Levi at the Final Stop - 適合中級的英文短篇故事，含中譯與發音

The market square buzzed under a wonderful spring sky. Levi balanced a wicker basket that held one plump chicken. He had promised to bring it to his grandmother before lunch. He climbed onto the old green bus that wound toward the hills. Seats were full, so he stood near the back door. Fresh bread smell drifted from his basket, and the bird clucked softly. The road outside curved sharply; each bend jolted the passengers sideways. Levi’s fingers gripped the rail whenever the tyres hit a pothole. He has travelled this route many times, yet today felt different. Behind him, a child’s backpack knocked his elbow, and the basket tilted.

The next bump lifted the lid, and the chicken burst into the aisle. Wings flapped against seats, startling everyone. A sudden brake screeched, and the bus rolled to a stop beside a quiet lane. While passengers shuffled away from the frantic feathers, Levi crouched low. He whispered nothing; instead, he scattered crumbs that had rested in his pocket. Several feathers were pressed against the window before sliding down. The bird pecked, slowed, and he embraced its warm body with both arms. At that exact moment, a blue farm truck began to drive past the open door. Levi stepped onto the lane, nodded thanks to the silent driver, and climbed onto the flatbed. The bus resumed its climb without him. Hills drifted behind as the truck rumbled forward, and the basket rested steady beside his boots.

集市廣場在美好的春空下充滿喧鬧。列維提著一只柳條籃，裡面放著一隻肥嫩的雞。他答應在午餐前把牠送到祖母的山間小屋。他爬上通往丘陵的舊綠色公車。座位已滿，他便站在後門附近。新鮮麵包的香味從籃子裡飄出，小雞輕聲咯咯叫。外面的道路蜿蜒起伏，每一個彎道都把乘客晃向一側。每當輪胎碰到坑洞，列維的手指就緊抓扶手。他多次走這條路，但今天氣氛不同。身後一個孩子的背包撞到他的手肘，籃子歪了。

接下來的一個顛簸掀開了蓋子，那隻雞衝進走道。翅膀拍打座椅，把人們嚇得退開。突然的剎車尖叫，公車在一條寧靜小巷旁停住。乘客紛紛閃避那些瘋狂飛舞的羽毛時，列維蹲下身。他一句話也沒說，只是撒下口袋裡一直放著的碎屑。幾片羽毛被壓在窗上，然後慢慢滑落。雞啄食後速度變慢，他雙臂將溫熱的身體抱在懷中。就在此刻，一輛藍色農用卡車從敞開的車門旁駛過。列維踏上巷道，向沉默的駕駛點頭致意，接著跳上平板車。公車沒他便重新爬坡。卡車隆隆前行，丘陵漸遠，籃子安穩地靠在他靴旁。