Leo and the Bumpy Bus Ride- 適合中級的英語短篇故事

Early Saturday, Leo balanced a small aquarium on his knees inside the city bus. He has promised the pet-show organizers to present his unique goldfish before ten. Outside the window, countless raindrops raced down the glass, and the bus rolled through puddles. Passengers crowded the aisle, and shoulders brushed the bowl whenever the driver turned. A sudden bend sent water over the rim; cool drops darkened Leo’s thick sweater. He hugged the glass tighter, yet a sliding backpack struck the stand and tilted everything forward.

A gasp burst nearby, and the plastic lid skidded toward the floor. With no room to crouch, Leo whipped the sweater off and stretched it across the opening. The wool sagged slightly, then formed an accidental seal that calmed the swirl inside. The bowl was steadied by a passenger who had entered at the last stop. When the doors opened again, Leo stepped into the rain, still clutching the covered glass. Puddles splashed against his shoes, but the wool kept the water inside. He has breathed out only after reaching the community hall, where bright lamps shimmered on polished tiles. Pulling the sweater away, he watched Starfin dart in clear circles. The surface stayed quiet.

週六清晨，列奧坐在市區公車上，雙膝上平放著一個小水族箱。他答應過寵物展主辦單位，要在十點前帶來那條極具特色的金魚。車窗外，無數雨滴在玻璃上競速，公車轆轆駛過水窪。乘客擁擠在走道，司機每一次轉彎，肩膀便擦到魚缸。突然一個急彎，水花溢出沿口，冰涼水點染濕了列奧厚實的毛衣。他更用力摟緊玻璃缸，卻被滑動的背包撞到架子，整缸水向前傾斜。

身旁響起一聲驚呼，塑膠蓋子滑向地面。空間狹窄，他立刻把毛衣脫下，攤在開口上方。羊毛微微下垂，卻意外形成封口，水流漩渦漸漸平靜。一位剛在上一站上車的乘客托住魚缸，不讓它晃動。車門再度打開時，列奧抱著被毛衣覆蓋的玻璃缸踏進雨中。水坑濺濕鞋面，但羊毛仍牢牢守住缸水。他一路抵達社區禮堂後才長長吐氣，明亮燈光映在光滑磁磚上。他掀開毛衣，看見星鰭在清澈水中劃過圓圈，水面依舊平靜。