The Tilting Shelf- 適合初級的英語短篇故事

Soft afternoon light fell across the quiet storage room. Felix carried a metal tray for the tea service. He searched for one more small cup on top. A wooden box blocked the lowest shelf completely. He reached for the box, but it stayed firm. He pulled again with both hands and leaned back. The box did not slide at all this time. He saw a colorful pattern along its edge, like waves. He kneeled and touched the wood near the corner. The surface felt warm and strangely flexible under pressure.

He pressed harder, and the box sank a little. A soft creak quickly followed the sudden movement. Air rushed through a thin gap behind the shelf. That gap offered enough space for his fingers. He slid his hand inside and pushed upward. The whole shelf tilted like a hidden ramp. Several dusty balls rolled from the top row. They bumped a stack of trays on another bench. One tray landed on the floor with a ping. The unexpected noise echoed through the small venue. Felix now saw the box was only light foam. Its tactile surface fooled him with wood-like grooves. The new opening could offer an easy path. He slid the cup through, then left the shelf tilted.

柔和的午後光線灑進安靜的儲藏室。Felix 手裡拿著茶具用的金屬托盤，他想再找一只小杯子。最下層的層板被一個木盒完全擋住。他伸手去推盒子，但盒子紋絲不動。他用雙手再拉，身體往後傾，盒子依然沒動。他注意到盒子邊緣有一道像海浪的彩色花紋。他跪下摸著盒角，表面在手下竟然溫暖又微微可彎。

他更用力一壓，盒子微微下沉，隨即發出輕柔的咯聲。空氣由層板後方細縫湧出，那個縫隙剛好能容下他的手指。他把手伸進去往上一推，整塊層板像暗道般傾起。幾顆佈滿灰塵的小球從最上排滾下，撞到另一張工作檯上的托盤堆。一只托盤叮一聲落到地板，突如其來的聲音在小小的場地回盪。Felix 這才看出那盒子只是輕盈泡棉，仿木的觸感騙了他。新的開口提供了順手的通道，他把杯子滑了過去，留下傾斜的層板。