Leo Before the Bell- 適合中級的英語短篇故事

Mornings before the first bell had usually been quiet, yet today Leo hurried across the school courtyard with a cardboard box pressed against his chest. Inside waited the recycled bamboo instrument he has perfected for the class concert. A fresh drizzle turned paving stones dark, and a thin puddle stretched across the fastest path. While he skirted the water, wind slapped his jacket and shook the papers other students carried. Bodies streamed past, elbows brushing his arms and making the box shake in uneven rhythm. The music room door was visible, but every new gust sprayed fine drops that slipped under the loose cardboard lid.

Under the overhang near the lockers, Leo paused. He has practised on the reed for weeks, yet that memory offered no help now. He pushed the edges of the box together, then chose to fold the flaps flat against each other, sealing the gap. Rain tapped the cardboard gently while he resumed the walk along a longer, sheltered corridor. Halfway, a stray drop fell through a corner seam and struck the thin reed. A bright, playful whistle escaped, much clearer than any note the instrument had produced during practice. The unexpected tone widened Leo’s eyes, yet he tightened his grip and kept moving. Moments later he stepped into the warm music room and placed the box on the nearest table. Another drip rolled across the reed, sang a second quick note, and then settled into silence.

在第一聲上課鈴響之前，早晨通常安靜無聲，但今天里奧抱著一只紙箱急匆匆穿過校園廣場。箱子裡放著他為班級音樂會精心製作的再生竹樂器。細雨讓石板路變得發亮，一道薄薄的水窪擋住最短捷徑。他繞著水窪走時，風拍打著外套，也把其他同學手中的紙張搖得亂飛。人群從他身邊湧過，手肘輕擦他的手臂，讓箱子跟著不規律地晃動。音樂教室的門已經看得見，但每一陣新風都帶來細小水珠，鑽進鬆動的紙箱蓋縫裡。

走到置物櫃旁的屋簷下，里奧停下腳步。他已經練習那根簧片好幾週，這記憶此刻卻幫不上忙。他合攏箱子的邊緣，決定把蓋子的摺片互相壓平，封住縫隙。雨滴輕輕敲打紙箱，他沿著較長但有遮蔽的走廊繼續前行。走到一半，一滴水從箱角的縫隙落下，打在細簧片上。一聲明亮俏皮的嗚音溜出，比練習時的任何音色都清脆。突如其來的聲音讓里奧瞪大了眼，他握緊箱子，沒有停步。不久後，他跨進溫暖的音樂教室，將箱子放到最近的桌子上。又一滴水滑過簧片，發出第二聲短促的旋律，隨後歸於寂靜。