The Deleted Photos
A free A2-level English story for language learners, readable online in 5 languages, with an option to listen via the free Storyteller app.
Blaise deletes every photo on his dad's camera by mistake and decides to tell the truth.
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Blaise borrows his dad's camera for a school trip. He takes some good pictures of his friends. That evening, he sits on his bed. He wants to look at them.
He presses a button, and the screen asks, "Delete all photos?" Blaise presses the wrong button. The screen goes dark. Then it says, "No photos."
His hands feel cold. He looks at the camera again and again. The photos of his school trip are gone. The holiday photos from the beach are gone too. They show his mum on a boat. They show his little sister asleep in the sun. Now there is nothing.
Blaise thinks of hiding the camera. He thinks of saying that it is broken. But that is not true, and he does not like lying.
He takes a deep breath and goes to the living room. His dad reads a book.
"Dad, I have a big problem," Blaise says. "I deleted all the photos on your camera by mistake. The holiday photos too. I am very sorry."
His dad is quiet for a moment. Then he puts down his book. "Thank you for telling me the truth," he says. "Come with me."
They go to the study, and his dad turns on the computer. He opens a folder. It is full of pictures from the beach.
"I saved them here last week," his dad says. "Nothing is lost."
Blaise breathes out slowly. "Can you show me how to do it?"
"Of course. Give me the camera."
