Slip of the Kiwi- 適合中高級的英語短篇故事

A shallow pale square covered in fine dust marked the bar counter where a fruit bowl had been displayed. Reed bent closer over the steel-grey surface, his fingertips tracing the cleaner rectangle inside the dust. Dish clinks and low conversation filled the dining area, yet the silent gap drew his eyes again. Cold fluorescent ceiling strips cast bluish light across spoon racks, while a ceiling fan faintly rattled above the crowded tables. Beside the mark, a textured rubber mat sloped downward into a slim crack between counter and glass divider. Something faintly green glimmered inside that narrow shadow, too round to be rubbish, too still to be a leaf. He slid a paper straw through the space, trying to lift the object, but the angle blocked the tip. Steam burst from the coffee machine, clouds folding over the counter and hiding the crack once more.

When the steam cleared, Reed wedged a chilled water bottle sideways firmly. The bottle widened the gap just enough for his hand to enter safely. He paused; introspection slowed his breath as droplets rolled down the bottle onto his sleeve. He continued anyway, fingertips brushing fur that felt wholesome beside the chrome surroundings. The round shape shifted, yet a ridge inside the counter caught it, blocking a clean pull. He straightened, turned the bottle to improve the angle, and pushed again, rolling the object toward daylight. A mottled brown globe slid onto the bar; what he had thought a glass bauble was actually a ripe kiwi. Fine hair covered its skin, and one scrape showed pale flesh beneath, proof of the fall.

Reed wiped moisture from his sleeve, placed the water bottle upright, and scanned for any other fallen items. A chair leg scraped nearby, prompting him to step aside as evening customers crowded the narrow bar passage. Across the doorway, a server lifted the fruit with tongs and walked toward the salad station. The server set the rescued kiwi beside a row of sliced cucumbers.

吧檯上，一個覆著淡淡灰塵的淺色方形印記，顯示原本放著水果盆的位置。瑞德俯身貼近那層鋼灰色檯面，指尖描過灰塵中較乾淨的矩形。餐具撞擊聲與低語充滿用餐區，然而那處無聲的缺口再次吸引他的目光。冰冷的日光燈在調羹架上投下帶藍的光，頭頂的吊扇輕輕顫響。印記旁，一塊有紋理的橡膠墊向下傾斜，通到吧檯與玻璃隔板之間的細縫。狹縫中有抹微綠的東西閃著光，太圓不像垃圾，也不會是葉片。 他把一根紙吸管伸進去想挑起那東西，但角度卡住了管尖。此時咖啡機噴出蒸汽，雲霧覆過檯面，再度遮住裂縫。

蒸汽散去時，瑞德用一瓶冰水橫插進縫隙。瓶身把空間撐大到剛好讓他伸手。停頓間，他的呼吸因短暫自省而放慢，水滴順瓶壁滑到袖口。他仍繼續，指尖觸到與四周鉻面形成對比的柔細外皮。那圓形移動了，但吧檯內側的一道凸緣又將它卡住。瑞德挺直身體，轉動水瓶以改善角度，再次推動，把物體滾向日光。帶斑點的褐色球體滑上吧檯；他原以為是玻璃擺飾，結果竟是一顆熟透的奇異果。細毛覆在果皮上，一道擦痕露出淺色果肉，證明它跌落過。

瑞德擦去袖口的水痕，把水瓶立好，環顧有無其他掉落的東西。旁邊椅腳一聲摩擦，他側身讓過，晚餐時段的客人正擠滿狹窄吧檯通道。隔著門口，一名服務生用夾子夾起那顆果子，朝沙拉台走去。服務生將被救出的奇異果放在一排切好的小黃瓜旁。