Elena Beside the Tidal Pool- 適合中級的英語短篇故事

Elena has visited the rocky shore since sunrise, carrying a small sketchbook. She hopes to finish a clear drawing of a blue starfish resting in a tide pool. A wide pool that mirrors the silver morning sky waits a few steps away. One flat stone has been placed between two larger rocks by an earlier visitor. However, seaweed clings to every stone and turns each surface into glass. At the same time the ocean sends quicker waves that splash against her boots. The mix of slippery footing and rushing water creates a troubling challenge. She sets her half-empty mug of cocoa on a flat rock and tests the ground with her heel.

Spray covers her sketchbook, so she changes her plan. She has wrapped the strap of her phone around her wrist. The device can resist a splash. Elena lowers one knee, crawls instead of standing, and reaches the pool inch by inch. Gradually, the lower posture gives her balance while the tide passes overhead. A sudden swell pushes the cooled cocoa from the mug. The brown swirl drifts across the pool and startles a second hidden starfish into motion. The twist delights her. She captures both creatures in one quick photo, then backs away as foam fills the gap. The phone clicks again while sunlight flashes on fresh water.

伊蓮娜自天亮後便待在岩岸，手上拿著小素描本。她希望在潮水升高、把藍色海星藏起來之前，完成一幅清晰的畫。映著銀灰天空的寬闊潮池就在幾步之外。早來的遊客把一塊平整石頭擺在兩塊大石之間。可是，每顆石頭都被海藻覆住，表面滑得像玻璃；同時，海洋推來更急的浪花，濺濕她的靴子。濕滑的落腳點和湍急的水流帶來棘手的挑戰。她把半杯可可的馬克杯放在平石上，以腳跟試探地面。

浪花噴濺到素描本，她只好調整計畫。她已經把手機背帶繞在手腕上，機子能擋小水花。伊蓮娜單膝著地，改爬行前進，一寸一寸靠近潮池。姿勢降低後，她的重心逐漸穩定，而潮汐從頭上越過。忽然一陣大浪把已涼的可可推出杯口，咖啡色漩渦漂過水面，把另一隻躲藏的海星驚得動了起來。這意外令她驚喜。她立刻拍下兩隻海星的照片，然後在白沫填滿縫隙前退回。手機再次咔嚓作響，陽光閃在新湧上的水面。