Marco on the Muddy Lane- 適合中級的英語短篇故事

Marco steps outside at first light, carrying a bundle of flowers tied with reed. He hopes to reach the market before the metal bell starts ringing. Untamed hedges lean over the narrow lane after last night’s storm. Rainwater pools beside the stones, and each tread splashes his ankles. Marco has visited this market every week since he was little. Wooden boards have been placed across the main road for repair. Walkers squeeze together between tools and wagons, and progress slows. As time passes, Marco shifts from foot to foot and watches the sky.

A sharp bleat cuts through the murmur of voices. An untamed goat, escaped from a cart, darts into the crowded lane. Baskets wobble, and people jump aside. Marco steps back, but his heel meets a slick stone. His next tread slips, and the bundle of flowers lifts from his arms. The stems land across a crate of lettuce that belongs to the vendor. Water droplets sparkle on green leaves, filling the air with fragrance. The vendor laughs, lifts the wet flowers, and sets them inside a tall jar. Without speaking of price, she fills Marco’s basket with fresh vegetables. The market bell finally rings, and footsteps settle around the bright stall. Marco breathes in the sharp scent and lifts his recovered basket.

馬可一大早提著用蘆葦綁起的花束走出家門。他希望在大鐘響起前抵達市集。昨夜的暴風雨後，野生樹籬伸向窄巷。積水在石縫間閃著光，每一次踩踏都濺起水珠打濕腳踝。馬可從小就常來這座市集。主路因修繕被木板封住，人們夾在工具和馬車之間艱難前行。時間一點一滴過去，他左右換腳，抬頭望向天空。

突然，一聲尖銳的羊叫劃破人群的嗡嗡聲。一隻逃離車子的野羊衝入擁擠的小巷。籃子搖晃，行人紛紛閃避。馬可急退一步，腳跟卻踩到濕滑石頭。下一步打滑，那束花從他臂間拋出，正好落在攤販的萵苣箱上。水珠在翠綠葉片上閃爍，空氣中瀰漫清香。攤販笑著撈起濕花，放進高瓶裡，接著將一籃新鮮蔬菜塞入馬可的空籃。市集鐘聲終於響起，腳步聲在明亮的攤位周圍慢慢停歇。馬可深吸花香，重新舉起自己的籃子。