English Short Stories For Intermediate Learners: 8 Unconventional Short Stories to Grow Your Vocabulary and Learn English the Fun Way!

Multiple-choice questions
Select one answer for each question
11. Why does Dan need good grades?
a. He wants a college scholarship
b. His parents are angry
c. The college was going to ask him to leave
d. To make Dawn happy
12. What had Dan noticed about Jack?
a. That Jack likes to flirt
b. That Jack likes to eat a lot
c. That Jack seems sad
d. That Jack gets good grades
13. Why does Jack say he is extra nice to customers?
a. Because he wants to date them
b. Because he wants tips
c. Because it is part of his job
d. Because he is a very friendly person
14. Why can Dan understand Jack’s reason for being extra nice to

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customers?
a. Because Dan watched Jack at work
b. Because Dan is Jack’s friend
c. Because Dan worked as a waiter and also got tips
d. Because Dan worked as a bartender and also got tips
15. Who does Jack say is one of his customers at the nightclub?
a. Caprice
b. Zara
c. Dawn’s parents
d. Dawn

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Answers to Chapter 3
11. a
12. a
13. b
14. c
15. d

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8. Monster Challenge
Chapter 1
“Is your job boring?” asked the hairy green creature on the television.
“No,” Wagner the Werewolf said, talking to the TV. He finished his drink
and crushed the can in his hand.
“Do you get tired of scaring people all day?” the advertisement continued.
“Would you like to try something new? What about a job where you can be nice
to people instead?”
“No thanks,” Wagner said, switching the channel. “What is the point of
being a monster,” he asked, “if you don’t scare people? And sometimes, eat
them.”
He had never liked commercials. He would rather watch ice skating than
commercials. Of course, most werewolves did not have very much patience. He
threw the crushed can into a trash can.
“I agree!” said a voice with no body.
“Who said that?” Wagner asked. The room was very dark, except for the
light from the television. He did not see anyone else, so he smelled the air. He
recognized the scent immediately. “Oh, it’s you. I didn’t know you were coming
tonight.”
Doctor Griffin, the “Invisible Man” nodded his head, but Wagner could not
see it. The Werewolf could, of course, smell the human. Werewolves have very
good noses, and humans have very bad smells.
“I can never fool you,” Griffin said with a laugh. He was in a happy mood.
He sat down in an empty chair and picked up a newspaper. The only thing the
Werewolf could see was a pair of shorts and the newspaper. The Invisible Man
did not like to wear a lot of clothes. He preferred to sneak around, so no one
could see him.
They were at Count Dracula’s new mansion in Virginia. It was very large

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and expensive. It was surrounded by a small forest. There were a lot of woods
and hills in Virginia. It was a good place for monsters to live and hunt.
They were waiting for Dracula to come home. He was their boss and tonight
was the monthly meeting. Everyone had to come. Attendance was mandatory for
all the “classic” monsters, even if you had to come from overseas.
“Anyway, I agree with you, Wagner,” Griffin said. “If you are going to be a
monster, you might as well scare people.” He turned the page of his newspaper,
but he was secretly looking at the Werewolf.
Wagner frowned and showed his sharp teeth. “But, you are not really a
monster,” he said. “You are just a human that no one can see. That does not
make you a monster.”
“I think it depends on your definition of ‘monster.’”
“Okay. By my definition, you are not a monster. Where is Frankenstein’s
creature? Take a look at that big ugly guy. That is a monster!”
“Be quiet,” Griffin said, “Keep your voice down. I think he is in the house!”
“So? His hearing is terrible.”
“Well, I cannot argue with you. Old Franky is one of the world’s most
horrible monsters,” the Invisible Man agreed. “I cannot compare to him. He is
much more horrible and scary than I am.”
“You are not scary at all,” the Werewolf interrupted.
“But,” Griffin said, ignoring the insult, “Frankenstein’s creature is so stupid!
He can never be a leader. Do you know what I mean? He does not have much
potential.”
“You don’t know him very well. He is smarter than he looks. Besides, no
one said you must be intelligent to be a monster.”
“I realize that,” Griffin said. “But, to make a real impact on the world, you
have to be smart. Look at me, I’m a doctor!”
“Ohh, a doctor! Big deal. I guess if you want to be a boss, you should be
smart,” Wagner said. “But, most of us are not interested in power. In fact, most
of us are happy staying hidden. We don’t need a lot of attention. We don’t need
to ‘be important.’ We scare a random person once a month, or eat somebody
once in a while, but we are not hungry for power. You should know that by

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now.”
“I think that is the problem,” Griffin said. “We need to be better organized.
We need to be smarter, then we could take over the world!”
The Werewolf yawned. The Invisible Man was not paying attention. He
always talked about the same things, and Wagner had heard this speech before.
The Invisible Man was only interested in taking over the world. It was his
obsession.
Wagner walked into the kitchen to make microwave popcorn. “If you want
to rule the planet, go ahead!” he shouted from the kitchen. “Nobody is stopping
you!”
“I cannot do it by myself. I need the other monsters. We have to work
together as a team!”
“Most of the others do not care about that stuff,” Wagner said. He walked
back into the living room a few minutes later. He was carrying a bowl of
popcorn.
The Werewolf changed the channel again. There was nothing good on. He
turned the television off and stood up. With the TV off, the room was completely
black.
“Hey, it is too dark in here,” Griffith complained. “I can’t see in the dark!”
“I can,” Wagner said. He walked behind the Invisible Man’s chair. He
grabbed the newspaper and tore it apart.
“Arrgh!” Griffin yelled.
“So,” the Werewolf said, “now you know what it is like when you can’t see
somebody. It is annoying, isn’t it?”
“I can’t help being invisible,” Griffin said. “I didn’t ask to be this way!”
“Yes you did! You made the potion which turned you invisible!”
“Well…,” Griffin said, tripping over a small table. “Turn a light on, please!”
Somewhere in the darkness outside, a dog howled. A door opened and a
breeze of air came into the room. Dracula walked in without making a sound.
“Good evening,” he said. He flipped on a light switch with a long finger. “What
are you two talking about?”

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“We are talking about monsters being dumb,” said the Invisible Man.
“I see,” Dracula said. “I hope you are not referring to me.” The old vampire
looked directly at Griffin.

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Annex to Chapter 1
Summary
It is time for the monthly Monster Meet-Up. Wagner, the Werewolf, and
Griffin, the Invisible Man, are at Dracula’s mansion in Virginia. They are
arguing about monsters being stupid. Griffin thinks monsters should take over
the world. Dracula comes home and wants to know what they are talking about.