Leo at the Busy Court- 適合中級的英語短篇故事

Leo balanced a bright ball on his palm while crossing the sports yard after class. He planned a strong swing with the new tennis racket that had arrived last week. The frame felt light, yet the strings looked durable under the afternoon sun. He has practised in quieter parks before, yet today every corner moved with activity. Two friends chased a drifting volleyball near the fence. A group that preferred badminton filled the centre court. When Leo reached the far side, a sudden gust shifted dust across the lines. The wind pushed his cap backward and bent the net posts slightly.

He tossed the ball upward despite the restless air. Wind curled around it, so the first swing missed by inches. The ball bounced toward the crowded middle of the yard. A tall jumper returned a powerful spike across the tape. The loose ball collided with their rolling volleyball and sent both spheres apart. Surprised laughter rose, and space briefly opened between the players. Leo noticed the wall that bordered the yard, which had been painted smooth and empty. Instead of waiting, he adjusted to the changing scene quickly. He carried his racket to the wall, turned sideways, and served. The ball struck, rebounded, and returned chest high. This pattern repeated while the wind slid over the top edge. Noise behind him softened as matches continued elsewhere. After twelve steady returns, the ball dropped near his shoe and rocked once before resting.

里奧放學後穿過運動場，掌心托著一顆亮球。他計畫用上週剛到的新網球拍來一次有力揮擊。球拍框架輕巧，弦面在午後陽光下顯得耐用。他以前曾在安靜的公園練習，但今天每個角落都有人活動。兩名朋友在圍欄旁追逐一顆漂移的排球。一群偏愛羽球的人佔據中央球場。當里奧抵達遠端時，一陣突風把灰塵吹過界線，帽沿被推向後方，球網立柱輕輕彎曲。

他仍然把球拋向空中，但不安的空氣使第一次揮擊差了幾公分，球彈向人群聚集的中間。一位高個子跳起強力扣殺，鬆散的球碰上他們滾動的排球，兩顆球分別飛開，周圍爆出驚訝笑聲，人群間短暫露出空隙。里奧注意到場地邊緣的牆壁，那面牆被漆得平滑空曠。他不再等待，迅速調整，把球拍帶到牆前，側身發球。球擊牆反彈，高度到胸前；風掠過牆頂，這個節奏反覆進行。身後的喧鬧逐漸變淡。十二次穩定回彈後，球落在他鞋旁，輕晃一下便靜止。