Nina Under the Stage Light- 適合中級的英語短篇故事

Nina stepped into the school auditorium before the bell. She has practiced her juggling routine for weeks, yet the last element still slips away. Three rubber balls rested on a faded blue cushion at centre stage. She pushed the switch that raised a single spotlight. The white circle appeared on the floor like a small moon. Bright curtains and thick carpet gave the hall a feel at home mood. She spoke to herself without worry. Today her aim was simple: tackle the final throw while standing in that circle before anyone arrived.

A metal ladder that the janitor had forgotten blocked her first run. A strip of red tape had been placed on the floor earlier, marking centre stage. Its legs caught her shoe, and one ball rolled beyond the light. When she returned, the cushion had slipped sideways, so the circle no longer covered it. She pressed the button that controlled the spotlight. She hoped to widen the beam, yet the lamp swung toward the seats instead. Surprise flashed: the beam revealed Max, her small dog, curled between rows as if he owned the place. Nina laughed, lifted the cushion, and set it near him. Max jumped onto it, tail wagging. The lamp settled and cast a broader pool of light. Nina’s balls rose and fell smoothly inside the glow.

妮娜在上課鈴響前走進學校禮堂。她已經練習了好幾週的雜耍，但最後一個動作仍然不穩。三顆橡膠球靜靜躺在舞台中央那塊褪色的藍色坐墊上。她按下開關，一盞聚光燈升起。地板上亮出一個像小月亮的白色圓圈。鮮豔的布幕和厚實的地毯替大廳添上一股居家感。她自言自語，毫不擔心。今天她的目標很單純：在沒人進來前，站進那個圓圈並完成最後的拋接。

一架工友忘在那裡的金屬梯子擋住了她的第一段跑動。早些時候，地板上被貼了一條紅膠帶，標示舞台中心。梯腳勾住她的鞋尖，一顆球滾出光圈。當她回來時，坐墊已經滑到一旁，圓圈再也罩不到它。她按下控制聚光燈的按鈕。她本想把光束調寬，燈卻轉向觀眾席。意外的一幕出現：光束照到瑪克斯──她的小狗──正窩在座位間，好像那裡是他的地盤。妮娜笑了，拿起坐墊放到牠身旁。瑪克斯跳上去，尾巴搖個不停。燈光安定下來，灑出更寬的亮池，妮娜的球在光中順暢地升降。