Kian Beside the Rocking Rowboat- 適合中級的英語短篇故事

Kian reached the quiet pier just after sunrise, carrying a bright tin of paint. He has painted three boats this month, yet this one matters more because it belongs to his grandmother. Several coats have been added already by other relatives. A narrow plank that links the pier to the rowboat bends under every step. Two sturdy wooden boxes support its middle section. Wind zips across the water, rocking the hull. Taking initiative, Kian kneels and ties the anchor chain around a post to calm the movement. He plans to finish before dinner today and sail tomorrow, when the tide will sit higher.

The painting begins smoothly under gentle morning light. A sudden gust flips the open lid and scatters drops across the fresh coat. Kian pauses; wet speckles dance on the surface he has just smoothed. The wind is one force, the rising tide is another as waves now slap the plank. Instead of brushing again, he flips the plank over and places its dry side upward. He then drags both boxes nearer the boat for extra balance. While lifting the second box, he finds a crab hiding beneath it, waving stiff claws. The unexpected passenger startles him, yet the hard shell blocks a tiny hole in the plank. He leaves the crab where it sits; wholehearted support now presses against the wood. Paint settles quietly while water lines steady below the anchored hull.

奇安帶著一桶亮漆在日出後抵達寧靜的碼頭。他這個月已經漆過三艘船，但這一艘屬於祖母。其他親戚已經加過好幾層漆。連接碼頭和划艇的窄木板每走一步就彎曲。兩個結實的木箱支撐著中段。風掠過水面，船身搖晃。奇安採取主動，跪下把錨鏈繫在柱子上，好讓船平穩。他打算今天晚餐前完成，明天潮水升高時再出航。

最初上漆很順利，柔和的晨光下進行著。一陣突來的陣風掀翻開蓋，水滴般的漆星灑落在新層表面。奇安停下，濕漆點在他剛抹平的木板上跳舞。風是一股力量，正升高的潮水是另一股，浪花拍擊木板。奇安沒有再刷，而是把木板翻面，讓乾面向上，並把兩個箱子拖得更靠近船身以增加平衡。抬第二個箱子時，他發現一隻躲在下面的螃蟹，硬鉗揮動。這位意外乘客讓他嚇一跳，但牠堅硬的殼正好堵住木板上一個細洞。他開懷地讓螃蟹留在原處，全心全意的支撐此刻壓在木板下。漆面安靜凝固，錨定的船身下水痕平穩。