The Gate and the Fallen Pot- 適合初級的英語短篇故事

Morning light fell across the small quiet courtyard.

Leo rolled his bike toward the old side gate. Dense ivy covered the wooden boards and metal bar. A grey pigeon blinked from the top hinge. Leo pushed the gate; the boards refused to move. He pulled harder, yet nothing changed except drifting dust.

He wiped his hands on trustworthy leather gloves. He tapped the lowest board with one knuckle. A hollow ring sounded under the ivy. His eyebrows lifted; the board felt thinner inside. Leo pressed the center; the wood flexed like card. He pressed again; the weakened plank split free. The action swung the gate inward with sudden space. The swing shook a shelf; a clay pot tumbled. The pot cracked open and spilled a dull coin. The disc rolled near his shoe. It carried very little value today. Sunlight touched the fresh gap beside the hinge. Leo steered his bike onto the street outside.

早晨的陽光灑進寧靜的小院子。

利奧推著腳踏車走向舊側門。濃密的常春藤覆蓋木板和金屬橫桿。一隻灰鴿在上方的鉸鏈處眨眼。利奧推門，木板紋絲不動。他用力再拉，只有灰塵飄散。

他把手在可靠的皮手套上擦了擦。用指節敲了最下面的木板，常春藤後傳來空洞的聲響。他抬起眉頭，感到板子內部較薄。利奧按在中央，木頭像紙板般彎曲。他再按一次，弱化的木條脫離框架。這個動作讓門向內猛然敞開。門的擺動震動了架子，一個陶盆跌落。陶盆裂開，滾出一枚暗沉硬幣。硬幣在他鞋邊停住，今天幾乎沒什麼價值。陽光照在鉸鏈旁新開的縫隙上。利奧將腳踏車轉向街道，離開了院子。