Mr Barnaby was a nervous accountant who lived in a tiny flat above a noisy fish shop in Brighton. Every morning he walked his neighbour’s pet hamster, Sir Whiskers, because the neighbour was always late for work. One rainy Tuesday, Mr Barnaby received an unexpected invitation: “You are cordially invited to the Grand Tea Party at the Royal Garden, Thursday at three o’clock.” The invitation was printed on thick cream paper and sealed with a golden wax stamp shaped like a crown.

He stared at the card, then at his calendar. “Three o’clock? That’s the exact time my bus usually arrives,” he muttered. He decided to take a shortcut through the park, hoping to arrive early and avoid the crowd.

On his way, he met Mrs Patel, the enthusiastic yoga instructor, who was practising balance poses on a bench. She offered him a cup of herbal tea. “It will calm your nerves,” she said. Mr Barnaby accepted gratefully, but the cup was too hot. He sipped quickly, burned his tongue, and let out a loud yelp that startled a flock of pigeons. The birds swooped down, scattering crumbs everywhere.

Embarrassed, he hurried on, only to discover that the Royal Garden entrance was locked. A sign read, “Closed for maintenance – reopening at four.” Panic rose in his chest. He checked his watch: it was already three fifteen. He could not miss the party.

Remembering the hamster, he ran back to his flat, grabbed Sir Whiskers, and placed the tiny creature in his coat pocket. He rushed to the garden gate, where a sleepy guard was dozing. “Excuse me,” Mr Barnaby whispered, “may I enter? I have an important invitation.”

The guard opened one eye, looked at the pocket, and smiled. “Ah, a hamster! They always bring good luck.” He unlocked the gate and waved Mr Barnaby inside.

Inside, the garden was filled with elegant guests sipping tea and nibbling scones. Sir Whiskers strutted across the marble floor, drawing delighted laughter. Mr Barnaby finally relaxed, realizing that a little chaos can lead to unexpected joy.

The party ended with a cheerful toast: “To brave accountants, friendly hamsters, and the best-kept shortcuts!” Everyone cheered, and Mr Barnaby walked home feeling lighter than ever.

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Vocabulary Notes

Nervous
Definition: feeling uneasy, worried, or anxious about something that might happen.
Example: “Mr Barnaby was a nervous accountant who lived in a tiny flat above a noisy fish shop.”
Similar words: anxious, jittery, uneasy, apprehensive.

Invitation
Definition: a written or spoken request asking someone to attend an event or gathering.
Example: “You are cordially invited to the Grand Tea Party at the Royal Garden, Thursday at three o’clock.”
Similar words: request, summons, call, beckoning.

Shortcut
Definition: a quicker route that saves time, often by bypassing the usual longer path.
Example: “He decided to take a shortcut through the park, hoping to arrive early and avoid the crowd.”
Similar words: quick route, fast track, bypass, detour (the opposite of a shortcut).

Startle (used in the story as “the birds swooped down, scattering crumbs everywhere after his loud yelp startled them”)
Definition: to surprise or shock someone so that they react suddenly.
Example: “His loud yelp startled a flock of pigeons, which swooped down and scattered crumbs everywhere.”
Similar words: astonish, shock, alarm, frighten.

Elegant
Definition: stylish, refined, and pleasing to look at; having graceful beauty.
Example: “Inside, the garden was filled with elegant guests sipping tea and nibbling scones.”
Similar words: classy, sophisticated, polished, graceful.

Story written by Lumo AI.

Image created by Gemini AI.

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