The New Trail Behind the School
A free A1-level English story for language learners, readable online in 7 languages, with an option to listen via the free Storyteller app.
Lin tries a new trail on her morning jog and finds her own way past a fallen tree blocking the path.
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Lin jogs behind the school every morning. She usually takes the same flat loop. Today, she notices a new trail sign. The sign points into the trees. Lin checks her watch and has extra time.
Lin feels curious and turns onto the trail. The path winds between tall, quiet trees. Birds call out from every direction.
After ten minutes, Lin stops suddenly. A large fallen tree blocks the whole path. Its branches stretch across the narrow trail.
Lin looks left, then looks right. A small gap sits between two bushes. She steps through the gap carefully.
On the other side, the trail continues. Lin climbs over a few small rocks. Soon, she reaches a clearing with a bench.
Lin sits down and catches her breath. A small sign stands next to the bench. It reads, "Halfway Point. Great job."
Lin smiles and takes a photo of it. She sends the photo to a running friend.
"I found a new trail today," she writes. "One tree fell, but I found a way around."
Her friend writes back right away. "Let's run it together this weekend," the message says.
Lin puts her phone away and stretches. Then she jogs back toward the fallen tree. She finds the same small gap again. The morning sun shines through the branches. Lin thinks about the weekend run and smiles.
