A Beetle on a Shoe at the Small Station Platform - 適合中級的英文短篇故事，含中譯與發音

Nadine and Max waited at the small station. They sat on a wooden bench a full step back from the yellow line. A tin with apple slices sat between them; Nadine had prepared it at home. Under the awning, cool shade touched their arms, and a faint oil smell rose from the track. Inside the waiting room, voices sounded soft behind the wall. A clock ticked above the window.

Powdery dust lay near Max’s shoe, so he pressed his heel into it. The grit felt rough, and a gray stamp appeared on the stone. He tried his toe on the smooth yellow paint, but it left no mark. He stepped onto the ribbed rubber mat by the door. It pushed back with a dull sound, and his foot steadied. He puffed his cheeks once and let them deflate, then he sat still. From the bench’s shadow, a small beetle came out. It was a neat little creature with a glossy back. It climbed over one of his dusty stamps and paused on his lace. Max kept his leg very quiet and steady on the bench side.

Before the train showed itself, the rail gave a light ring. Warmer air slid under the awning and brushed their ankles. Max shivered once, and the tin lid clicked against the tin. The beetle lifted its feelers and changed its path across his shoe. Then the engine nose rolled into view and slowed by the platform. The first door lined up beside the worn stone edge.

Nadine 和 Max 在小車站等候。他們坐在一張木長椅上，離黃線有一大步的距離。裝著蘋果片的小鐵盒放在他們中間；那是 Nadine 在家準備好的。雨棚下的陰涼貼在他們手臂上，軌道那邊飄來一股淡淡的油味。候車室裡的說話聲隔著牆聽起來很輕。窗上方的時鐘滴答作響。

Max 的鞋邊有一層粉塵，所以他把腳跟壓進去。細沙很粗糙，石面上出現一枚灰色的印痕。他又用腳尖踩在光滑的黃漆上，但沒留下任何痕跡。他踩到門邊有條紋的橡膠墊上。墊子回彈出一聲沉悶的聲音，他的腳也站得更穩。他鼓起臉頰一下，又讓它們消下去，然後安靜地坐著。長椅的陰影裡，一隻小甲蟲爬了出來。它是個背殼光亮的小生物。它越過他的一個灰印，停在他的鞋帶上。Max 把腿貼著長椅那側，保持很安靜很穩。

火車還沒出現之前，鋼軌傳來一聲輕響。溫暖的氣流鑽進雨棚，拂過他們的腳踝。Max 打了個冷顫，鐵盒的蓋子也輕輕碰了一下。甲蟲抬起觸角，改了在他鞋面上的路徑。接著車頭露了出來，在月台邊減速。第一扇車門正對著磨舊的石邊停好。