The Blanket Lifts and a Novel Appears - 適合初學者的英文短篇故事，含中譯與發音

Soft chimes ring above the porch. The uncle leans on the railing. Zara kneels on warm boards. Her palms press the smooth grain. A pale chalk ring sits nearby. A curled leaf rests in the corner.

Zara lifts the dry leaf. Dust lines the small space. Dust stays put. She lowers the leaf again. Air under the eaves is warm. Small herb leaves grow in the clay pot.

She reaches the soft cloth. A cool glass sits on it. The cloth jams under the base. Zara gasps once. The uncle says, "It rings softly." Zara slides the glass a little. She lifts the cloth corner. A smooth pebble and cord rest under. She folds the cloth flat again.

By the railing ledge, a knit blanket lies. Zara lifts one soft edge. A thin novel rests on the ledge. "I cover it again," Zara says. Zara lowers the blanket edge. On the step, herb leaves still grow. The wind sock on the post slackens.

輕柔的風鈴在門廊上方響著。叔叔靠在欄杆上。Zara 跪在溫暖的木板上。她的手掌壓著光滑的木紋。她拇指旁有一個淡淡的粉筆圓痕。角落裡躺著一片捲起的葉子。

Zara 掀起那片乾葉。灰塵在小小的空隙排成一線。灰塵不動。她又把葉子放下。屋簷下的空氣是溫暖的。臺階上的陶盆裡，小香草葉正在生長。

她伸手碰那塊軟布。一杯冰涼的水放在上面。布卡在杯底下。Zara 倒吸一口氣。叔叔說：「它響得很輕。」Zara 把杯子稍微推開。她掀起布的一角。下面躺著一顆光滑小石頭和一圈繩子。她把布又鋪平。

在欄杆的檯面旁，一條針織毯躺著。Zara 掀起柔軟的一邊。檯面上放著一本薄小說。Zara 說：「我再把它蓋好。」Zara 放下毯子的邊緣。階上的香草還在生長。柱子上的風袋慢慢鬆下來。