The Cash Drawer Is Short
A free A1-level English story for language learners, readable online in English, with an option to listen via the free Storyteller app.
When the register comes up short at closing, Rafael carefully retraces the day's sales to find the real mistake.
Rafael worked at the shop for two years. He always closes carefully every night. Tonight felt different from the start.
Rafael counted the cash drawer at closing time. The number was five dollars short. He counted it a second time.
The number stayed the same. Rafael felt worried. He did not want to blame anyone.
He opened the day's receipts on the screen. He checked each sale one by one. Most transactions matched perfectly.
Then he found something strange. One return appeared twice on the list. The same shirt, the same time, the same price.
Rafael checked the return slips in the drawer. Only one paper return slip sat there. Somebody entered it twice by mistake.
He called his manager over to the counter. "I found the problem," Rafael said. "A return got entered two times."
His manager checked the screen carefully. "You're right," she said. "That explains the missing five dollars."
She fixed the mistake and printed a new report. "Great job finding this," she said. Rafael felt relieved and locked the register.
He walked out to his car and smiled.
