Manuel Beside the Dry Fountain- 適合中級的英語短篇故事

Manuel, a young street artist, carried a metal pitcher and a folded easel across the summer fair. He has waited all spring for this fair, planning to paint the riverbank scene live. The path that curved toward the fountain was blocked by couples spinning to music. Laughter rose above the drums, and everyone aimed to have fun beneath bright banners. While twisting sideways between picnic rugs, the leather strap of a sandal snapped. Manuel wobbled, paintbrushes clattered, and one tube rolled into the grass. He knelt, gathered the scattered colors, then slipped both sandals into his bag. The cool grass offered comfort to his bare feet, and he stepped off the crowded pavement.

Reaching the fountain, he found only silent stone; the pumps had been switched off for repairs. Manuel studied the empty bowl, then glanced around for water. A lemonade vendor cleaning nearby lifted a clear pitcher of rinse water that sparkled. The vendor had already poured away the sweet drink, so the vessel was nearly clean. When Manuel asked with a raised eyebrow, the vendor shrugged and set it on the ledge. The artist dipped a brush, tested the pale liquid, and thin blue spirals spread across his sketch. A breeze pushed away the heat while children chased soap bubbles. Manuel tightened his bag, and gentle strokes continued across the page.

年輕的街頭藝術家曼努埃爾提著金屬水壺，夾著摺疊畫架，穿過夏季市集。他整個春天都在等待這一天，打算現場描繪河岸景色。通往噴泉的彎道被隨音樂旋轉的舞伴擋住，鼓聲上方傳來陣陣笑聲；人們在鮮豔旗幟下盡情玩樂。曼努埃爾側身鑽過野餐墊時，一隻涼鞋的皮帶斷裂，他踉蹌一下，畫筆撞擊作響，一支顏料管滾入草叢。他跪下收拾散落的顏色，接著把兩隻涼鞋收進背袋。涼爽的草地撫慰了赤腳的熱度，他離開擁擠的步道。

抵達噴泉時，只見石壁靜默，水泵因維修而停用。曼努埃爾打量空盆，接著四處尋找水源。附近收攤的檸檬汁販子正清理，一把起裝著清水的透明水壺，在陽光下閃閃發光。甜飲早已倒掉，壺身幾乎乾淨。曼努埃爾挑眉示意，販子聳肩，將水壺放到石台上。藝術家沾濕畫筆，試了試清淡的液體，淡藍漩渦在素描紙上綻開。微風驅散熱氣，孩子們追逐肥皂泡。曼努埃爾收緊背袋，筆尖在紙上繼續留下柔和的線條。