The Old Footbridge
A free A2-level English story for language learners, readable online in 7 languages, with an option to listen via the free Storyteller app.
Sena helps her nervous friend Idris cross an old wooden footbridge on a group hike.
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Sena, Idris, and two friends hike along a forest trail on Sunday. The trail leads to an old wooden footbridge over a stream.
The bridge is narrow and a little old. Some of the wood boards look weak.
Idris stops at the edge of the bridge. He doesn't move.
"I don't like this," Idris says quietly. "The boards look weak."
The other two friends cross first and wait on the other side. Sena stays back with Idris.
"Look at me," Sena says. "I'll go first, slowly. You watch my feet."
Sena steps onto the bridge carefully. The wood creaks but holds. She stops in the middle and turns around.
"See? It's fine," she says. "Just step where I stepped."
Idris takes a deep breath and puts one foot on the bridge. He follows Sena's path, step by step.
Halfway across, he stops and looks down at the water. "Don't look down," Sena says. "Look at me."
Idris looks up and keeps walking. A minute later, he reaches the other side.
"You did it," Sena says. She smiles. "That wasn't so hard."
"It was a little hard," Idris says. "But thank you for staying with me."
