. The party continued with music, food, and laughter. They danced to songs from different decades. Margaret could not remember the last time she had felt so happy. As the evening wound down, she gave a short speech. 'I came here as a young woman full of dreams,' she began. 'This company became my second family over the years.' 'I have learned so much from each of you.' 'The relationships we built here are what I will treasure most.' 'Retirement does not mean goodbye forever.' 'I expect invitations to company picnics and holiday parties.' Everyone laughed and promised to stay in touch. Her husband squeezed her hand proudly. 'You did it,' he whispered. Margaret smiled, knowing a new chapter was beginning. Tomorrow she would clean out her office for the last time. But tonight, she celebrated thirty-five years of meaningful work. Some endings, she realized, were actually beautiful beginnings.
English Story (B1)Retirement Party
This B1 English story is designed for intermediates 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
Margaret celebrates her retirement after thirty-five years at the company. Her colleagues throw her a surprise party with gifts, speeches, and heartfelt memories. As she says goodbye to her career, she realizes that endings can also be beautiful new beginnings.
Translations in English
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Comprehension Questions
4 questions
1
How long had Margaret worked at the company?
2
What excuse did Margaret's assistant give to get her to the conference room?
3
Who was Sarah in relation to Margaret?
4
What travel destination did Margaret receive a voucher for?
Vocabulary
39 words from this story
