Ball Under the Hedge - 適合初學者的英文短篇故事，含中譯與發音

A small playmate reaches toward the hedge. Where is the small ball? Kellan kneels by the dry gap. The mother sits on a blanket and reads. A small box of fruit rests on the cloth. A soft creak comes from the swings. The fountain drip beats on the stone.

His knees press the damp grass. The hedge stems scratch his forearms. A thin layer of dry leaves lines the gap. A pressed strip of grass lies flat and pale. "I see it under the leaves," Kellan says. His hand cannot reach. He takes one slow breath. Their hands join on a long twig. They ease the twig under the ball. The ball rolls out and stops.

Kellan lifts the ball to the playmate's palm. The mother looks up and nods once. The fruit stays on the blanket. The swing chains squeak again. A sparrow lands on the stone and pecks the drip.

一位年紀小的玩伴伸手向樹籬。小球在哪裡？Kellan 在乾燥的缺口旁跪著。一位媽媽坐在野餐毯上朗讀。一小盒水果放在布上。鞦韆傳來輕輕的嘎吱聲。飲水台的水滴在石頭上有節奏地滴落。

他的膝蓋壓著潮濕的草。樹籬的枝條摩擦他的前臂。缺口鋪著一層薄薄的乾葉。一條被壓過的草帶平貼著，顏色更淡。Kellan 說：「我看到它在葉子下面。」他的手夠不到。他慢慢吸一口氣。他們的手一起握住一根長樹枝。他們把樹枝輕輕伸到球下面。球滾出來，停在草上。

Kellan 把球放到玩伴的手心。媽媽抬頭，點了一下頭。水果還放在毯子上。鞦韆的鍊條又輕輕作響。一隻麻雀落在石頭上，啄著那滴水。