The Carpool That Started With a Wrong Turn
A free A2-level English story for language learners, readable online in English, with an option to listen via the free Storyteller app.
A coworker sets up Rosalind and Pablo to share a new carpool, and a wrong turn on their first drive together gives them something to laugh about.
Rosalind starts a new job across town in September. Her coworker Fatima suggests she carpool with Pablo, who lives nearby. Rosalind agrees. She feels a little nervous about meeting someone new.
On the first morning, Pablo picks her up at seven. They introduce themselves and talk about the new job. Pablo checks his phone for directions.
"Turn left here," Rosalind says, reading the map on her phone. Pablo turns left, but the street ends at a small park. "That's strange," he says. "This isn't the way to the office."
They stop the car and check both phones together. "Wait," Pablo says. "Your map says Oak Street. Mine says Oak Avenue." They both laugh at the mix-up.
"That explains it," Rosalind says. "Two streets with almost the same name." They turn the car around and find the correct road.
They arrive at the office five minutes late. "Well, that was a good start," Pablo says, laughing. "Next time, I'll double-check the street name," Rosalind says.
From that day, Rosalind and Pablo carpool together every morning. They still laugh about that first wrong turn.
