Anna moved into an old house in the countryside. She was excited about her new home. The house was big and quiet, with tall trees around it. But strange things started to happen at night.
One evening, Anna heard footsteps in the hallway. She looked, but no one was there. “Maybe it’s the wind,” she thought. The next day, she found a cold spot in the living room. It felt like ice, even on a warm day.
That night, Anna could not sleep. She got up and went to the kitchen for water. Suddenly, she saw a shadow in the corner. It was a woman in a white dress. The woman looked sad and old-fashioned. Anna’s heart beat fast. “Who are you?” she asked.
The ghost did not speak, but she pointed to a picture on the wall. It was an old photo of the house. Anna looked closer. In the photo, there was the same woman, smiling with a man and a child.
The next morning, Anna asked her neighbour about the house. “Oh, that was Mrs. Ellis,” the neighbour said. “She lived here long ago. Her family died in a fire. She was very sad and died alone.”
Anna felt sorry for the ghost. That night, she talked to the shadow again. “I know your story, Mrs. Ellis. Your family loved you. You can rest now.”
The ghost smiled for the first time. A soft light filled the room. Then, the ghost faded away. The house felt warm and peaceful.
Anna never saw the ghost again. She lived happily in her new home, with no more strange sounds.
Vocabulary Notes
Strange (adjective)
Meaning: Unusual or not normal; something that is unexpected or odd.
Example: “But strange things started to happen at night.”
Example sentence: The strange noises in the house scared Anna.
Similar words: odd, weird, unusual, peculiar.
Similar word example: The odd shadow moved across the room.
Footsteps (noun, plural)
Meaning: The sound or mark made by someone walking.
Example: “One evening, Anna heard footsteps in the hallway.”
Example sentence: Anna listened carefully to the footsteps outside her door.
Similar words: steps, tread, stomping.
Similar word example: The loud stomping upstairs woke her up.
Shadow (noun)
Meaning: A dark shape caused by something blocking light; can also mean a faint image of a person or thing.
Example: “Suddenly, she saw a shadow in the corner.”
Example sentence: The shadow of the woman appeared in the kitchen.
Similar words: silhouette, figure, outline.
Similar word example: A silhouette stood quietly by the window.
Ghost (noun)
Meaning: The spirit of a dead person that some believe can appear to the living.
Example: “Anna felt sorry for the ghost.”
Example sentence: The ghost looked sad and lonely in the house.
Similar words: spirit, phantom, apparition.
Similar word example: The phantom vanished when Anna spoke to it.
Peaceful (adjective)
Meaning: Calm, quiet, and free from disturbance.
Example: “The house felt warm and peaceful.”
Example sentence: After the ghost left, the house was peaceful at night.
Similar words: calm, quiet, serene, tranquil.
Similar word example: The quiet countryside made Anna feel relaxed.
Story written by Grok AI.
Image created by Grok AI.
Reading Short Stories/Content for English Learners 
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