French Woman Goes Home After US Jail

May 12, 2026, 13:36
EuropeInternational

Introduction

Marie-Thérèse Ross is 85 years old. She is from France. She stayed in a US jail for 16 days. Now she is back in France.

Main Body

US officers arrested her in Alabama on April 1. They said her visa was too old. Five officers took her away. Then they put her in a jail in Louisiana. Her stepson works for the US government. He and Marie-Thérèse fought about money from her dead husband. A judge said the stepson helped put her in jail. Marie-Thérèse was sad in jail. She heard children crying. The guards shouted a lot. But other women in the jail were kind to her. The French government was angry. The French minister said the US jail was bad. Then the US let her go home to Nantes, France.

Conclusion

Ms. Ross is in France now. She sees a doctor because she is very stressed.

Learning

🕰️ The 'Past' Shortcut

To move to A2, you need to stop saying everything in the present. Look at how this story moves from now to before.

The Change:

  • Is → Was (She is 85 →\rightarrow She was sad)
  • Say → Said (They say it →\rightarrow They said it)
  • Hear → Heard (I hear →\rightarrow She heard)

Quick Guide to the Action Words:

NowBeforeExample from Story
AreWereOfficers were angry
PutPutThey put her in jail
GoWent(She went home)

💡 Pro Tip: Notice the word 'Then'. Use it like a bridge to connect events in a story: First event →\rightarrow Then →\rightarrow Second event.

Example: They arrested her →\rightarrow Then they put her in jail.

Vocabulary Learning

years (n.)
a period of 365 days
Example:She has lived in France for many years.
old (adj.)
having lived many years
Example:The building is very old.
stayed (v.)
remained in a place
Example:He stayed at the hotel for two nights.
jail (n.)
a place where people are kept as punishment
Example:The thief was sent to jail.
days (n.)
24 hours
Example:We will finish the work in a few days.
back (adv.)
returned to a place
Example:She went back to her hometown.
arrested (v.)
taken into police custody
Example:The suspect was arrested by the police.
said (v.)
expressed
Example:He said he would help us.
visa (n.)
travel permission
Example:You need a visa to visit that country.
too (adv.)
more than necessary
Example:It is too hot outside.
taken (v.)
removed
Example:The book was taken from the shelf.
put (v.)
placed
Example:Please put the keys on the table.
works (v.)
performs a job
Example:She works as a teacher.
government (n.)
people who run a country
Example:The government announced new rules.
fought (v.)
had a dispute
Example:They fought over the money.
sad (adj.)
unhappy
Example:He felt sad after the news.
children (n.)
young people
Example:The park is full of children.
guards (n.)
people who watch
Example:The guards checked our passports.
kind (adj.)
friendly
Example:She is a kind person.