¶ Intro / Opening
My name is Jack from To fluency. This is A to fluency podcast. Be sure to turn on subtitles. Listen to it once without subtitles and then again with subtitles and then stay until the end because we're going to go through keywords and phrases used in the story. Let's get started. The wrong suitcase. Lena sighed as she stood on the
¶ English short story
baggage carousel watching the suitcases spin by. She was exhausted after a flight to Florence for a work conference. All she wanted was to grab a suitcase, head to a hotel and sleep. Finally, she spotted a bag, Or at least she thought it was her bag. A black suitcase with the same bright pink ribbon she always tied to the handle. She grabbed it, rode it out of the airport, and hopped into a taxi. When she arrived at her hotel, she kicked off her shoes and unzipped the suitcase.
That's when she froze. Inside was not her carefully packed work outfits, but a neatly folded dress, a box of chocolates, and an envelope with a name written on it. Her heart raced as she opened the envelope. Inside was a note. This suitcase isn't a mistake. Follow the clues. A Lena stared at the note, confused. A. That could only mean Alex, her boyfriend of two years. But what was he doing in Florence?
She had left him back home, thousands of miles away, saying goodbye at the airport just yesterday. She picked up her phone and called him. No answer. She tried texting him. Nothing Frustrated but curious, she rummaged through the suitcase and found another note taped to the chocolates. Go to the cafe where you had your first cappuccino in Florence. Lena smiled.
Alex had joined her on her first work trip to Florence last year and they had stumbled into the small cafe near the city centre. She remembered the way he had laughed at her trying to order in Italian. After a rest, Lena set out, the suitcase rolling behind her. The streets of Florence were just as beautiful as she remembered, with cobblestones under foot and the smell of fresh pastries in the air. When she reached the cafe, she stepped inside and scanned the
room. On a small table near the window was a cappuccino and a note. Lena sat down and opened it. I know you're busy with work, but I hope you'll make time for this adventure. Your next clue is at the Euphizi Gallery, Look near the Botticelli paintings. Lina laughed quietly to herself. Alex knew she loved the Afizi. She had spent hours in front of the Birth of Venus on her last trip, admiring every detail. At the gallery, Lina felt the
excitement growing. She walked through the crowded halls, stopping near Botticelli's famous painting. There, a museum guide handed her a small envelope. How did you know to give this to me? She asked, surprised. The guide smiled. A man came earlier, he described you perfectly. Lena blushed as she opened the envelope. The note was longer. Remember when we got lost trying to find Aponte Vecchio? You said you'd never forget the view. Go there next.
Lena headed toward the bridge, her heart racing. She could picture Alex setting this up, his playful smile as he planned every step. Ponte Vecchio was busy with tourist crowd in the shops along the bridge. Lena searched for another clue, feeling a little lost. Then she saw a street performer holding a rose. Are you Lena? The performer asked. Yes. She replied, feeling a mix of surprise and anticipation. The performer handed her a rose and a note. This is the last stop.
Come to the Piazza Michelangelo at sunset. By the time the sun began to dip below the horizon, Lena was climbing the steps to the Piazza Michelangelo. The view of Florence stretched out before her, bathed in golden light. Her heart pounded as she scanned the square. And then she saw him. Alex stood near the edge of the Piazza, hood in a small black box. Tears filled Lena's eyes as she walked towards him. You did all this?
Alex grinned. I figured if you were going to Florence for work, it was the perfect chance to remind you how much I love you. He dropped to 1 knee and opened the box, revealing a sparkling ring. Lena, will you marry me? Lena laughed through her tears. Yes, of course. The Taurus around them clapped as Alex slipped the ring onto her finger. As they hugged, Lena couldn't stop smiling. What had started as a work trip turned into the most unforgettable adventure of her life.
¶ Language analysis
In this story, we explored 10 commonly used phrases and a lot of phrasal verbs. Let's break those down now so you can understand their meanings and how they're used in everyday conversations. These phrases will help you sound more natural when speaking English, and it will help you understand English better. The first one is step off. And step off means to exit a vehicle or a mode of transport by stepping down or out of it. So in the story, Lena stepped
off the plane. Feeling tired but excited, she stepped off the plane. Other examples He stepped off the train and looked for a taxi. As soon as we stepped off the bus, we were greeted by the tour guide #2 is grab to grab means to take hold of something quickly or firmly, and it's often used in casual situations. In the story, she grabbed the suitcase thinking it was hers. She grabbed the suitcase. Other examples, Can you grab me a bottle of water from the fridge? Can you grab me a bottle of
water from the fridge? I grabbed my bag and rushed out of the door. I grabbed my bag and rushed out of the door. The third one is one that is a little bit more advanced. It's to kick off to kick off. Now, there are various meanings for this, but in the story at the hotel, she kicked off her shoes to relax. At the hotel, she kicked off her shoes to relax. So to kick off means to remove something, usually shoes in a
casual way. Another example is after a long day, I love kicking off my shoes and lying on the couch. After a long day, I love kicking off my shoes and lying on the couch. Kick off can also mean to start an event or activity. For example, let's kick off the meeting with a quick update. Let's kick off the meeting with a quick update #4 is set out. Set out. To set out means to begin a journey or a task with a specific goal in mind. In the story, Lena set out to
follow the clues Alex had left. Lena set out to follow the clues Alex had left. Other examples are we set out early to explore the city before it got too crowded. This is something I like to do on vacation. We set out early to explore the city before it got too crowded. And another example, she set out to finish her report before the deadline. She set out to finish her report
before the deadline. I like #5 which is rummage through, Rummage through to rummage through means to search for something in a hurried or untidy way. So in the story, Lena rummaged through her suitcase to find more clues. She rummaged through the suitcase to find more clues. Other examples. I rummaged through my bag but couldn't find my keys. I rummaged through my bag but couldn't find my keys, and he rummaged through the drawers looking for a pen.
He rummaged through the drawers looking for a pen. You're halfway through the language analysis, so let's keep going. Before you do, be sure to check the description for English Learning Resources and also for all of the phrases in this story. Number six is scan the room. To scan the room and to scan the room means to look around quickly, usually to find someone or something. In the story it said at the cafe she scanned the room for her next clue.
At the cafe she scanned the room for her next clue. Other examples are she scanned the room for a familiar face, she scanned the room for a familiar face, and the teacher scanned the room to see who wasn't paying attention. The teacher scanned the room to see who wasn't paying attention #7 is head toward. You might also hear head towards now to head toward means to move in the direction of a specific place and in the story. She headed toward the Uffizi Gallery, excited for the next stop.
Hopefully I am pronouncing that correctly. Other examples are we're heading toward the park for a picnic. We're heading toward the park for a picnic and he headed toward the exit after the meeting ended. He headed toward the exit after the meeting ended #8 is hand over. To hand over means to give something to someone. This is often formal with a specific purpose, and in the story the performer handed over
a rose and a note. Other examples are the cashier handed over my receipt and change, the cashier handed over my receipt and change, and he handed over the documents to his lawyer. He handed over the documents to his lawyer #9 is look around. To look around means to observe your surroundings often when you're exploring or searching for something. In the story, Lena looked around the Piazza, searching for Alex. Other examples. We looked around the museum for hours.
We looked around the museum for hours and she looked around the shop for a gift but didn't find anything. She looked around the shop for a gift but didn't find anything. And #10 is slip on. To slip on means to put something on quickly, often referring to clothing or accessories. So in the story, Alex slipped on
the ring after Lena said yes. Other examples are I slipped on my jacket before heading out, I slipped on my jacket before heading out, and she slipped on her shoes and ran to catch the bus. She slipped on her shoes and ran to catch the bus. So that is today's lesson. If you want to learn more English with me, then check the description to go through the different lessons that I have available for you. If you are on YouTube, then
simply click on more videos. If you're on the podcast, continue listening with me. And if you enjoyed this, then I would appreciate it greatly if you shared it with a friend. So click that share button and send it to somebody who would benefit from this lesson. Thank you for watching or listening and I will speak to you soon. Bye for now.