Steam at the Woodland Gazebo- 適合中級的英語短篇故事

Mia balanced a covered basket on her arm and entered the woodland. She hoped to reach the small gazebo near the pond before the short storm settled over the hills. Later, everyone in her craft club would meet there for drawing practice. She has visited this trail many times, yet bright moss made the stones slippery today. A chilly breeze pressed through the trees, and each scattered raindrop flashed silver against dark bark. The path that circles the water felt too slow. She chose the narrow shortcut and began to wander between fern patches.

A sudden rustle burst right above her head. An owl lifted from a low branch, and its wings sent needles of water into her face. Her shoe slid on a slick root, and she dropped the basket lid. Several warm muffins suddenly rolled toward a puddle. None sank, thanks to the tight cloth that had been tied around them. While steadying herself, Mia noticed a fallen birch that lay across a muddy dip ahead. Using it as a ramp, she kept her shoes dry and regained speed. Wind eased, and scattered light passed through thinning clouds. The gazebo roof appeared between trunks, and steam from the covered basket curled softly into the cooler air.

米亞用手臂托著蓋好的籃子，走進林地。她希望雨勢完全落在山丘前，能先抵達池邊的小涼亭。稍後，她的美術同好會成員都會在那裡一起素描。她多次走過這條小徑，但今天潮濕的青苔讓石頭變得滑溜。冷風吹過樹間，零星雨滴在深色樹皮上閃出銀光。繞池的長路太慢，她改走狹窄的小捷徑，在蕨叢間穿行。

頭頂忽然傳來沙沙聲。一隻貓頭鷹從低枝躍起，拍動的雙翼把水珠灑到她臉上。她的鞋踩到濕滑的根，籃蓋也掉了。幾個熱騰騰的馬芬蛋糕突然滾向水窪；因為綁得緊，沒有一個沉下去。穩住身子後，米亞注意到前方有棵倒下的樺木橫在泥凹上。她把它當作小橋，保持鞋子乾燥並加快腳步。風漸弱，雲層變薄，散光穿林而下。涼亭屋頂出現在樹間，籃子裡升起的蒸氣在清涼空氣中輕輕盤旋。