The Forgotten Sourdough
A free A2-level English story for language learners, readable online in 5 languages, with an option to listen via the free Storyteller app.
Akira leaves his bread starter in the fridge for two weeks and needs a baker friend to bring it back.
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Akira loved to bake bread. He kept a jar of sourdough starter in his kitchen. It was a mix of flour and water that lived and grew. He fed it every day. He was proud of it.
Then he went on a trip for two weeks. He forgot the jar. It stayed at the back of the fridge.
When Akira came home, he opened the jar. The starter was grey. A dark liquid sat on top, and it smelled sharp and sour.
"It is dead," he said. He felt very sad.
He called his friend, a baker. "Don't throw it away," she said. "Come to my shop."
At the shop, she showed him what to do. "First, pour off the dark liquid," she said. "Take two spoons of starter. Put them in a clean jar. Add flour and warm water. Do this twice a day for three days."
On the first day, nothing happened. On the second day, Akira saw a few small bubbles. On the third day, the jar was full of bubbles. It smelled sweet, like fruit.
On Saturday, he made a loaf. The crust was brown and crunchy, and the inside was soft. He ate three pieces with butter.
Then he took a pen and wrote "STARTER!" on a note. He stuck it on the door of his suitcase.
