Butterfly Over the Mustard- 適合中高級的英語短篇故事

Milo had spent the entire morning crouching beside the rosebush at the back of the yard. Yesterday an iridescent butterfly had circled that spot, and he wanted a clear photograph for the school magazine. Warm sunlight lay across the grass, and a slow breeze carried sweetness from early blossoms. He drew slow breaths, gripping the camera with both hands while sparrows hopped along the fence. The faint buzz of bees traced lazy arcs above the thyme patch.

A tiny flash of color appeared near the lilac branch before darting behind a shadow. It vanished again as a cloud drifted over, dimming the corner where he waited. The perfect shot had been imagined many times during a week of careful planning. Milo shifted position, but the tripod leg brushed a watering can and sent it rattling across the path. The sudden clang shook leaves, and the butterfly rose high, folding into the gray sky. He reset the tripod farther back, adjusted the focus, and held still until his knees tingled. A gust lifted loose papers from the porch, and the swirl drew his attention; the insect slipped away again.

Light returned as the cloud passed, revealing a mustard cluster blooming beside a forgotten terracotta pot. The sturdy plant had grown from a seedling he had protected last spring. A fat caterpillar clung under one leaf, its striped body nearly the same shade as the stem. Milo steadied the lens on that gentle scene; his fingers paused, unsure whether to press the shutter. A delicate butterfly settled on the mustard flowers, only a handspan from the unaware caterpillar. If Milo had rushed forward, he would have frightened the insect away. He exhaled slowly; the shutter clicked, and the bright wings rested against the yellow petals.

整個早晨，米洛一直蹲在後院的玫瑰叢旁。昨日，一隻閃亮的蝴蝶在那裡盤旋，他想為校刊拍下一張清晰的照片。溫暖的陽光覆在草地上，微風帶來初春花香。他深深呼吸，雙手緊握相機，麻雀沿著籬笆跳動。淡淡的蜜蜂嗡聲在百里香叢上空畫出懶散的弧線。

一抹亮色在紫丁香枝旁閃現，隨即躲進陰影。雲層飄過，再次遮住他等候的角落。經過一週細心規畫，他早已在腦中勾畫完美快門。米洛挪動位置，但腳架腿碰到澆水壺，鐵器撞擊聲在小徑上回響。葉片被震動，蝴蝶升向高空，消失在灰雲之中。他把腳架移遠，重新對焦，雙膝發麻仍保持靜止。一陣風捲起門廊上的紙張，他被吸引轉頭，昆蟲又一次溜走。

雲散後，光線回來，一叢芥菜花在被遺忘的陶盆旁綻放。這株健壯的植物來自去年春天他細心守護的小苗。一條肥胖的毛毛蟲掛在葉下，條紋身軀幾乎與莖同色。米洛將鏡頭對準這靜柔畫面；他的手指停住，不知是否該按下快門。一隻嬌小的蝴蝶落在芥菜花上，離毛毛蟲只有一掌距離。若米洛剛才急忙向前，早已驚走這隻昆蟲。他慢慢吐氣，快門喀嚓響起，亮麗的翅膀伏在金黃花瓣上。