Barry stood in the bustling food court of the Centrepoint shopping centre, his stomach rumbling like an old engine. “I need a scone,” he declared to his friend, Carol. “A proper, giant, fruit scone with jam and clotted cream.”
Carol sighed. “You always do this. We came for new trainers, and now you’re on a food mission.”
Barry ignored her, his eyes locked on the coffee shop counter. And there it was. The last scone. A magnificent, golden-brown specimen sitting all alone on a small plate. It seemed to glow under the fluorescent lights.
A woman with a small dog on a lead stepped into the queue in front of him. Barry’s heart sank. She was a slow talker. “Could I please have a flat white… no, wait… a latte? Yes, a latte, with oat milk and a caramel syrup pump… half a pump. Is that possible?”
Barry shuffled impatiently. The scone was so close. He could almost taste the cream.
Finally, it was his turn. He stepped up to the counter, a winning smile on his face. The scone was in his reach, sitting on a small, tiered cake stand. He leaned forward.
But just as he did, a small boy came running past, chasing a football. He tripped, and his foot hit the stand. The plates wobbled. The scone launched into the air.
Time slowed down. The scone spun gracefully, a perfect baked disc against the white ceiling tiles. A hush fell over the coffee shop. Barry watched, his mouth slightly open, as his prize flew through the air.
It landed perfectly. Not on the floor. Not in someone’s coffee cup. It landed with a soft thud inside the open, massive handbag of an elderly woman who was walking past, humming to herself. She didn’t notice a thing and continued on her way.
Barry and Carol stared. They just watched as the woman disappeared into the crowd, her handbag now carrying a fresh, buttery scone. Barry’s shoulders slumped. He pointed at the muffin basket. “I’ll have a blueberry muffin, please,” he said, defeated.
The woman returned ten minutes later, confused. “Excuse me,” she said to the barista. “Did anyone lose a scone? It just appeared in my bag. What a strange day.”
Barry just smiled faintly. The scone had found its true home.
Vocabulary Notes
Bustling
This is an adjective that describes a place that is full of activity, movement, and people. It often suggests a lot of energetic and noisy activity.
Example: “…stood in the bustling food court of the Centrepoint shopping centre…”
Similar words: busy, crowded, lively.
Rumbling like an old engine
This is a simile, which is a comparison using “like” or “as.” It creates a vivid image and sound. In this case, it describes a low, continuous, deep sound, similar to the noise an old car or machine makes. When talking about a stomach, it means it is very loud and empty because it’s so hungry.
Example: “…his stomach rumbling like an old engine.”
Similar phrases: grumbling, growling.
On a food mission
This is an informal phrase. A “mission” is a special task, so to be “on a food mission” means that getting food has become a very important, serious, and specific task. It’s often used humorously to show how focused or determined someone is about finding something to eat.
Example: “…and now you’re on a food mission.”
Similar words: quest, hunt, search.
Shuffled impatiently
This phrase describes a way of moving your feet. To shuffle means to slide your feet along the ground without lifting them completely. When you do it impatiently, it shows that you are annoyed and cannot wait.
Example: “Barry shuffled impatiently. The scone was so close.”
Similar words: fidgeted, paced, wriggled.
Heart sank
This is an idiom. It means to suddenly feel disappointed, sad, or discouraged. The image is of your heart physically dropping inside your body because of bad news or a bad feeling.
Example: “Barry’s heart sank. She was a slow talker.”
Similar phrases: felt deflated, lost hope, felt disheartened.
Story written by Gemini Pro AI.
Image created by aimagicx AI.
Reading Short Stories/Content for English Learners 
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