The Canceled Meeting
Listen To The Following Reading
It was the following morning when Dana arrived at the downtown café, laptop under her arm and her nerves already on edge. The air smelled like roasted espresso and rain-soaked concrete. She checked her watch—8:57 a.m.—and picked the table by the window.
This was supposed to be the meeting that decided whether her proposal for a client merger would go through. She had gone over every detail the night before, rehearsing her presentation until her voice gave out. The minutes ticked by. 9:10. 9:15. Still no sign of Paul, her business partner.
Her phone buzzed:
“Sorry, can’t make it. Let’s reschedule next week.”
No apology, no reason—just that. Dana stared at the message, jaw tightening. The barista called out her name for a cappuccino, but she didn’t move. She could feel her heartbeat rising, her fingers drumming against the laptop. All that work, and he canceled at the drop of a hat.
When she finally stood, she noticed her reflection in the glass—calm on the outside, but eyes sharp with frustration. She took a slow breath, reminding herself not to fly off the handle. Instead, she opened her laptop, ordered another coffee, and decided to polish her pitch anyway.
By the time the café filled with chatter, her anger had melted into focus. She realized that sometimes professionalism isn’t about timing—it’s about how you handle being let down.
How Would You Use The Following
Idioms
at the drop of a hat – immediately or without warning
fly off the handle – to suddenly lose one’s temper
Phrasal Verbs
go over – to review or check carefully
give out – to become exhausted or stop functioning
Relative Time Expression
the following morning
Inference & Discussion Questions
What clues reveal Dana’s expectations for this meeting and how much it meant to her?
How do her reactions—both physical and emotional—show restraint and control?
What does her decision to keep working say about her professionalism?
How do the idioms reflect emotional management in stressful moments?
Why might the story’s ending suggest quiet strength instead of frustration?
How does the sensory detail of the café mirror Dana’s internal state?
