Miko Before the Doorbell- 適合中級的英語短篇故事

Miko placed a long box on the kitchen counter. Her sister’s engagement dinner started in one hour, and the table still lacked color. She planned to arrange flowers before the first guest arrived. When she lifted the lid, a delicate tulip slipped free and rolled across the tiles. A cool breeze drifted through the half-open window, chasing the stem toward the house cat. The cat pounced; glassware trembled, and the tall vase wobbled. By the time Miko caught the vase, clear water was sliding over the floor. The table, which had been set earlier, now waited bare and shining.

In the spreading puddle she noticed several petals floating like small boats. Their vivid pink brightened the spill, sparking an idea. She has already trimmed every extra leaf, yet spare napkins remained. Quickly she folded each napkin into simple cones, then slipped a floating petal inside. The damaged stems were shortened and dropped into teacups that her grandmother had painted. Soon a row of miniature bouquets circled the empty center plate. The mess had been cleared when the doorbell rang. Miko straightened her back, wiped her damp palms on her apron, and opened the door. Light from the hallway touched the improvised display. The tiny tulip cones stood steady in the glow.

Miko 將一個長盒子放在廚房料理台上。姐姐的訂婚晚宴還有一小時就要開始，桌面卻仍缺少顏色。她打算在第一位客人抵達前完成插花。當她掀開盒蓋時，一朵嬌嫩的鬱金香滑出，滾過磁磚地面。微涼的風透過半開的窗吹進來，把花莖追向家裡的貓。貓撲了過去，玻璃器皿發出顫聲，高大的花瓶晃動。等 Miko 抓住花瓶時，清水已在地上滑開。早先擺好的桌面此刻又空蕩而閃亮。

在蔓延的水漬裡，她看見幾片花瓣像小船般漂浮，其亮麗的粉色讓水面生動起來，也點亮了她的靈感。她早已修去多餘的葉子，餐巾卻還剩下。她迅速把每張餐巾摺成簡單的圓錐，並將漂浮的花瓣塞進去。受損的花莖被剪短後插進祖母彩繪的茶杯裡。不久，一排迷你花束圍住空著的主菜盤。門鈴響時，地板已恢復乾淨。Miko 挺直身子，把微濕的手在圍裙上擦乾，然後打開門。走廊的光照在臨時完成的擺飾上，一排鬱金香小錐穩穩立在柔光中。