Learn English with short stories.
Emma sat by the window, her phone in her hand. She kept checking her phone and email, wishing someone would make contact. The room was quiet, except for the ticking of the clock. She sighed and looked outside. The sky was cloudy, and a soft breeze moved through the trees.
Emma had applied for a job two weeks ago. It was her dream job at a small bookstore. She loved books, and she wanted to work in a place surrounded by stories.
She had filled out her application carefully and sent it off. She waited, and waited, and waited.
Every morning, she checked her phone. No messages. Every afternoon, she checked her email. No reply. She felt nervous. Had they forgotten about her? Had they chosen someone else?
Emma tried to stay busy. She read books, went for walks, and helped her mother in the kitchen. But no matter what she did, she couldn’t stop herself from constantly checking her phone .
Her best friend, Lisa, noticed her frustration. “Emma, you have been checking your phone all day!” Lisa said. “Why don’t you call them? Maybe they’re just busy.”
Emma hesitated. “What if they say no? What if they don’t remember me?”
Lisa smiled. “And what if they say yes? You won’t know unless you ask.”
Emma nodded but felt unsure. She spent the rest of the day trying to distract herself, but her mind kept returning to the bookstore.
That night, she lay in bed staring at the ceiling. “Tomorrow, I will call them,” she whispered to herself. Before falling asleep.
The next morning, she woke up early. She picked up her phone, took a deep breath, and dialed the number. Her hands felt cold, and her heart beat fast.
“Hello, this is Green Leaf Bookstore. How can I help you?” a kind voice said.
“Hello, my name’s Emma. I applied for a job two weeks ago, and I just wanted to ask if you have any updates.”
“Ah, Emma! Yes, we received your application. We liked it very much, we were about to send you an email today. Can you come in for an interview tomorrow?”
Emma smiled. “Yes, of course! Thank you so much!”
She hung up and felt light, like a balloon floating in the sky. She had spent so many days waiting, but all she needed to do was ask.
Lisa clapped her hands excitedly when she heard the news. “See? I told you! Now, let’s prepare for your interview.”
The two friends spent the afternoon practicing. Lisa asked questions, and Emma answered.
“Why do you want to work at a bookstore?” Lisa asked, pretending to be the manager.
“I love books, and I want to help people find stories they enjoy,” Emma answered.
Lisa nodded. “Good answer! Now, let’s try another one.”
That evening, Emma laid out her best outfit. She felt excited but also a little nervous. “What if I forget my words? What if I say something silly?” she thought. But she reminded herself of Lisa’s words: “You won’t know unless you try.”
The next day, Emma arrived at the bookstore fifteen minutes early. She took a deep breath and stepped inside. The store smelled like old paper and fresh coffee. Shelves full of books lined the walls, and soft music played in the background. It felt warm and welcoming.
A woman with short curly hair smiled at her. “You must be Emma! I’m Sarah, the manager. Come, let’s talk.”
Emma followed Sarah to a small table near the back. They sat down, and Sarah asked her some questions. Emma spoke clearly and confidently, just like she had practiced with Lisa.
“What do you love most about books?” Sarah asked.
Emma’s eyes lit up. “Books take me to different worlds. They help me understand people and places I’ve never seen. I want to share that feeling with others.”
Sarah nodded enthusiastically. “You seem very passionate about books.”
The interview went well, and Emma felt good about it. “We will contact you in a few days,” Sarah said as she walked Emma to the door.
Emma thanked her and stepped outside. The sun was shining, and she felt lighter. She had done her best. All she could do was wait, but this time, she felt different. She felt hopeful.
Three days later, Emma and Lisa were reading in the living room when Emma’s phone rang. She grabbed it quickly.
“Hello?”She answered nervously.
“Hello, Emma! This is Sarah from Green Leaf Bookstore. We loved your interview, and we would like to offer you the job. Are you interested?”
Emma almost jumped with excitement. “Yes! I would love to work with you!”
“Great! You can start next Monday. We look forward to having you.”
Emma hung up and hugged Lisa. “I got the job!” She shouted excitedly.
Lisa laughed. “I knew you would! I’m so proud of you.”
That night, Emma looked at her phone, remembering how she had spent days waiting. She had learned an important lesson: Sometimes, waiting is not the answer. Sometimes, you have to take action.
From that day forward, whenever she wanted something, she didn’t just wait. She took control and took action.
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