The Leaf That Burned on the Path- 適合中級的英語短篇故事

Steam hissed where a thin trickle of water met the sun-warmed flagstones. The path beside the broccoli bed lay in full light, and heat shimmer rose from it, while cold drops kept falling from the greenhouse gutter above. An observant squirrel reached the edge of the path; its tail twitched and its ears tilted toward the soft patter of water. Beyond the fence a strip of woodland framed the sky, and a kingfisher darted past in a quick blue line toward the pond. Sweet tomato scent mixed with the sharper smell of clay pots, hanging for a moment in the warm air. A shallow dish of fresh seed waited near the greenhouse door, but two forces blocked the way: the stones scorched paws, and the dripping water cooled fur in sudden shocks.

The squirrel twisted a wide lettuce leaf that lay fallen on damp soil, then pinched the stem between its teeth. It lifted the leaf like a small canopy, letting the cool surface shield its back from the constant drip. With one pressure eased, the animal hopped onto the hot stones. Heat seeped upward, yet the leaf shaded its spine long enough for three quick bounds. Near the dish, the leaf edges curled, dried, and began to brown; a patch tore where the water struck again and again. The squirrel dropped the wilting piece, tugged a single seed, and retreated to a low nest of ivy under the bench. The torn leaf remained on the warm path. Droplets still gathered on its fading green skin, and tiny ants traced the soggy tear toward the gutter’s shadow.

當一股細水流碰到被陽光加熱的石板時，蒸氣發出嘶嘶聲。花椰菜畦旁的石徑完全曝曬在陽光下，熱氣在上方扭曲空氣，而冷水滴則不停從溫室屋簷落下。 一隻機警的松鼠來到小徑邊緣；牠的尾巴抽動，耳朵朝著細碎水聲轉動。籬笆外，一條林地為天空畫出邊框，一隻翠鳥劃過，閃成一抹藍線衝向池塘。番茄的甘甜氣味和陶盆較刺鼻的土腥味混在一起，在溫暖空氣中停留片刻。溫室門旁淺盤裡的新鮮種子正等著，但兩種力量擋住前路：石板灼燙腳掌，落水突如其來地冰涼背毛。

松鼠扭起一片掉落的寬大萵苣葉，咬住葉柄，將它舉成小小遮蓬，讓清涼的表面擋住不斷落下的水滴。在一個壓力被削弱後，牠跳上燙熱石板。熱氣自下滲上來，但葉片替牠的背投下陰影，足夠支撐三次迅速躍步。靠近種子盤時，葉邊緣捲曲、乾枯，並在水滴一再撞擊處裂開。松鼠鬆口，讓枯萎的葉片跌落，叼起一粒種子，退到長凳下的常春藤低窩。那破葉留在溫熱石徑上。水珠仍持續在褪色的綠面聚集，小螞蟻沿著濕裂痕爬向屋簷的陰影。