The Coffee Spill
Featured Story
The Coffee Spill ☕
A woman named Fatima buys coffee, but then she has a problem.
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🟢 Beginner:
Fatima buys a cup of coffee. She holds it, but then—oops! It spills on her shirt.
"Oh no!" she says. A woman gives her a napkin.
"Thank you!" Fatima smiles.
Expression: Have a little accident (to experience a small mistake or mishap)
• Spill (verb, to accidentally make liquid fall from a container)
• Napkin (noun, a small cloth or paper used to wipe hands or a table)
• Shirt (noun, a piece of clothing worn on the upper body)
• Thank you (phrase, polite words to show gratitude)
• Hold (verb, to carry or keep something in your hands)
Example:
Tom is eating ice cream. Suddenly, the ice cream falls on the floor. "Oh no!" he says. His friend laughs, "Oops! You had a little accident!"
🟡 Intermediate:
Fatima ordered a coffee and took a seat. As she reached for her phone, her hand hit the cup, and coffee spilled on her white shirt.
"Oh no! I have a meeting soon!" she said.
The barista handed her some napkins. "It happens all the time! Try using cold water to clean it."
Expression: A clumsy mistake (a time when someone acts awkwardly or drops something by accident)
• Spill (verb, to accidentally make liquid fall from a container)
• Napkin (noun, a small cloth or paper used to wipe hands or a table)
• Reach (verb, to stretch your hand to get something)
• Barista (noun, a person who makes and serves coffee in a café)
• Clean (verb, to remove dirt or mess from something)
Example:
Jake was writing quickly in his notebook when his pen slipped out of his hand. He reached for it, but in the process, he knocked over his water bottle and spilled water all over his papers. "Ugh, I always do this!" he sighed. His friend chuckled, "That was a clumsy mistake!"
🔴 Advanced:
Fatima rushed into a coffee shop before work, balancing her bag, phone, and a large latte.
Just as she turned to leave, she bumped into someone, sending coffee flying onto her blouse.
"Great, just what I needed!" she sighed.
The stranger looked horrified. "I am so sorry! Let me buy you another one."
She laughed, "Only if you tell me your worst coffee accident!"
Expression: A disaster waiting to happen (a situation that was likely to go wrong from the start)
• Balancing (verb, keeping something steady without falling)
• Bump into (phrasal verb, to accidentally hit something or someone)
• Blouse (noun, a woman’s shirt)
• Horrified (adjective, feeling very shocked or scared)
• Sigh (verb, to breathe out loudly when frustrated or relieved)
Example
Olivia stacked three cups of coffee, balanced her laptop under one arm, and pushed open the door with her foot. Her friend shook his head. "That looks like a disaster waiting to happen." Seconds later, the cups wobbled—and coffee spilled everywhere.