The Popped Lid and the Spilled Water - 適合初級的英文短篇故事，含中譯與發音

A low table stood beside the porch rail. A narrow space sat under it. A clear box with a tight lid held carrot sticks. Nina stood by the open door. "Hello there, little one," she said. A gray squirrel climbed onto the table.

It pushed the lid with its paws. The lid did not move at all. It pressed again and slid along the smooth side. A damp, earthy smell came from a clay pot nearby. Cool wood pressed under its paws.

It turned the box and tapped a corner. Its tail flicked once as it leaned. Brown dust marked the edge line. A thin seam showed under the dust. The corner flexed with a quiet click.

It slid a claw into the seam and pulled. One segment of the lid bent up. The box tilted and bumped a water tray.

Green algae swirled on the water as it spilled. Drops ran through the rail and dotted the deck. A carrot stick slid free and rolled to the edge. It nibbled the stick beside the dripping rail.

一張矮桌靠著門廊的欄杆。桌底下留著一條狹窄的空隙。桌上放著一個透明盒子，緊緊的蓋子壓著紅蘿蔔條。Nina 站在開著的門旁。「哈囉，小傢伙，」她說。一隻灰色松鼠跳上了桌子。

它用前爪推著蓋子。蓋子完全不動。它又用力，沿著光滑的側邊滑過去。旁邊的陶盆飄來潮濕、帶土味的氣味。涼涼的木頭頂著它的腳掌。

它把盒子轉了一下，輕敲一個角。它身子前傾，尾巴甩了一下。棕色的灰塵在邊線上留下痕跡。灰塵下露出一條細細的縫。那個角發出悶悶一聲，微微彎了一下。

它把一根爪子滑進縫裡一拉。蓋子的一段翹了起來。盒子傾斜去撞到一個水盤。

綠藻在水面旋開，水跟著潑出來。水滴穿過欄杆，點在木地板上。一根紅蘿蔔滑出來，滾到桌邊。它在滴水的欄杆旁啃著那根紅蘿蔔。