Leaves After the Spray- 適合初級的英語短篇故事

Morning light touched the wet grass beside the path. Owen carried a thin stick for balance on the slippery stones. Sprinklers rose from the ground and sprayed wide fans of water. After ten heartbeats they hid again, and the air stayed still. He counted two full cycles and saw a clear rhythm. His toy boat waited under the small bridge beyond the spray. That quick dash offered a simple solution to the spray. He planned one quick dash across the stones during the next pause.

The sprinklers dropped, and water lines vanished from the air. Owen stepped forward as the ground stayed dry for a breath. Each stone rocked under his shoes, but he kept moving. He reached the bridge and hooked the floating boat with the stick. The boat bumped against his knee, marking a tiny victory. The stick pressed a hidden valve, and one sprinkler sprang early. Water hit a low branch, shaking leaves onto the nearby bench. Green specks from nature now dotted the bench. Leaves fell over fresh paint there, changing its smooth outcome. Owen began the slow journey back along a dry side path. The early sprinkler kept spinning while leaves gathered on wet wood.

清晨的光線照在小徑旁濕潤的草上。歐文拿著一根細棍，好在滑石上保持平衡。灑水器從地面升起，噴出寬闊的水幕。十個心跳後它們又縮回，空氣重新安靜。他數了兩個完整循環，看出明顯的節奏。玩具小船停在噴水外那座小橋下。那次快速衝刺成了對付水幕的簡單解決方法。他計畫在下一次停水時快步踩過石頭。

灑水器落下，空中不再出現水線。地面保持乾燥一瞬，歐文向前踏出。每塊石頭在他鞋底搖晃，但他不停腳步。他到達橋邊，用棍子勾住漂浮的小船。小船碰到他的膝蓋，算是一點小勝利。棍子壓到一個隱藏的閥門，一支灑水器提前噴起。水柱打到低垂的樹枝，葉子落向附近長椅。來自自然的綠色斑點此刻點綴了椅面。樹葉落在剛漆好的表面上，改變了原本平順的結果。歐文夾著小船，沿乾燥的側道慢慢走回。那支提前啟動的灑水器依舊旋轉，落葉聚在濕木上。