The Seeds Under the Ladder- 適合中級的英語短篇故事

Jonas crossed the garden with a small wooden nesting box and a folding ladder. Warm sunlight slid through new leaves, and distant bees made a low hum. He had promised himself he would fix the box to the tall oak today, so new birds could visit. The branch he wanted stood above the garden bench, higher than he had guessed.

He set the ladder on the grass, yet one leg sank into soft soil and the rungs tilted greatly to one side. Jonas stepped back, rubbed his chin, and searched the ground. A wide plank lay near the shed, belonging to an old crate that had fallen apart last month. He slid the plank under the weak leg for support, then climbed again. Even with the extra height, his fingertips only brushed the bark.

He paused to prepare the screws and hammer. While shifting his weight, the plank rolled aside, lifting a layer of earth. A metal tin appeared under the exposed roots. Its lid had cracked; tiny green shoots inside continued to thrive in the hidden damp. The lid had been loosened by rust over the years. Jonas grinned and placed the tin on the bench for later study. With the soil now level, the ladder stood firm, and the nesting box clicked into place against the branch. Afternoon light rested on fresh wood and quiet leaves.

約納斯帶著一個小木製鳥巢盒和可折式梯子穿過花園。溫暖的陽光透過新葉滑落，遠處的蜜蜂發出低沉嗡聲。他答應自己今天要把鳥巢盒固定在高大的橡樹上，好讓新來的鳥兒能停留。那根他想要的樹枝位在花園長椅上方，比他原先估計的還高。

他把梯子放在草地上，但一隻梯腳陷進鬆軟泥土，橫檔向一側大幅傾斜。約納斯後退一步，揉了揉下巴，並在地面尋找東西。一塊寬木板躺在工具間旁，原本屬於上個月散掉的舊木箱。他把木板塞到那隻鬆軟梯腳下作為支撐，然後再度往上爬。即使多了這段高度，他的指尖也只是輕觸到樹皮。

他停下來準備螺絲和鐵鎚。轉移重心時，木板滑開，把一層泥土翻起。一個金屬罐出現在裸露樹根下。罐蓋已裂開；裡面細小的綠芽在隱密濕氣中繼續茂盛生長。罐蓋多年來被鐵鏽鬆動。約納斯咧嘴一笑，把金屬罐放到長椅，打算之後再研究。泥土此刻變得平整，梯子也站得穩固，鳥巢盒啪一聲卡在樹枝上。午後光線停在新木料和靜靜樹葉上。