Jonas on the Quiet Pier- 適合中級的英語短篇故事

Jonas walked to the wooden pier during early evening. He carried a small net and a light tin bucket. He has visited the pier many times, yet tonight held a fresh aim. A moderate breeze brushed his hair while small boats were tied beside worn posts and bobbed softly. Every few steps, a gentle wave rolled under the planks and shook the boards. Within that rocking pattern, Jonas began to wander along the edge, hunting for shells. Seagull cries rose above him, and salty drops cooled his cheeks.

A bright spiral shell soon glimmered on a lower beam, but two problems appeared. The tide climbed quickly, covering the steps. At the same moment, several anglers spread folding chairs across the narrow path. Water splashed against his shoes, and his knees bent for balance. He adjusted his plan in one quick breath. Instead of squeezing past the chairs, he climbed onto an unused dinghy tied beside the pier. The boat rocked under him, yet the rope held tight. From there he lowered the net and lifted the shell moments before another wave swallowed the beam. A silver fish sprang beside the hull, spraying cool sparks across his arms. The flash startled him, but laughter burst from his open mouth. After a short wait, anglers packed their gear and wheeled the chairs away. Quiet returned; stillness settled around the posts as Jonas placed the shining shell inside his bucket.

傍晚時分，喬納斯走向木製碼頭。他帶著一把小網子和一個輕巧的鐵桶。他以前來過這裡很多次，但今晚有個新的目標。適度的微風掠過他的頭髮，繫在舊木樁旁的小船輕輕起伏。每走幾步，柔和的浪花就在板條下翻滾，讓木板微微顫動。在這搖晃的節奏中，他沿著邊緣漫遊，尋找貝殼。海鷗的叫聲在空中響起，鹹鹹的水珠拍在臉上。

不久，一枚亮晶晶的螺旋貝殼出現在下方橫梁，但兩個麻煩同時冒出。潮水迅速升高，淹沒階梯；幾名釣客同時把折疊椅攤開，堵住狹窄通道。水花濺到他的鞋子，他的膝蓋彎曲以保持平衡。他深吸一口氣，改變計畫。他沒有擠過椅子，而是爬上一艘繫在旁邊的無人小艇。船身搖晃，但繩索緊繃不斷。他把網子探下，在下一道浪吞沒橫梁前撈起貝殼。一條銀色小魚突然躍出船旁，冷冷的水珠四散。他被這閃光嚇了一跳，隨即笑出了聲。稍後，釣客收拾裝備離去。碼頭重新安靜，靜謐籠罩木樁，喬納斯把閃亮的貝殼放進桶中。