Lucy Under the Sudden Rain- 適合中級的英語短篇故事

Lucy balanced a small tomato seedling while leaving her apartment block at noon. She intended to donate the plant to the nearby community garden before work resumed. The sprout stood in nutrient-rich soil inside a glass jar, and the jar rested inside a cardboard drink holder she had found yesterday. Light wind brushed her cheeks, carrying city dust and the soft clap of weekend traffic. She has spent three weeks watering the seedling, so every step stayed steady and careful. Dark clouds crowded the sky, and the distant smell of rain mixed with the fresh scent rising from the leaves.

Rain arrived suddenly, and drops soaked the cardboard; the holder sagged after ten seconds. Chairs that have been stacked outside a café blocked her escape from the downpour, so she paused under the awning. A stack of paper napkins lay on a side table; she slid one around the jar, hoping to slow the moisture. An affectionate ginger cat brushed against her legs, nearly tipping the plant. While steadying the jar, she spotted several empty plastic pots placed beside the doorway. She swapped the weakened holder for a pot, tucked the napkin inside as padding, and hurried on. Drizzle faded as she entered the garden. Lucy set the safe seedling on the wooden counter, and the cat curled beside the fresh soil, tail flicking slowly.

露西中午離開公寓時，小心托著一株番茄幼苗。她打算把這株養在營養土裡的嫩芽捐給附近的社區花園。玻璃罐套在昨天撿到的紙質飲料杯架裡。微風拂過她的臉頰，帶來城市灰塵和假日車流的輕響。她已經澆水三週，所以每一步都穩而輕。烏雲擠滿天空，雨味和葉片散出的清香混在一起。

雨突然落下，紙架在十秒內就濕軟下沉。咖啡館外堆起的椅子擋住她離開雨幕的路，她只好站在遮簷下。旁邊桌上一疊紙餐巾，她把其中一張裹在罐外，盼能減慢浸水。一隻討喜的橘貓繞過她的腿，差點撞翻植物。她扶正罐子時，看見門邊擺著幾個空塑膠盆，便把植物移進去，再塞進餐巾做襯墊，快步前行。進入花園時，細雨已停。露西把完好的幼苗放上木檯，橘貓捲曲在濕潤土旁，尾巴慢慢擺動。