On Tuesday morning, Martin queued at a busy parcel depot on the edge of town. He was tired, hungry, and slightly annoyed, because the email on his phone insisted his delivery could not be left with a neighbour. When his turn came, the clerk scanned a barcode, frowned, and slid a medium sized box across the counter. It was heavier than Martin expected and faintly warm.
Outside, he noticed a label on the side with his name spelled wrong. Instead of Martin Cole, it read Marvin Cole. He considered going back inside, but the queue had grown longer, and rain had started to fall. He decided to take it home and sort it out later.
On the bus, the box made a soft ticking sound. A woman nearby stared at it, then at him, and moved seats. Martin laughed nervously and told himself it was probably a clock or a toy. Still, he held the parcel very carefully, as if it might complain.
At home, he placed the box on his kitchen table and examined it properly. There was no sender address, only a red sticker that said “Time Sensitive”. His phone buzzed with a new message from an unknown number. It said, “You have the wrong parcel. Do not open it. We are on our way”.
Martin felt his stomach drop. He replied that there must be a mistake, but the message did not deliver. The ticking grew louder. He imagined news headlines and made a quick decision. He wrapped the parcel in towels, put it inside a shopping bag, and hurried back outside.
Instead of waiting for the bus, he ran. At the depot, the shutters were half down, but a security guard stood nearby drinking tea. Martin explained everything in one breath and placed the parcel gently on the ground. The guard listened, nodded, and called his supervisor.
Minutes later, two serious looking people arrived in an unmarked van. They thanked Martin, checked his details, and took the parcel away. One of them finally smiled and said it was part of a demonstration device that should never have left their vehicle.
That evening, Martin cooked pasta and tried to relax. A final message arrived from the unknown number. It read, “Thank you for doing the right thing”. Martin switched off his phone, ate his dinner, and decided that next time, he would check the name on the label before leaving the counter.
Vocabulary Notes
Queued
Meaning: Stood in a line of people waiting for something.
Example: “Martin queued at a busy parcel depot on the edge of town.”
Explanation: In British English, “queue” is very common instead of “line”. It is often used for shops, buses, or offices.
Similar words: waited in line, lined up, stood waiting
Frowned
Meaning: Made an unhappy or confused facial expression, usually by bringing the eyebrows together.
Example: “The clerk scanned a barcode, frowned, and slid a medium sized box across the counter.”
Explanation: A frown often shows doubt, concern, or confusion without using words.
Similar words: looked confused, grimaced, scowled
Nervously
Meaning: In a worried or anxious way.
Example: “Martin laughed nervously and told himself it was probably a clock or a toy.”
Explanation: This describes how someone behaves when they feel unsure or frightened but try to hide it.
Similar words: anxiously, uneasily, tensely
Time Sensitive
Meaning: Needing to be dealt with quickly because delay could cause problems.
Example: “There was no sender address, only a red sticker that said ‘Time Sensitive’.”
Explanation: This phrase is often used for deliveries, emails, or tasks that must be done urgently.
Similar words: urgent, pressing, critical
Unmarked
Meaning: Having no signs, labels, or identification.
Example: “Two serious looking people arrived in an unmarked van.”
Explanation: An unmarked vehicle does not show who it belongs to, which can make it seem mysterious or official.
Similar words: plain, unidentified, anonymous
Story written by ChatGPT 5.2.
Image created by ChatGPT 5.2.
CC Music: Drifting at 432 Hz – Unicorn Heads.
Reading Short Stories/Content for English Learners 
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