Milo Beside the Glass- 適合中級的英語短篇故事

The city aquarium opened at nine, and Milo slipped inside because the zoo has announced that one emperor penguin egg might hatch today. He walked quickly, eager to observe the pool before crowds arrived. Initially the walkway echoed with only his footsteps, but a loose strap on his right sandal slapped the floor and slowed him. Cool air carried salt from the artificial pool, and soft splashes bounced against the glass walls. By the time he reached the enclosure, several families had gathered, spreading strollers across the rail. Milo bounced on his toes, yet the broken strap folded under his heel, and each step skewed sideways, holding him behind taller visitors who blocked the clear view of the nesting stones.

He bent, tore the loose strap free, and carried the sandal like a soft paddle. A narrow window was left open near the back rail, and he slid barefoot to that gap. The keeper, who carried a silver bucket, stepped aside for a moment, revealing the stones from a lower angle. Suddenly a sharp crack echoed; it did not come from the famous egg in front but from a smaller shell hidden behind a rock. While everyone stared ahead, Milo watched thin lines spread across that second shell. Another crack followed, and the top lifted; a gray beak pushed through. The surprise chick wriggled free, shook damp fluff, and released a tiny squeak. The tiny chick tottered toward the water, and Milo's bare toes curled on the cool floor.

市立水族館九點開門，米洛趁早溜進去，因為園方已經宣布今天可能有一顆帝王企鵝蛋破殼。他快步前往企鵝池，希望在人潮湧入前先行觀察。最初走道裡只有他的腳步聲，不過右腳涼鞋的鬆脫鞋帶拍在地上，拖慢了速度。人工池散出的鹹味貼在涼涼的空氣裡，柔和的水聲在玻璃牆間回盪。等他抵達圍欄時，好幾個家庭已經占住欄杆，嬰兒車排成一列。米洛踮著腳，但壞掉的鞋帶摺在腳跟下，每一步都歪向一邊，高大的遊客擋住了他要看的巢石。

他彎腰扯下那條鬆帶，像拿小槳一樣拎著涼鞋。欄杆後方留著一扇窄窗，他赤腳滑到那個縫隙。提著銀桶的飼育員暫時讓開，較低的角度露出石頭之間的空隙。突然一聲尖銳的裂響響起；聲音不是來自大家盯著的那顆蛋，而是石後較小的殼。眾人依舊看向前方時，米洛注意到細紋在那第二顆蛋上蔓延。又一道裂痕出現，頂端抬起，一張灰色的小喙探了出來。意料之外的小寶寶掙脫殼片，抖掉濕漉漉的絨羽，發出輕輕的吱聲。這隻小企鵝搖搖晃晃走向水邊，米洛的赤腳趾收縮在冰涼的地面上。