Three Stops Early

Written by Studio AM.

When repairs closed her usual station, Priya left the tram three stops early. Rain had blurred the temporary map, so she followed signs through a street she had never noticed. Beside a bakery stood a shop window filled with single gloves, bent keys, and umbrellas tagged with dates.

The owner, Mr. Anwar, explained that he collected objects found on nearby trams. The transit office accepted valuable items, but ordinary things were often discarded before owners knew where to ask. He cleaned them, posted photographs, and waited.

Priya recognized a red lunch tin in the window. Her coworker Elise had searched for it all week because a child's drawing was tucked inside. Priya sent a photograph, and Elise arrived before closing. She offered Mr. Anwar money; he asked her to post the shop's address instead.

When Priya's station reopened, she resumed her usual route. Now she sometimes left three stops early on purpose, carrying a list of objects people had lost.

Questions

Choose an answer. The explanation appears after you answer.

  1. Question 1 of 4

    What is the main idea of the story?

  2. Question 2 of 4

    Why does Mr. Anwar ask Elise to post the address instead of paying him?

  3. Question 3 of 4

    What does “discarded” mean in the second paragraph?

  4. Question 4 of 4

    What is tucked inside the red lunch tin?

Score: none answered yet.

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