Learn English Through Stories - Level 2 ⭐ English Story - Cash Under Mattress

Summary

Stuart, a 17-year-old from Leeds, is determined to buy a motorbike but lacks the funds. When he discovers Martin is selling a bike for £350, Stuart resorts to unconventional methods to raise money. He finds cash hidden in an abandoned house, but his actions lead to a chase involving Frank, a squatter, and the police. After buying the bike, Stuart faces accusations from Frank and confusion with the police. In the end, Stuart chooses to get a job, planning to save for a better bike, reflecting his growing sense of responsibility and maturity.

Takeaways

• 😀 Stuart, a 17-year-old boy from Leeds, wants a motorbike but doesn't have the money to buy one.
• 😀 Stuart's friend Martin has a Suzuki motorbike for sale, priced at £350, which Stuart can't afford.
• 😀 Stuart lives near a university in Leeds, where he often explores old, empty houses that belong to the school.
• 😀 Stuart encounters a squatter named Frank, who is living in one of the abandoned houses and offers Stuart a chance to watch the place for a while.
• 😀 While in the house, Stuart finds a mattress with hidden money wrapped in newspapers.
• 😀 Frank returns and confronts Stuart, suspecting him of stealing the money, but Stuart denies it and hides the cash.
• 😀 Stuart escapes the house and hides in a nearby garden, counting the money he found—£325.
• 😀 Frank accuses Stuart of stealing the money and reports it to the police, who begin searching for him.
• 😀 Stuart decides to buy the motorbike from Martin using the £325, even though it's £25 short of the required price.
• 😀 The police eventually catch up with Stuart, and Frank tries to claim the money as his, but the misunderstanding is cleared up.
• 😀 After the police investigation, Stuart reflects on the situation and decides to work and save money properly to buy the motorbike in the future.

Q & A

Why was Stuart unhappy despite being on holiday?

Stuart was unhappy because, although he was on holiday, he did not have a motorbike, which he desperately wanted.

How did Stuart plan to get the £350 he needed for the motorbike?

Stuart hoped to find the money through a lucky discovery. He regularly visited an old, empty house in his neighborhood, where he hoped to find something valuable.

What did Stuart find in the old mattress?

Stuart found a bundle of banknotes wrapped in newspapers inside the old mattress.

Why did Stuart decide to hide the money from Frank?

Stuart decided to hide the money from Frank because he saw it as his chance to buy the motorbike and was afraid Frank might take it from him.

How did Frank react when he realized Stuart had cut open the mattress?

Frank was suspicious and asked Stuart whether he had found something in the mattress. He demanded to know what Stuart was hiding behind his back.

Why did Stuart run away from Frank?

Stuart ran away from Frank because he feared Frank might take the money or tell the police that he had stolen it.

What role did the police play in the story?

The police became involved when Frank accused Stuart of stealing his money. They chased after Frank when he was spotted with a knife and later investigated the situation, eventually returning the money to Martin, the bike's seller.

What did Stuart decide to do after buying the motorbike?

After buying the motorbike, Stuart reflected on his actions and decided he didn't want to live a life of theft. He resolved to get a job and save up money in a more responsible way to buy another bike.

What lesson did Stuart learn by the end of the story?

Stuart learned that achieving his goals through dishonest means was not the right path. He realized that hard work and earning money responsibly would be the better way to achieve his desires.

How did the interaction with Frank affect Stuart's perspective on his actions?

The interaction with Frank and the involvement of the police caused Stuart to reevaluate his choices. Although he initially wanted to keep the money, he eventually understood the importance of integrity and responsibility.