Nia Before Closing Time - 適合中級的英文短篇故事，含中譯與發音

The small seaside gift shop has been filled with weekend visitors since morning. Nia stepped inside carrying a coin purse that jingled at every motion. Responsibility for picking the science-quiz prize belonged to her today, and she tried to keep in mind the limited coins inside the purse. Bright toys crowded each shelf that reached her shoulders, yet one object managed to stand out. A plush dolphin, colored deep ocean blue, rested near the back. She gave her head a quick tilt, hoping to see the price, but another shopper shifted between her and the shelf, blocking the view. Closing time crept closer as people drifted toward the register.

When the path cleared for a second, Nia stretched forward. Her elbow brushed a tin bucket that balanced on a narrow hook; the bucket tipped, and glass marbles rolled across the floor like tiny waves. Shoppers paused, planting their shoes carefully to keep balance. While the clerk chased the marbles, the plush dolphin slid forward, revealing a smaller tag that had been hidden under the first. The new number matched her small budget. Without delay, she counted the coins she had saved from lunch and set them beside the toy. The register clicked, the bucket settled upright, and the door’s bell rang softly as she stepped outside with the dolphin tucked under her arm.

海邊的小禮品店從早上開始就擠滿週末的遊客。妮雅拿著會叮噹作響的零錢包走了進去。今天挑選科學小考獎品的責任落在她身上，她一邊走一邊記著包內有限的硬幣。每一層與她肩同高的貨架上都塞滿亮眼玩具，而其中只有一樣特別顯眼——一隻深海藍絨毛海豚靠在最裡面。她微微歪頭想看價錢，但另一位顧客剛好移到她與貨架之間，視線被擋住。店裡即將打烊，人群逐漸向收銀臺移動。

走道短暫空出時，妮雅迅速探手向前。她的手肘擦到掛在細鉤上的鐵桶，桶身傾斜，玻璃彈珠像小浪花一樣滾過地面。顧客們停下腳步，小心放置鞋底以免滑倒。店員忙著撿彈珠時，那隻絨毛海豚向前滑動，露出原先被蓋住的較小標籤。新的價格正好符合她的小預算。她立即數出午餐省下的硬幣，連同玩具放在櫃檯前。收銀機喀噠一聲，鐵桶重新立穩，門鈴輕響，她夾著海豚走出店外。