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Cookies for Sam
A small kindness turns a new neighbor into a friend.
A short, gentle listening story for beginners. Sam is new in the building and has no friends — until the girl next door knocks on his door with a plate of warm cookies. Listen for the big picture, then for detail, and meet seven everyday words.
Listen to the whole story once. Don't read the transcript. Focus on the big picture.
Listen again. You can read along with the transcript now.
Sam is newnew · not old; here for the first time. He lives in apartment four. Today is his first day here.
Sam looks out the window. He sees the street. He sees a big tree. But he does not see any friendsfriend · a person you like and play with. Sam is a little sad. “I want a friend,” he says.
Next door, Mia smells something warm and sweet. Her mom makes cookies in the kitchen.
“Mom, we have a new neighborneighbor · a person who lives near you,” Mia says. “His name is Sam. He looks sad.”
“Let’s take him some cookies,” Mom says. “Come, I’ll help you.”
Mia puts six cookiescookie · a small, sweet thing you eat on a plateplate · a flat dish for food. The cookies are warm. She walks to apartment four and knocksknock · to hit a door with your hand to say “I am here” on the door.
Sam opens the door. He looks at the plate. He looks at Mia.
“Hi! I’m Mia,” she says. “These cookies are for you. Welcome!”
Sam smiles. “Thank you! Come in.”
Mia comes in. The apartment has many boxes. Books are on the floor. A soccersoccer · a game; you kick a ball with your foot ball is by the door.
“You like soccer?” Mia asks.
“Yes! I love soccer,” Sam says.
“Me too!” Mia says. “There is a park near here. We can play there.”
Sam is happy now. He is not sad.
They sit and eat the cookies. The cookies are very good. Sam eats three. Mia eats two. One cookie is for later.
“Tomorrow, let’s go to the park,” Mia says. “Bring your soccer ball.”
“Yes!” Sam says. “Tomorrow we play soccer.”
Mia goes home. Sam looks out the window again. He sees the street. He sees the big tree. And now he sees something new — a friend next door.
Sam is new here. But now he has a friend. And he has one cookie, too.
| Item | Type | Line from the story | Function / meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| new | adjective | “Sam is new.” | Not old; here for the first time. |
| friend | noun | “…he does not see any friends.” | A person you like and play with. |
| neighbor | noun | “…we have a new neighbor.” | A person who lives near you. |
| cookie | noun | “Her mom makes cookies…” | A small, sweet thing you eat. |
| plate | noun | “…six cookies on a plate.” | A flat dish for food. |
| knock | verb | “…knocks on the door.” | To hit a door with your hand to say “I am here.” |
| soccer | noun | “A soccer ball is by the door.” | A game; you kick a ball with your foot. |
Fill the gap from memory — no options. Type the word.
You listened, noticed the words, and used them yourself. Come back any time to listen again — repetition is how the words stick.
