Tom was a normal fifteen-year-old boy. He liked football, music, and playing games with his friends. But one autumn, things changed. Tom started spending time with a new group of boys from another school. They were loud, wild, and always looking for trouble.
At first, Tom thought they were exciting. They made him feel older and braver. But very soon, the boys began pushing him to do risky things. They dared him to ride his bike down steep hills in the dark. They told him to skip school and hang around the shops. One night, they even encouraged him to climb onto the roof of an old bus stop. Tom felt scared, but he did it because he didn’t want them to laugh at him.
After a few weeks, Tom’s parents noticed the change. He was coming home late, lying about where he had been, and hiding his phone. One evening, his mum found a message from the boys. It said, “Don’t be boring tomorrow. We’re doing something big.”
Tom’s parents were terrified. They sat him down at the kitchen table. His dad spoke firmly but kindly. “Tom, this is dangerous. These boys are not your friends. If you keep going with them, something bad will happen.”
His mum added, “We love you. We want you safe. Please think about what you are doing.”
Tom listened, but he felt confused. He didn’t want to lose the new group, but he also didn’t want to hurt his parents.
Over the next few days, Tom’s parents tried many things to help him understand. They talked to his teachers. They showed him videos about accidents caused by risky behaviour. They even arranged for him to meet an older teenager who had been in trouble before and was now trying to live a better life. The boy told Tom, “I thought I was being cool. But I nearly ruined everything. Real friends don’t make you do things that could get you killed.”
Tom couldn’t stop thinking about those words.
The next weekend, the group asked Tom to join them again. This time, they planned to jump from a high bridge into the river. Tom looked at the dark water below and felt fear in his chest. He remembered his parents’ worried faces. He remembered what the older teenager said.
Tom took a deep breath. “No,” he said. “I’m not doing this. I’m done.”
The group laughed at him at first. But Tom stood firm. He turned his bike around and rode home as fast as he could.
When he walked through the door, his parents were waiting. Tom told them everything. His mum hugged him tightly. His dad looked proud. From that day on, Tom slowly rebuilt his life. He reconnected with his old friends, who were happy to have him back. He returned to his hobbies and felt more like himself again.
The dangerous group stopped calling him, and Tom realised he didn’t miss them at all.
Tom had learned an important lesson: true friends care about your safety, and listening to the people who love you can save you from real danger.
Vocabulary Notes
Risky
Meaning: Dangerous; something that could cause harm or trouble.
Example: The boys asked Tom to do risky things.
Similar words: dangerous, unsafe, harmful.
Peer pressure
Meaning: When people your own age push you to do something, even if you do not want to.
Example: Tom felt peer pressure from the group to do dangerous things.
Similar words: influence, pressure from friends, group pressure.
Confused
Meaning: Not sure what to think or do.
Example: Tom listened to his parents, but he felt confused.
Similar words: unsure, mixed-up, uncertain.
Firm
Meaning: Strong and clear; not changing your mind.
Example: His dad spoke in a firm but kind voice.
Similar words: strict, steady, strong.
Rebuild
Meaning: To make something strong again after it was damaged or broken.
Example: Tom slowly rebuilt his life and returned to his hobbies.
Similar words: restore, fix, repair.
Story written by SteveUK and ChatGPT.
Image created by ChatGPT.
CC Music: Drifting at 432 Hz – Unicorn Heads.
Reading Short Stories/Content for English Learners 
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