In the big city of London, Anna worked in a busy café. She served coffee and cakes to people every day. One morning, she found a small, shiny key in her coat pocket. She did not know where it came from. “How did this get here?” she thought.

Anna showed the key to her friend, Tom. He was a smart man who liked puzzles. “This looks old,” Tom said. “Maybe it opens something important.” They decided to find out more. After work, they walked around the city. They asked shop owners if they knew about the key. No one did.

Then, Anna remembered something. Last week, an old man came to the café. He looked sad and left quickly. Maybe the key was his. She checked her notebook. The man had written his name: Mr. Black. Tom searched on his phone. “Mr. Black lives near the river,” he said.

They went to Mr. Black’s apartment. It was in a tall building by the water. Anna knocked on the door. An old man opened it. “Yes?” he asked. Anna held up the key. “Is this yours?” Mr. Black’s eyes opened wide. “Oh! My special key! I lost it days ago.”

Mr. Black invited them inside. He told a story. The key opened a safe box in a bank. Inside was a letter from his long-lost brother. The brother had hidden money for him years ago. “I thought it was gone forever,” Mr. Black said. He was happy now.

Anna and Tom helped Mr. Black go to the bank. They opened the box. Inside was the letter and some money. Mr. Black thanked them. “You are kind people,” he said. He gave them a small reward.

Anna and Tom smiled. They had solved the mystery. From that day, they became good friends with Mr. Black. Anna learned to be more careful with her pockets. And the city felt a little less lonely.

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Vocabulary Notes

Shiny: Adjective
Definition: Something that is shiny reflects light and looks bright or polished, like metal or glass that is clean and new.
Example from the story: “One morning, she found a small, shiny key in her coat pocket.”
Similar words: Bright, glossy, sparkling, gleaming.

Puzzles: Noun (plural)
Definition: Puzzles are games or problems that make you think hard to solve them, like a riddle or a jigsaw.
Example from the story: “He was a smart man who liked puzzles.”
Similar words: Riddles, mysteries, challenges, brainteasers.

Remembered: Verb (past tense)
Definition: To remember something means to think of it again from your memory, like recalling a past event or fact.
Example from the story: “Then, Anna remembered something.”
Similar words: Recalled, thought of, brought to mind, recollected.

Apartment: Noun
Definition: An apartment is a set of rooms for living in, usually in a large building with many others like it.
Example from the story: “They went to Mr. Black’s apartment.”
Similar words: Flat, unit, condo, residence.

Invited: Verb (past tense)
Definition: To invite someone means to ask them politely to come somewhere or do something with you.
Example from the story: “Mr. Black invited them inside.”
Similar words: Asked, welcomed, requested, summoned.

Story written by Grok 4.

Image created by Grok 4.

CC Music: Drifting at 432 Hz – Unicorn Heads.

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