The Last Ring in the Stream Pool - 適合初學者的英文短篇故事，含中譯與發音

Jude kneels by a mossy root. What makes that round ring here? His knees press damp soil by the bank. Fine grit touches his skin. Damp earth smells rich near the roots. An older boot print sits dark there.

A still pool rests between two rocks. Drips feed it, and ripples spread. A soft plink comes from a leaf. Wind slides over the surface. The ring thins and fades.

On the flat rock, a dark rim dries. Sun and dry air work on it now. Its slick edge turns pale and tacky. She sits on a blanket on the log. A small cake in a tin rests nearby. The far bank looks steep and shadowed. She says, "I see small rings."

Jude angles his head toward the pool. That amazing ring is thinner now. One big drop lands, sudden and loud. The wind eases; the ring breaks. The last ring slides away.

Jude 跪在長滿苔的樹根旁。這個圓圈是怎麼來的？他的膝蓋壓在潮土上。細沙黏在皮膚上。樹根旁的潮土有濃濃土味。一個較舊的靴印還在那裡。

兩塊石頭間有一汪小水潭。滴水落進去，漣漪擴開。葉片上傳來輕輕一聲噗通。風掠過水面。圈圈變薄，慢慢淡去。

平坦的石頭上有一道暗邊正在變乾。太陽和乾燥的空氣在上面作工。濕滑的邊緣變得發白而微黏。她坐在原木上的毯子上。旁邊放著一個裝著小蛋糕的鐵盒。對岸的河岸很陡，帶著陰影。她說：「我看見小小的圈圈。」

Jude 把頭微微偏向水潭。那個很棒的圈圈更薄了。一滴大水忽然落下，聲音很響。風減弱了；圈圈裂開。最後的圈圈滑走了。