A Drop on the Sketchbook by the Fountain - 適合中級的英文短篇故事，含中譯與發音

I, Nora, sat with Irving on a timber bench facing the square’s old fountain. My sketchbook lay steady on my knees, and my pencil moved in a path my hand knew. I traced the curve of the basin and the lighter splash that lifted above it. Cool mist touched my cheek, and the steady rush of water filled the air around us. At our feet, a small dog settled by Irving’s shoes, and his leash lay slack on the stone.

I shaded a window in the building across the square and steadied the page. My palm pressed the paper near the edge, and the grain felt dry and warm. Before I looked up, a cooler touch landed on my knuckles. The water’s sound grew a little stronger. A light gust carried a bright drop farther than before, and it hit the center of my drawing. The dog’s ears lifted, his collar clicked once, and then the leash slackened again. Out on the pool, ripples ran from the splash, and a small reflection seemed to vanish.

I did not stop the line. I folded the top corner to make a small ridge. I turned the board a little away from the spray. Irving held the edge for a moment, and our hands met on the timber grain. The wet circle darkened part of the window I had drawn. A gray smear spread under my palm. Droplets dotted the paving near our shoes, and the paving showed a soft damp pattern. I kept the same slow pace, but the page now held a faint tide mark. My palm carried a dusty patch. I set the board at a tilt and drew around the pale ring.

我，Nora，和 Irving 坐在一張木製長椅上，面向廣場上的老噴泉。畫本穩穩地放在我膝上，我的鉛筆沿著熟悉的路徑前進。我描出水池的弧線，還有往上抬起的較淡水花。涼涼的水霧碰到我的臉頰，持續的水聲充滿我們周圍的空氣。我們腳邊有隻小狗靠在 Irving 的鞋旁，牽繩鬆鬆地躺在石面上。

我為廣場對面的建築畫了一扇窗，並把紙固定好。我的手掌壓在紙邊，紙的紋理摸起來乾而溫暖。我還沒抬頭，較涼的觸感就落在我的指節上。水聲也稍微變大了一些。一陣輕風把一滴亮亮的水帶得更遠，它正好打在我畫的中央。小狗豎起耳朵，項圈喀地一聲，接著牽繩又鬆了回去。水面上漣漪從落點擴開，一小塊倒影似乎消失了。

我沒有停下那條線。我把上角對摺出一道小脊。接著我把畫板略微轉開，遠離細霧。Irving 幫我托住邊緣一下子，我們的手在木紋上碰在一起。那個濕痕把我畫的窗一部分染暗。一道灰色的暈痕在我的手掌下擴開。鞋邊的地面布滿細小水點，石板顯出柔和的濕紋。我維持同樣的慢速，但紙上多了一圈淡淡的潮痕。我的手掌也沾上一塊乾灰色。最後我把板子斜起一點，繞著那個淡環繼續描畫。