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
1. What is the bouncer’s job at Zara’s?
a. He serves drinks
b. He parks cars
c. He decides who gets inside
d. He runs the cash register
2. What gives Jack an idea about how to get inside?
a. Seeing a blonde girl go inside
b. Seeing a blonde man go inside
c. Seeing a couple go inside
d. Having coffee and donuts
3. Why does Jack think Nate is a little overweight?
a. Nate doesn’t exercise
b. Nate likes sweet foods like glazed donuts
c. Nate is shy
d. None of the above
4. Jack makes a joke about not being related to an actor, but he thinks the

---

joke is:
a. a little funny
b. very funny
c. not very funny at all
d. too serious
5. The girls:
a. are excited to date the boys
b. are angry for being bothered
c. say they will help
d. will not help

---

Answers to Chapter 1
1. c
2. a
3. b
4. c
5. c

---

Chapter 2
“Let me talk to the bouncer,” I said, as the six of us left the café.
“No,” Caprice said, “Let me. You couldn’t talk your way in before.”
I began to protest, but Nate nudged me in the ribs. “She’s right. Give her a
chance.”
We started walking toward the back of the line. Caprice grabbed my hand
suddenly. We ran toward the bouncer. The others followed us. They did not
understand her plan.
“Excuse me, Bruce?” she shouted, waving her hand in the air. She stopped
only inches away from the intimidating bouncer. “You’re Bruce, aren’t you?”
“Do I know you?”
“You were supposed to let my boyfriend in earlier,” she said, pointing at me.
“What happened?”
“His name wasn’t on the list…”
“The list? Do you mean the fake list?” she asked, grabbing at his precious
clipboard. He pulled it away from her and held it up, but she was persistent. “Get
real! It’s a bunch of fake names on a piece of paper.”
“How do you know?” Bald Bruce asked, as he bent down to get closer to
her. Perhaps he did not want the rest of the line to hear. “And, so what if it is
fake?”
“Do you know a woman named Zara Bernhart?”
Bruce stiffened. “The owner?”
“Yeah, the owner.” Caprice reached into her handbag. She took out a
photograph and her driver’s license. She showed both to the bouncer and his face
turned pale. “I’m Caprice Bernhart. Zara’s my mom.”
*
“That was awesome,” I said, brushing my black hair out of my eyes. “I had
no idea who you were!”
“Were?” Caprice said, leading me to the bar. “I still am! What are you

---

having?”
Several customers were trying to get the helpless bartender’s attention, but
when he saw Caprice, he walked over to her. “Nice to see you!” he shouted over
the music. “Can I get you something?”
“A Coke,” she said, “and…” She looked at me.
“Me, too.”
“What?” the bartender asked. “Sorry, I couldn’t hear you, man!”
“I’ll have a Coke too!” I yelled.
Caprice seemed surprised by my order. “Don’t you drink alcohol?”
“I’m underage,” I said, smiling.
“I hope not,” she said, “or we’re both in trouble.” The bartender brought
over our sodas. We took them to a table in a vacant corner. “Your friends
disappeared.”
“I see one of them on the dance floor,” I said, pointing to Nate. He was
dancing with the smallest of the girls. “They seem to get along! Look, they are
smiling.”
“What about the other one?”
“Aaron? He’s…gone!” I could not see Aaron anywhere. I took my phone out
of my pocket because I wanted to check my messages. Perhaps he had sent me a
text message. Yes, he had texted me! “Looks like he decided to go home.”
“Hey, guys,” said the third girl, as she walked over to our table. “What’s
up?”
“Where were you?” Caprice asked. “Did you scare Aaron away?”
“I guess so,” she said. Then she looked at me. “By the way, what’s your
name again?”
“Jack,” I said. “And I’m sorry, you are…?”
“I’m Susan. The other girl’s Aisha. Anyways, your friend was weird!”
“He’s not weird, he’s shy,” I said. “As The Smith’s song goes, ‘shyness is
nice, and shyness can stop you…’”
“‘…from doing all the things in life you’d like to!’” Susan finished. “I love

---

that song!”
“Really? They are one of my favourite bands--”
“Hey, you scared away your boyfriend,” Caprice said to her friend. “Leave
my date alone!”
Susan smirked. She was unhappy. “Fine. I’m going to the bar,” she said,
“and I’m putting my drinks on your tab. You will have to pay for them later!”
She walked away. She went to stand in the crowd in front of the busy bar.
I was happy to hear myself called a “date.”
“Thanks again for helping us,” I said. “It was a hard week for me. It was
difficult because I lost my job this week.”
“Oh, that’s terrible! What was your job?” She looked uncomfortable.
Why did I tell her I’d lost my job? I thought.
“Actually,” I said, pointing at the bar. “I did that. I was a bartender.”
She bit her lip. She was thinking of something. “So,” she said at last, “Is
Zara’s everything you dreamed of?”
I looked around the club. It had an expensive disco lighting system. It also
had very loud audio speakers on the walls. A professional DJ was playing the
best music, and the dance floor was packed. But, there were also plenty of seats
for people to sit and talk.
“I love it,” I said. “I would love to come here every week.”
“Is that a hint?”
“Yes,” I said. “I mean, if you want to act like you are my date again. I would
love to call you…if you give me your phone number.”
Caprice grinned and put out her hand. I reached out to take it, but she
stopped me. “No, give me your phone.”
“Oh.” I handed over my phone. She took it and added herself to my contacts
list.
“So now you have it. Don’t post it on the Internet. It’s private.”
Immediately, I dialled her number. I watched her phone light up. “Now you
have my number too,” I said. “You can put mine on the Internet. I don’t mind.

---

Nobody ever tries to call me.”
“Your mother doesn’t own a nightclub,” she said. “Does she?”
“I don’t think so,” I said, laughing. “Listen, I really want you to know…I did
not know who you were when I talked to you in the café.”
“I believe you,” she said. “I know you weren’t just trying to use me.”
“Well, I was trying to use you,” I admitted, “but I was very honest about it.”
This time, she laughed and looked away. Maybe I need to shut up, I thought.
“I need to get going soon,” she said. “I told my roommate I would be home
before eleven.”
“You should live for yourself, not for others,” I said. “I read that on a card or
something.”
Caprice gave me a wide grin. “I agree one hundred percent! But, my
roommate lost her keys to the apartment. Do you think she should wait outside
while I stay here with you?”
I made an innocent face. “I don’t mind if she waits.”
“Typical male,” she said, standing up. “You have my number.”
“You have mine,” I said, getting up with her. I wanted to walk her to the
exit. “Let’s see who calls the other first. We could place a bet.”
For a moment, her face turned serious. “Never bet against me or my family,
Jack. We have a history of never losing.”

---

Annex to Chapter 2
Summary
Jack and his friends are able to get into Zara’s nightclub with the help of
Caprice and her friends. Jack and Caprice order drinks at the bar. Jack learns a
secret--that Caprice’s family owns the club. Nate dances with Aisha, but Aaron
leaves. Caprice gives Jack her phone number and prepares to leave too.