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Reading Short Stories/Content for English Learners

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Short Story 613 – The Whispering Stone (UpB)

The village of Oakhaven was sad. The river was dry. The fields were brown. The people had no water.

A young woman named Emma lived in the village. She was sad, too. One day, she walked into the old forest near her home. She looked at the dry ground. She wanted to help her village.

She found a small, smooth stone on the path. It was a simple grey colour. Emma picked it up. The stone felt warm in her hand. A quiet voice, like a soft wind, whispered inside her head.

The voice said, “Find the oldest tree.”

Emma was very surprised. She looked around. In the middle of the forest stood a very large, old oak tree. Its branches were wide and its roots were thick. She walked to the tree. The stone in her hand became warmer.

The voice whispered again, “Look down. Look for the blue light.”

Emma looked down at the ground near the tree’s roots. A soft, blue light was coming from the soil. She began to dig with her hands. The soil was loose and easy to move. The light became brighter.

She dug a little more, and then she saw it. It was a spring of clean, clear water. The water bubbled and began to flow. It was a new river for Oakhaven!

The stone in her hand glowed very brightly for a moment, then the light was gone. It was just a cold, grey stone again. The quiet voice was silent.

Emma ran back to the village, following the new river. The people saw the water and cheered. They laughed and danced. Oakhaven was saved.

Emma kept the stone. It never whispered again, but it was a reminder of the quiet magic that had saved her village.


Vocabulary Notes

Village
Definition: A group of houses and other buildings in a country area, usually smaller than a town.
Example: “The village of Oakhaven was sad.”
Similar words: settlement, hamlet, community.

Whispered
Definition: Spoke very softly and quietly, so that only one or a few people can hear.
Example: “A quiet voice, like a soft wind, whispered inside her head.”
Similar words: murmured, mumbled, breathed.

Surprised
Definition: Feeling or showing a mild shock or astonishment, often because something unexpected happened.
Example: “Emma was very surprised.”
Similar words: shocked, astonished, amazed.

Cheered
Definition: Shouted to show happiness, approval, or to encourage someone.
Example: “The people saw the water and cheered.”
Similar words: celebrated, shouted, applauded.

Reminder
Definition: Something that helps you to remember something.
Example: “…but it was a reminder of the quiet magic that had saved her village.”
Similar words: memento, keepsake, memory.

Story written by Gemini Pro AI.

Image created by 1min.ai.

CC Music: Drifting at 432 Hz – Unicorn Heads.

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