The Bulging Sponge- 適合中級的英語短篇故事

Four paw-lengths from the tall window, a shallow tin tray stood at the very center of the work table, its rim wrapped with two crossed rubber bands that pinned a clear sheet tight over the top. Shelves around the table formed a tiny wonderland of bright leaves, shells, and glass beads. Through the sheet a single sunflower seed lay beside a cube of yellow sponge; the curved plastic made the seed look twice its real size, an illusion that shimmered when the mouse shifted. A puzzled web of smaller bands lay scattered nearby, as if someone had started a pattern and then stopped.

The mouse climbed onto the tin rim and pushed down with both forepaws. The sheet dipped but sprang back, the bands tugging it flat again. He pinched one band with his teeth and tried to drag it sideways; it flexed, snapped free for an instant, then rebounded across his nose. He toppled backward, and the tray wobbled. The air held a faint scent of metal and sun-warmed dust while a distant sparrow chirped beyond the patio bricks outside the open window.

Landing beside the tray, the mouse brushed against the cube of sponge that peeked through a small gap. The foam compressed easily, then swelled back once his weight lifted. He paused, pressed the sponge hard into the tin, and quickly tucked its near edge under the sheet. The sponge pushed upward as it expanded, prying the clear cover higher until the crossed bands rolled off the rim and whipped toward a jar of glass slides. They slapped the jar, and two slides slid forward, tapping the table before lying still. Thin crumbs of sponge drifted through the air, then lay quiet on the wooden surface. Outside, late light stayed on the silent patio tiles.

距離高窗不到四個鼠步，一個淺錫盤擺在工作桌中央，盤緣被兩條交叉橡皮圈纏住，將透明薄片牢牢拉緊在上。桌旁層層架子像極小的奇境，擺滿明亮的葉片、貝殼與玻璃珠。隔著薄片，一顆葵花子靠著一塊黃色海綿；弧形塑料讓種子看來大了一倍，當小鼠移動時，這種錯覺隨之閃動。旁邊散落著小橡皮圈，像有人排成迷糊的圖案後又停手。

小鼠跳上錫盤邊緣，用前爪往下壓。薄片下陷，卻立刻被橡皮圈彈回原位。他用牙咬住一條圈想把它往旁拖；橡皮圈拉長、瞬間脫離，隨即反彈到牠鼻尖，牠向後翻跌，錫盤跟著晃動。空氣中帶著金屬與曬暖灰塵的微氣味，遠處的麻雀在窗外磚石露台上啾啾響。

落在錫盤旁，牠碰到海綿方塊的一角。海綿被壓時輕易扁縮，牠一離開又漸漸鼓起。牠再度用力把海綿壓進錫盤，迅速把近側邊塞進薄片下。當海綿回復形狀時，向上頂開透明蓋子，交叉橡皮圈滾下邊緣，甩向一只玻璃片罐。橡皮圈拍到罐身，兩片玻璃滑出，輕撞桌面後靜住。細碎海綿屑在空中飄散，最後安靜落在木面。窗外晚光留在無聲的露台磚上。