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A1 French story: the suitcase is ready but the cat is inside

Edited by Chris Lee · Updated · About the library

Read a playful A1 French departure story with glosses and translation. Find the cat, understand the delay and follow the traveller’s next action.

In short

Anna cannot close her suitcase because her cat is sleeping between the jumpers. She prepares his basket and waits for him to leave the suitcase. Then she adds her charger and closes the bag. Moka stays at home with a neighbour looking after him.

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A tabby cat sleeps on folded clothes inside an open suitcase on a bed, with a basket and blanket nearby.
Moka is still in the suitcase. The story explains how Anna gets him into his basket before closing the bag. Illustration: Atelier

Follow the places in this short story: the bed, the suitcase and the basket. Anna’s travel plan stays the same. One unexpected passenger changes the order of her final packing actions.

A1 · A suitcase, a cat and a departure

Un voyageur de trop

Il est neuf heures. Anna va partir pour un petit voyage. Son train est à onze heures. Dans la chambre, sa valise1 est ouverte sur le lit. Il y a deux pulls, un pantalon, des chaussettes et une trousse de toilette2. Anna va passer deux nuits chez son amie Salomé.

Elle cherche son chargeur3 dans le salon. Quand elle revient, quelque chose bouge dans la valise. Entre les deux pulls, son chat Moka dort tranquillement. Anna rit. « Toi, tu ne vas pas prendre le train avec moi ! » Elle ne ferme pas la valise.

Anna pose le panier de Moka près du lit. Elle met sa petite couverture4 dans le panier et appelle le chat. Moka ouvre les yeux. Il regarde Anna, puis il sort de la valise. Il va dans son panier et se couche sur la couverture.

Anna regarde encore la valise : plus de chat ! Elle ajoute le chargeur, ferme la fermeture éclair5 et prend son billet. Sa voisine arrive pour garder Moka pendant le week-end6. Anna lui montre le panier. Puis elle prend sa valise. Cette fois, Anna est prête à partir, et Moka reste dans son panier.

Read it in English

It is nine o’clock. Anna is going to leave for a short trip. Her train is at eleven. In the bedroom, her suitcase is open on the bed. There are two jumpers, a pair of trousers, socks and a toiletry bag. Anna is going to spend two nights at her friend Salomé’s home.

She looks for her charger in the living room. When she comes back, something moves in the suitcase. Between the two jumpers, her cat Moka is sleeping peacefully. Anna laughs. “You’re not going to take the train with me!” She does not close the suitcase.

Anna puts Moka’s basket near the bed. She puts his little blanket in the basket and calls the cat. Moka opens his eyes. He looks at Anna, then leaves the suitcase. He goes into his basket and lies down on the blanket.

Anna looks in the suitcase again: no more cat! She adds the charger, closes the zip and takes her ticket. Her neighbour arrives to look after Moka over the weekend. Anna shows her the basket. Then she picks up her suitcase. This time, Anna is ready to leave, and Moka stays in his basket.

Question 1No account needed
Why does Anna leave the suitcase open?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Moka is sleeping inside it. Moka is between the jumpers. Anna does not close the suitcase while he is inside.

Question 2No account needed
Where does Moka go after leaving the suitcase?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Into his basket near the bed. Anna prepares the basket with his blanket, and Moka lies down there.

Question 3No account needed
What does Anna do before closing the suitcase?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

She adds the charger. The final paragraph says Elle ajoute le chargeur, ferme la fermeture éclair.

Link a place to its next action

Dans la valise gives Moka’s first location. Dans son panier gives his next one. Quand elle revient connects Anna’s return with what she discovers. Puis marks the following action. These small linking words let you track a sequence without a past-tense narrative.

Elle va passer deux nuits chez son amie.

She is going to spend two nights at her friend’s home.

Va passer describes Anna’s intention. Son train est à onze heures gives the scheduled departure. The story combines a present schedule with a near-future plan, while its immediate actions—cherche, pose, ajoute—remain in the present.

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