Leah on the Wobbly Ladder- 適合中級的英語短篇故事

Leah balances on a narrow ladder in the courtyard. She plans to hang a long paper banner for her grandparents’ golden anniversary. That special occasion begins in only one hour. Finishing late would break a promise she has carried since last week. The banner, filled with tiny sketches that trace the couple’s sixty-year relationship, rests on her shoulder. A gust shifts loose petals across the stones, shaking the ladder. The ladder is jerked sideways by the wind. Metal rungs jar her elbow, and a sharp pinch darts along a nerve in her wrist. At the same moment, the red ribbon holding the banner snags, refusing to slide through its loop.

She tries again, but the ladder tilts on an uneven brick. A splash surprises her; a neighbor’s kitten has tipped a watering can, leaving the ground slick and bright. Leah steadies herself, yet the ribbon still refuses to move. Footsteps rush closer. Milo, her cousin, places his hand on the side rail. Without a word, they join hands and press their feet against the stones. Milo steadies the frame. Leah eases the knot with a pocket knife she has carried for painting errands. The banner settles across the courtyard arch just as sunlight reaches it. The banner sways gently above their heads.

莉雅站在院子裡一架窄梯上。她打算掛起一條為祖父母金婚紀念而畫的長長紙幅。那場特別聚會只剩一小時就要開始了。若是晚成，她上週許下的承諾就算失信。紙幅上滿是描繪兩人六十年情感的細緻素描，正靠在她肩頭。一陣風掀起鬆散的花瓣，在石板上翻飛，把梯子晃動。梯子被風吹得向旁猛晃。金屬橫檔撞到她的手肘，一道尖銳的刺痛沿著手腕的神經竄過。同時，固定紙幅的紅緞帶卡住，不肯再穿過環扣。

她再試一次，梯腳卻因不平的磚面而傾斜。一聲水響讓她吃驚—鄰居的小貓撞翻了澆水壺，地面變得溼滑發亮。莉雅努力保持平衡，可緞帶仍不動。腳步聲靠近。表哥米洛把手按在側扶。兩人默默牽起手，把雙腳踩牢在石面。米洛穩住梯架。莉雅用隨身的小折刀慢慢鬆開死結，那把刀她一直帶來修補顏料。紙幅終於跨在拱門上，剛好被陽光照亮。紙幅在他們頭頂輕輕搖晃。