The Oranges Over the Fence
A free A2-level English story for language learners, readable online in 5 languages, with an option to listen via the free Storyteller app.
Florian is angry about the oranges that fall into his garden until he learns why his neighbor never picks them.
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Florian had a small garden behind his house. Every autumn, oranges from his neighbor's tree fell over the fence. They landed in his flowers and on his chairs. He picked them up every morning, but there were always more.
"She does not care," he thought. "She never picks them. She never says sorry."
He sometimes saw his neighbor in her window, but they never talked. He was angry for a week.
One Sunday, he took a big bag and filled it with oranges. Then he walked to her door. He wanted to say, "Please do something about your tree."
He knocked. An old woman opened the door slowly. She held a stick in her hand.
"Yes?" she said.
Florian held up the bag. "These are from your tree," he said. "They fall into my garden."
Her face changed. "Oh, I am sorry," she said. "I cannot reach the high branches now. My knees hurt, and I cannot carry a ladder. So the fruit just falls." She looked at the bag. "Please, take them. Take as many as you like. I am happy that someone wants them."
Florian looked at the bag in his hands. His anger was gone.
"I am Renske," the woman said.
"I am Florian," he said. "Please call me if you need help with the tree."
The next week, he made fresh orange juice. He brought a big bottle to her door. They drank it together on her porch.
