ESL Mystery Story – The Suitcase by the Café (Part 1)
Updated: Sep 3
An ESL Mystery Story to Learn & Practise English Listening Skills
Do you love a good ESL mystery? Get ready to practise your English while enjoying a short story that’s full of suspense, emotion, and discovery.
In The Suitcase by the Café, you'll follow Emma, a writer who finds a strange suitcase that leads her on an unexpected journey.
This story is perfect for ESL/EFL learners at Pre-Intermediate level and above.
You’ll learn new vocabulary, test your listening or reading comprehension, and reflect on what you might do in Emma’s shoes.
👀 Before we dive in, watch this 40-sec 🎥 Shorts for a quick vocabulary challenge!
🎯 How to Use This Story for Learning:
Make the most of this lesson with these simple tips:
✅ Listen once for the story. Just enjoy the mystery!
✅ Listen or read again. This time, pause to understand key words.
✅ Use the vocabulary journal. Note down new words and write your own examples.
✅ Do the comprehension questions. Practise reading or listening skills.
✅ Talk or write. Use the discussion prompt at the end to express your opinion.
🔗 You can also download the free worksheet and vocabulary list below to
help you study!
✅ What You’ll Learn in This Lesson:
Vocabulary: abandoned, curious, glance, hesitate, and more
Listening or reading practice
Critical thinking and storytelling
How to use vocabulary in your own sentences
🎙️ Listening Script: The Suitcase by the Café
It was a rainy Tuesday afternoon when Emma stepped into her favourite café, The Honey Bean.
The warm smell of coffee and cinnamon filled the air. She ordered her usual—a flat white—and found her usual seat by the window.
Emma was a freelance writer, and this café had become her second home. She opened her laptop and tried to focus on her article, but something caught her eye.
Near the counter, by the umbrella stand, sat a suitcase. It looked ordinary, brown with silver zips. But no one was near it.
Emma took a quick glance around.
No one seemed to notice the suitcase, or perhaps they were ignoring it. She felt curious.
Why would someone leave a suitcase there? Was it abandoned?
After ten minutes, the suitcase was still there. Emma closed her laptop and stood up. She walked to the counter and leaned in.
"Excuse me," she said to the barista, "do you know who left that suitcase?"
The barista looked puzzled. "I’ve no idea," he replied. "It’s been there since before I started my shift."
Emma walked back to her table but kept looking at the suitcase.
She couldn’t stop thinking about it. Should she say something? Should she check it?
She hesitated, then approached the café manager. "I think we should check what’s inside," she said softly. "Just in case."
The manager nodded. “Go ahead—carefully.”
Emma crouched beside the suitcase and slowly opened it.
Inside were some surprising contents:
a pair of worn ballet shoes
an old paperback book with several pages marked
a sealed envelope with her initials — E.M. — on it
Emma’s heart skipped a beat.
She picked up the envelope and opened it. Inside was a short note, written in neat handwriting:
"Find me at the place where stories live."
She stared at the words, confused… and then, she suddenly recognised the handwriting.
It was from Lily—her childhood friend. The one who had moved away ten years ago. The friend she hadn’t spoken to in ages.
What was this? A joke? A message? A game?
Emma knew she had to figure out what it all meant.
And she had a feeling the answer was waiting for her somewhere — maybe at the town library...
📘 Vocabulary List: The Suitcase by the Café – Part 1
Level: Pre-Intermediate
Word | Meaning | Example Sentence |
abandoned | left behind or forgotten | The suitcase looked abandoned near the café counter. |
curious | wanting to know or learn more | Emma felt curious about the suitcase and its owner. |
glance | a quick look | She took a glance at the suitcase, then looked away. |
hesitate | to pause before doing something | Emma didn’t hesitate to speak to the café manager. |
contents | the things inside something | The contents of the suitcase were very strange. |
whisper | to speak very quietly | She whispered to the barista so no one would hear. |
note | a short written message | The note inside the envelope had a mysterious message. |
recognise | to know something or someone from before | Emma recognised the handwriting immediately. |
figure out | to solve or understand something | She had to figure out what the message really meant. |
🎥 Watch the Lesson Video
👀 Watch The Suitcase by the Cafe with 🗣️voice narration + a quiz!
🧠 Comprehension Questions
Story: The Suitcase by the Café – Part 1
Level: Pre-Intermediate and above
✨ Multiple Choice (Choose the correct answer)
1. What kind of place is “The Honey Bean”?
A) A bookshop
B) A café
C) A library
D) A bakery
2. What does Emma usually order?
A) A latte
B) A black coffee
C) A flat white
D) A hot chocolate
3. Where does Emma notice the suitcase?
A) Outside the café
B) On the counter
C) Near the umbrella stand
D) Under a table
4. What does Emma do before opening the suitcase?
A) She calls the police
B) She takes it home
C) She asks the barista and the manager
D) She posts about it online
✨ Short Answer Questions
5. What are three things Emma finds inside the suitcase?
_____________ _____________ _______________
6. Who does Emma think the note is from?
______________________
7. What is written in the note?
______________________________
8. What does Emma decide to do at the end of the story?
______________________________
✨ Think & Talk / Writing Prompt
9. What do you think will happen next? If you were Emma, would you follow the clue? Why or why not?
✅ Correct Answer:
B) A café
C) A flat white
C) Near the umbrella stand
C) She asks the barista and the manager
✎ Ballet shoes, an old book, and a sealed envelope
✎ Her childhood friend, Lily.
✎ “Find me at the place where stories live.”
✎ She decides to go to the town library to find out more.
💬 Discussion Topics: The Suitcase by the Café – Part 1
🧳 1. Would You Open the Suitcase?
Emma finds an abandoned suitcase in a café.
What would you do if you found a suitcase that nobody claimed?
Would you open it? Why or why not?
Would you tell a member of staff or the police?
What would make you feel curious about something?
Have you ever found something unusual in a public place?
Useful language:
I would probably… / I wouldn't… because… / I'd be curious to… / I'd hesitate to…
🔎 2. What Do You Think Is Going On?
The suitcase contains ballet shoes, an old book and a mysterious note.
Why do you think these objects are inside the suitcase?
What do you think the ballet shoes represent?
Why might the book be important?
Who do you think left the suitcase?
Do you think Lily really sent the message?
Challenge:
Use must, might, could to make guesses.
e.g.
The suitcase might belong to a dancer.
The note could be from Lily.
The book must be important.
Need to review?
☕ 3. Your Favourite Café
Emma regularly works at The Honey Bean.
Do you have a favourite café or place to relax?
What do you usually order?
Do you prefer sitting inside or outside?
Do you enjoy reading or working in cafés?
What makes a café feel cosy and welcoming?
Vocabulary challenge:
Try to use bustling, cosy, glance, caught my eye and curious in your answers.
💌 4. A Message from the Past
Emma recognises Lily's handwriting after ten years.
Have you ever unexpectedly heard from someone from your past?
How would you feel if an old friend suddenly contacted you?
Would you like to reconnect with someone you haven't seen for many years?
Why do people sometimes lose touch with old friends?
Do you think old friendships can easily be restarted?
📚 5. “The Place Where Stories Live”
The mysterious note says:
“Find me at the place where stories live.”
What do you think this means?
A library?
A bookshop?
A theatre?
A cinema?
Somewhere else?
Follow-up:
Why did you choose that place?
💡 Creative challenge:
Write your own mysterious clue for your classmates to solve.
🕵️ 6. Become a Detective!
Imagine you are helping Emma solve the mystery.
Look at the clues:
🩰 Ballet shoes
📖 Old book
✉️ Sealed envelope
🔤 E.M.
📜 Mysterious note
Discuss:
What does each clue tell us?
Which clue is the most important?
What other information would you like to find?
What question would you ask Emma?
What question would you ask Lily?
Challenge: Make 3 predictions about Part 2.
🌟 7. Story Prediction Challenge
Before reading or listening to Part 2, complete these sentences:
I think Emma will…
I think Lily might…
The suitcase could…
The old book may…
At the library, Emma will probably…
Then compare your predictions with the actual story!
🎯 Speaking Challenge: Use the New Vocabulary
Choose 3 words or phrases from the story:
abandoned · curious · caught her eye · glance · hesitate · worn · intriguing · tucked away · heart skipped a beat · puzzled · figure out
“Can you tell a short story using all 3?”
⭐ Bonus Question
If you were Emma, would you follow Lily's clue to the library? Why or why not?
✏️ Share your answers in the comments below ⬇️ !
🧠 Now Try These Activities:
🖍️ Start Your Mini Vocabulary Journal
What’s in the suitcase… and who left the note?
Emma’s mystery has only just begun. Will she find her childhood friend? Or is something else waiting at the town library?
We’ll find out in Part 2 of the story — coming soon!
💬 Tell us in the comments:
✏️ What do you think “the place where stories live” means?
📥 Download the worksheet and vocabulary journal template to keep learning!
📺 Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more stories, quizzes, and English Shorts!
📌 Save this post for your next English study session!
📚 Keep Learning
Need More Practice?
🎬 Watch video lessons to follow the story and hear how the words are used in real life.
🎥 Related Videos: YouTube Channel Playlist
📌 Checkout Vocabulary and Quiz videos:
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Thank you for reading. See you soon!
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