Asking for Directions

It was a hot afternoon in London. Anna, a 24-year-old student from Brazil, was standing on a busy street. She looked around, holding her phone high, trying to find the famous Big Ben. But her phone battery was almost dead. The map app closed, and she sighed.

“Oh no,” she whispered. “Now what?”

Anna saw a man sitting on a bench reading a newspaper. He looked kind, maybe around 60 years old, with gray hair and a soft smile. She walked over slowly.

“Excuse me, sir,” she said. “Can you help me? I’m looking for Big Ben.”

The man folded his newspaper and smiled. “Of course, young lady. You’re very close. Just walk straight down this road, then turn right at the red phone box. You’ll see it in five minutes.”

Anna thanked him and started walking. But after two minutes, she wasn’t sure anymore. “Did he say left or right?” she thought. She looked around and saw another person — a woman with a big blue hat.

“Excuse me, where is Big Ben?” Anna asked again.

The woman laughed. “You’re walking the right way! Just follow the sound of the bells.”

Anna listened carefully. Ding… Dong… Ding… Dong…

She smiled and followed the sound. A few minutes later, she saw it — tall, golden, and beautiful under the sunlight.

“Wow,” she whispered. “I found it!”

She took a deep breath, feeling proud. At that moment, the old man from the bench appeared again. He was walking with his dog.

“See?” he said with a wink. “Sometimes, the best way to find something… is to ask twice.”

Anna laughed. “You’re right,” she said.

Moral: Never be afraid to ask for help — sometimes, the second try leads you exactly where you want to go.