The Orange Splash- 適合初級的英語短篇故事

Morning light filled the narrow street.

Sara carried a small basket toward the market stalls. She needed a ripe orange for her class presentation today. A fruit vendor arranged oranges in a tall bright pyramid. Sara stood on tiptoe and touched the top orange gently. The stack trembled, then several oranges rolled across dry leaves.

One orange bumped a tin cup; the cup struck a bucket. Cool water splashed, leaving a lasting puddle on the stones. The splash surprised a cat that slept under the table. The cat jumped, knocked a broom, and froze at Sara's feet. Sara kneeled, picked up the rolling oranges, then the broom. The vendor wiped water from his apron and laughed softly. He handed Sara the first ripe orange with a quick nod. Sara placed it safely in her basket and thanked him. The cat settled beside the warm puddle; water slowly stilled. Sara walked toward school, basket steady against her arm.

晨光照進狹窄的街道。

莎拉拿著小籃子走向市場攤位。她今天要為課堂展示準備一顆熟透的橘子。一位水果小販把橘子疊成高高的金字塔。莎拉踮起腳尖，輕輕碰到最上面的橘子。整座塔微微晃動，幾顆橘子滾過乾葉。

一顆橘子撞到錫杯，錫杯又碰到水桶。涼水濺出，在石板上留下持久的積水。這聲響驚醒了桌下打盹的貓。貓跳起，撞倒掃帚，接著僵在莎拉腳邊。莎拉跪下，撿起滾動的橘子和掃帚。小販擦去圍裙上的水漬，輕聲笑了。他快速點頭，把最熟的橘子遞給莎拉。莎拉把橘子放進籃裡並向他道謝。貓在溫暖的水漬旁安靜趴下，水面慢慢平靜。莎拉抱著籃子朝學校走去。