Harbor Ramp That Wouldn't Stay Still - 適合中級的英文短篇故事，含中譯與發音

Creak-creak—the narrow ramp groaned as it rocked beside the pier. Viola set one boot on the first plank and felt the wood tilt under her heel. Salt air brushed her sleeve while gulls cried beyond the masts. She planned to lay a fresh canvas roll on a rowboat below, yet the ramp lacked steady support. Two flat stones lay at its foot; she hoped they would collaborate with the soft sand and keep everything level. When she pressed the stones closer, the ramp leaned again, then wobbled back, seesawing above the water and tapping the post.

To maintain balance, she bent her knees and shifted her weight forward. “Easy enough if it stays still,” she murmured. A gull flapped low; its shadow rushed across the boards like a tiny sprint, and the sudden motion drew her gaze away for a second. The ramp answered that pause: its higher end slipped off the inner stone and dropped half a finger’s width. Viola grabbed the nearest rope railing; the fibers scratched her palms but held. A rounded bollard beside her stood firm against every tug, a silent mentor in the art of staying planted while everything around leaned.

She nudged the fallen stone deeper until wet sand began to solidify around its edges. The ramp settled for a breath, yet another tiny wave lapped higher and lifted the hull under it. The board teetered once more, ready to topple. Viola released the rope and let the project wait. A strip of bright sea glass caught sunlight near her boot. She crouched, plucked the smooth shard, and turned it between her fingers until green sparks danced across her knuckles. Pocketing the glass, she stepped toward the quiet shed, leaving the restless ramp rocking behind her.

喀吱──細長的斜道在碼頭邊搖晃，發出低沉的木聲。Viola 把一隻靴子踏上第一塊板，感覺木頭在腳跟下傾斜。鹹鹹的海風輕撫她的袖子，桅杆外傳來海鷗的叫聲。她打算把一卷新的帆布放到下面的小划船上，但斜道還不夠穩。兩塊扁石放在斜道腳邊，她希望它們能和柔軟的沙一起「合作」，保持水平。當她把石頭推近時，斜道再次傾身，接著晃回來，在水面上像蹺蹺板一樣擺動，輕敲木柱。

為了「維持」平衡，她彎膝並把重心向前移。「要是它肯乖乖待著就好了。」她低聲說。一隻海鷗低飛而過，影子像小短跑般掠過木板，這突如其來的動作分走了她一瞬目光。斜道趁空隙反擊：較高的一端滑離內側那塊石頭，沉下半個手指寬。Viola 抓住最近的繩欄，粗纖維刮疼掌心，但終究撐住。她身旁的圓形繫船柱依舊穩固，像個無聲「導師」展示如何在周遭傾斜時依然站得住腳。

她把落下的石頭再往深處推，濕沙開始在邊緣「凝結」。斜道暫時安穩一口氣，但又一個小浪拍高，抬起下面的船殼。木板再度搖晃，隨時可能翻覆。Viola 放開繩子，讓工程暫停。一片亮眼的海玻璃在她靴邊反射陽光。她蹲下，撿起那片光滑碎片，在手指間轉動，綠光在指節上跳舞。她把玻璃放入口袋，轉身走向安靜的小棚，留下依舊搖擺的斜道在身後。