Morning Ripples- 適合初級的英語短篇故事

Leo woke at dawn and carried a small fishing rod.

He wanted one bright perch for the morning village meal.

The path beside the river looked calm and empty.

Birds glided low, their wings making gentle swishes over water.

His shoulders rested in a relaxed line while he walked.

He reached a flat stone and placed his tin box.

A sudden shower tapped leaves and sprinkled the smooth rock.

Drops pushed the box; shiny hooks slid toward the edge.

One hook flicked off, struck pebbles, and splashed into water.

The small splash startled a duck hiding under the bank.

The bird flapped hard; waves rolled against Leo's stone seat.

His rod slid sideways and almost joined the drifting hook.

He lunged forward, pressed his foot, and caught the handle.

The push moved the stone, tilting it toward the stream.

Water climbed the surface and soaked his worn canvas shoes.

He laughed softly and stepped back onto dry, higher ground.

Hooks settled, the duck drifted away, and ripples slowed again.

Leo wiped the rod and started casting once more.

黎歐天剛亮就帶著小釣竿出門。他想為村裡的早飯釣一條色彩明亮的鱸魚。河邊的小徑安靜而平坦。鳥兒低低滑過，翅膀在水面劃出輕柔聲響。他的肩膀自然下垂，看起來十分放鬆。他走到一塊平石上，把鐵盒放下。忽然一陣細雨敲打葉片，雨點濺到光滑的石面。水珠推動鐵盒，閃亮的魚鉤向邊緣滑去。一枚魚鉤翻落，碰到卵石後濺進水裡。

小小水花驚起藏在岸邊的野鴨。野鴨猛地撲翅，波浪衝向黎歐的石座。他的釣竿滑向一旁，幾乎掉進河中。他猛然前撲，用腳穩住身體，抓住竿把。這一推帶動石塊，石塊朝水流微微傾斜。水面湧起，浸濕他那雙舊帆布鞋。他輕笑一聲，退到較高的乾地。魚鉤歸位，野鴨漂遠，漣漪再次變緩。黎歐擦乾釣竿，重新拋線。