In a quiet summer, my friend Bentley and I stayed in a small hamlet overlooking a peaceful valley with a winding river. Across the river, we saw a mysterious city shrouded in mist, appearing empty and untouched. Our curiosity led us to discover the city was built by a wealthy man who wanted it completed before anyone lived there, but he went bankrupt and the city was left deserted. The locals claimed the city was haunted by strange beings...

My friend Bentley and I are staying in a small village near a river. Across the river, we see a strange and empty city covered in mist. We learn that a rich man built the city but lost all his money before people could live there. So the city was left empty. Local people say the city is haunted by strange beings, which makes the place feel mysterious and frightening... This is an adapted version of the story, simplified to A2 level.

Nabendu Sekhar, eager to gain favor with English officials, marries Arunlekha from a family with different values. His father, Purnendu, had earned respect from the English, and Nabendu tries to continue this legacy. However, his brother-in-law, Pramathanath, who had lived in England, keeps his distance from the English, valuing self-respect over external validation. Nabendu's sisters-in-law mock his obsession with English approval. Labanya, the eldest, plays pranks to expose his sycophancy. Despite their teasing, Nabendu is thrilled when he hears he might be honored with the title of Rai Bahadur but is hesitant to share the news.

In the story "A Bird Of Bagdad," we meet a young man who works in Hildebrandt's saddle and harness shop, where he is vying for the affections of the owner's daughter, Laura, with a fellow worker, Bill Watson. The story revolves around a riddle posed by Mr. Hildebrandt: "What kind of a hen lays the longest?" The young man is determined to solve this riddle to win a chance to attend Laura's birthday party.

Mark Twain's (Burlesque) Autobiography and First Romance is an 1871 book by American author Mark Twain. The book bears no relationship to Twain's actual life. The two short stories present fictional characters who are supposedly part of Twain's lineage.

In the gripping story "A Canary for One" by Hemingway, a train ride from the French Riviera to Paris reveals a mix of emotions and hidden stories. Three Americans—a married couple and a middle-aged woman—travel through the night, sharing passionate reflections on love transcending borders. The woman, worried about a train crash, finds comfort in a canary she got in Palermo. Outside, there's a fiery house and wrecked vehicles, a sharp contrast to the delicate bird in her cage.

Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson are confronted with the perplexing case of Miss Mary Sutherland. A young woman seeks Holmes' help in locating her missing fiancé, who mysteriously vanished on the day of their wedding.

Superintendent Otchumyelov, clad in a new coat, confronts a dog bite drama involving the indignant goldsmith Hryukin. Emotions unfold – pride, fear, and amusement ripple through the crowd. As the story twists with unexpected connections, Chekhov paints a vivid picture of quirky human behavior, societal norms, and the whims of fate.

In a small town, a policeman named Ochumyelov tries to solve a simple case: a dog has bitten a man in the market. But each time he hears a new detail about who owns the dog, he changes his opinion... This is an adapted version of Anton Chekhov’s well-known short story, simplified to A2 level.

At a girls’ boarding house, Jean and her friends are busy planning a cheerful Christmas for themselves. They suddenly remember that Aurelia Prescott, a quiet girl who keeps to herself, will be alone for the holiday. Realizing how sad that must feel, the girls decide to surprise her with a small party, decorations, and gifts. Their kind plan brings everyone together and teaches them the true spirit of Christmas: reaching out to someone who needs friendship and warmth.

A Cosmopolite in a Café is a 1906 short story about a crowded midnight café and a conversation with a Cosmopolite the narrator finds himself in.

In a busy café in New York, a man talks proudly about being a cosmopolite—someone who belongs to no one country but feels at home everywhere. He says he has no ties, no roots, and loves all people the same. But when another customer listens and asks him one simple question, the man’s answer shows a funny and very human truth. This is an adapted version of O. Henry’s famous story, simplified to A2 level.

A Coup d'Etat is a short story by Guy de Maupassant , published in 1883. The story is set during the Franco-Prussian War of 1870.

"Down Pens" by Saki satirizes the insincere tradition of sending thank-you notes in upper-middle-class society during the Edwardian era. The story features Egbert and Janetta, who find the practice tiresome and hypocritical. Janetta has already written many thank-you notes, but she feels exhausted by their lack of sincerity. Egbert proposes dictating a thank-you note, but Janetta interrupts him with valid criticisms of his insincere expressions of gratitude.

The story takes place in a modern city reminiscent of ancient Bagdad, filled with colorful characters. Old Tom Crowley, a wealthy man, is tired of his life of luxury and decides to venture out in search of something new and exciting. He encounters James Turner, a humble hat cleaner, who has a deep love for literature and his simple life. Tom offers James a chance to change his life, but James, suspecting ulterior motives, refuses.