The Wrong Highway Exit
A free A2-level English story for language learners, readable online in English, with an option to listen via the free Storyteller app.
Henrik takes the wrong highway exit, and Esme's old paper map helps them find their way back.
Henrik and Esme drove north for their weekend trip. Henrik watched the road signs. Esme slept in the passenger seat.
At exit 42, he turned off too early. He did not see the sign for exit 44. The car left the highway and entered a small town.
Esme woke up and looked around. "This doesn't look right," she said. "Where are we?"
Henrik checked his phone, but there was no signal in the hills. "My phone shows nothing," he said. "We need another plan."
Esme opened the glove box and pulled out an old paper map. Her father gave it to her years ago. She always kept it in the car.
"Let's find the town name first," she said. She traced the roads with her finger. She found a small dot.
"Here we are," she said. "We took the wrong exit. The right road is just north of here."
Henrik turned the car around and followed her directions. They passed a small farm and a quiet church. Soon, they found the highway again.
"I'm glad you kept that old map," Henrik said.
Esme folded it back into the glove box. "Paper doesn't lose its signal," she said with a smile.
They drove on, back on the right road.
