The Wrong Street: A Short Story

Learn with Tina Podcast, Episode 1, July 20, 2024

Diego woke up with a nervous excitement in his chest. Today was his first day at a new job in a big city where everyone spoke English. He had practiced the route to his new workplace many times, but he was still a bit worried. He checked the address one more time on his phone and hailed a taxi.

"Good morning," Diego greeted the taxi driver in English, feeling proud that he remembered the words.

"Morning! Where to?" the driver replied with a friendly smile.

Diego took a deep breath. "145 Butter Street, please."

The driver nodded and they started on their way. Diego looked out the window, trying to recognize the streets and buildings. As they approached a busy intersection, Diego felt a pang of uncertainty. He was supposed to turn left here, but the sign said "Butter Street" and he didn't see "Water Street."

"Um, excuse me," Diego said tentatively, "I think we need to go to Butter Street."

The driver glanced at him through the rearview mirror. "Butter Street? Are you sure?"

Diego nodded, feeling a bit unsure now. "Yes, Butter Street. My new job is there."

Diego tried to stay calm, but as they drove further, he didn't see any familiar landmarks. He started to worry they were going the wrong way.

"Um, I'm sorry," Diego said hesitantly, "I think we might have missed the turn. Butter Street should be back that way."

The driver sighed impatiently. "Mister, we are on Butter Street now."

Diego's heart sank as he realized they were lost. They drove around for a while longer until the driver finally pulled over.

"Look, I'm taking you back to where I picked you up," the driver said firmly. "I don't have time for this."

Diego said, “Wait! Please. My English is not very good. I will spell the name of the street, okay? ”W-A-T-E-R”

“I understand now,” the driver replied. “You want to go to Water Street, not Butter Street. I can take you there.”

Diego thanked the driver quietly, feeling defeated. He checked his watch and saw that he was already late for work. What would his new boss think of him?

When Diego finally arrived back at his job, he apologized to the driver and paid him for the fare. As he stood on the sidewalk, feeling lost and embarrassed, a woman approached him.

"Are you Diego?" she asked kindly.

Diego nodded, surprised that someone knew his name.

"I'm Mrs. Ramirez, your boss," the woman said with a warm smile. "I was worried when you didn't show up on time. Let's get you to the office."

Diego followed Mrs. Ramirez into the building and they rode the elevator to the fifth floor. They walked into a bright office where everyone looked busy but friendly.

"I'm so sorry I'm late," Diego stammered, feeling like he had already failed.

Mrs. Ramirez patted his shoulder reassuringly. "It's okay, Diego. These things happen. Let's just take a deep breath and start your orientation."

Diego felt a wave of relief wash over him. Mrs. Ramirez introduced him to his new colleagues, who all greeted him warmly. They showed him around the office and explained his responsibilities. Diego listened carefully, eager to prove himself despite the rough start.

Throughout the day, Diego worked hard and tried his best to learn everything quickly. His colleagues were patient and helpful, answering his questions and showing him the ropes. By the end of the day, Diego felt more confident.

As he was leaving the office, Mrs. Ramirez stopped him with a smile. "You did well today, Diego. I know it wasn't easy starting off like that, but you handled it with grace. Remember, everyone makes mistakes. What matters is how you learn from them."

Diego nodded gratefully. "Thank you, Mrs. Ramirez. I'll make sure to double-check the directions next time."

Mrs. Ramirez chuckled. "That's a good idea. Have a good evening, and we'll see you tomorrow."

Diego left the office with a lighter heart. Despite the rough start, he knew he had found a place where he could learn and grow. And next time, he would make sure to pronounce the street names correctly.