The Double Shift Favor
A free A1-level English story for language learners, readable online in English, with an option to listen via the free Storyteller app.
Odalys covers a sick coworker's shift at the café and ends up with a busier, more rewarding day than she expected.
Odalys works the morning shift at a small café. Today looks like a quiet Tuesday. She checks the schedule at nine.
Her phone buzzes with a message from Casper. He feels sick and cannot come in today. Odalys reads the message twice.
Her manager calls a minute later. "Can you cover his shift too?" he asks.
Odalys thinks about her afternoon plans. She only had small errands today. "Sure, I can stay," she says.
The café gets busy right after lunch. A big group comes in for a birthday. Odalys makes drink after drink without stopping.
A regular customer looks around. He does not see Casper today. "Two shifts today?" he asks.
"Yes, a coworker is sick," Odalys says. "It's a busy day."
By six, the café finally slows down. Odalys wipes down the counter one last time. She counts the tips from both shifts.
She earned a lot of extra money today. She sends Casper a short message. "Get well soon," she writes.
Odalys locks the front door and turns off the lights. She walks home with a bag of leftover pastries.
