Feather Skips the Water Bowl Rim - 適合初學者的英文短篇故事，含中譯與發音

What moves by the rail?

Hugo stands at the fence. His palm rests on rough wood. Warm grain meets his skin. A thin damp edge still clings. The mother sits on the bench. A folded map rests on her knee. Hugo’s other hand stays in hers. A flat brush tool lies nearby. Its handle touches the bench leg. Grass and damp earth smell here.

A white feather drifts past. "There it goes," the mother says. Hugo walks behind it outside the fence. He walks by the next gap. A round stone water bowl sits low. Cool water rests inside. A faint wet ring marks the rim. The feather edges the rim. Hugo hopes it lands there. His shoe taps the tool handle. Ripples spread.

A soft breeze crosses the yard. The gate hinge swings and creaks. Fresh straw lifts at the door. The feather slips off the rim. Hugo crouches by another gap. Gravel presses his knees. The feather slides under the hen house. He stands still at the fence. A chicken pecks, then walks under the hen house.

欄杆旁邊是什麼在動？

Hugo 站在圍欄旁。他的手掌貼在粗木上。溫熱的木紋碰著他的皮膚。一道薄薄的濕痕還黏著。媽媽坐在長椅上。一張摺起的地圖放在她的膝上。Hugo 的另一隻手握在她手裡。一把扁刷工具放在旁邊。它的柄碰著長椅腳。這裡有草和潮土的氣味。

一片白羽毛飄過。媽媽說：「它過去了。」Hugo 在圍欄外跟在後面走。他走到下一個縫隙旁。一個圓形石頭水碗放得很低。清涼的水在裡面。一圈淡淡濕痕在碗邊。羽毛靠近邊緣。Hugo 希望它停在那裡。他的鞋尖碰到工具柄。水紋擴開。

一陣微風掠過院子。大門的轉軸搖擺又吱呀。雞舍門口的新草稈抬起。羽毛離開邊緣滑下。Hugo 蹲在另一個縫隙旁。砂礫頂著他的膝蓋。羽毛滑進雞舍底下。他站在圍欄邊不動。一隻雞啄了幾下，然後走到雞舍底下。