Oh, the Horror . . .

This story is part of the English Short Stories, Book and Workbook

Emma and Jerry like to watch movies. No, actually, Emma and Jerry love to watch movies. They have only one tiny problem. They never like the same movies . . .

Emma likes horror movies. She likes the fear and the blood. Jerry, on the other hand, hates horror movies. He hates the fear and the blood. He likes love stories. He likes romantic couples and happy endings. Emma hates romantic movies. She thinks they are silly and boring.

At first, they don't know they have such different tastes in movies.

Emma comes home. "Oh, my god!" She calls out, "Jerry! You have to come with me to the movies. There is this amazing new movie! I must watch it."

"Which one is it?"

"The Bloody Ax."

Jerry thinks about it for a second, "Hmm . . . doesn’t it sound a bit weird?"

"Of course not, silly! It seems like an amazing movie. We must watch it." Emma laughs at him.

"Well, if you say so. Let’s go for it."

Two hours later Jerry is sitting in the movie theater, screaming. Five minutes later he is running to the bathroom to throw up.

"Oh, my god, Emma. I didn’t know this is what you meant when you said 'amazing!' I don’t think I can watch a movie like this again."

"It’s OK, Jerry," she says. "I guess you don’t like horror movies as much as I do."

A few days later, Jerry comes home.

"Emma!" he calls out. "Listen! You have to come with me to the movies. There is this fantastic new movie! We must watch it."

"Which one is it?"

"Sun, Love, and Hope."

Emma thinks about it for a second, "Hmm . . . doesn’t it sound a bit silly?"

"Of course not, Emma! It seems like a fantastic movie. We must watch it." Jerry laughs at her.

"Well, if you say so. Let’s go for it," Emma agrees.

Two hours later Emma is sitting in the movie theater, completely stiff. Five minutes later she is running away in terror.

"Oh, my god, Jerry. I didn’t know this is what you meant when you said 'fantastic!' I don’t think I can watch a movie like this again."

Jerry looks at her and says, "Well, I guess you don’t like romantic movies as much as I do."

"That’s right," Emma agrees. "What are we going to do? Will we ever go to the movies together again?"

Jerry thinks about it for a moment and then answers, "I guess we would have to wait for a horror love story. You know, a boy meets a girl, they fall in love, and then she eats him!"

This story is part of the English Short Stories, Book and Workbook.
To get all the stories and exercises in this series, click here.