Bela Beside the Lily Pond- 適合中高級的英語短篇故事

Bela reached the old lily pond just after school, gripping a shoebox as keen winter sunlight flickered between bare branches. Inside the box waited a tiny wooden raft he had spent the weekend carving. He planned to send it toward the far bank where reeds grew densely. The surface lay peacefully under a sheet of faint mist, delivering a sense of serenity to the quiet park. He knelt, set the raft on the water, and released the sail. A playful gust arrived, spun the craft, and pressed it back against his boots. He retrieved the soggy sail, noticing that the mast had been twisted during his hurried walk.

He had already drilled a second mast hole. He slid a spare stick into place and tightened a fresh thread from his pocket. The repair looked secure, yet a child beside him frowned at the loose rudder. Bela reassured her with a quick grin and a raised thumbs-up. He then pushed the light raft over the mirrored water once again. The wind calmed, but a curious duck glided over and nudged the vessel, tipping it until water flooded the deck. Bela let out a short laugh, though the fingers gripping the pond edge suddenly tensed. If he had chosen heavier wood, the duck would have failed to upset it. He lifted the dripping raft, welcoming the grateful coolness soaking through his sleeve.

After a long breath, a final idea suddenly surfaced inside his patient mind. Bela untied the sail completely and placed a small pebble at the stern to balance weight. By then, the wind had been replaced by a slow ripple spreading from the fountain at the center. He slid the raft once more; this time it glided past the duck and slipped through the thin reed curtain. An eddy twirled the craft, carried it in a lazy circle, and returned it to his side of the pond. His shoulders dropped, and wide ripples slowly faded around the toes of his shoes.

The tiny vessel rested against damp soil.

Bela放學後來到老荷花池，手裡抓著一個鞋盒，冬日銳利的陽光在光禿枝條間閃爍。盒子裡躺著一艘他花了整個週末雕刻的小木筏。他打算把它送向對岸茂密的蘆葦叢。水面在薄霧下安靜地躺著，為寧靜的公園添上悠然氣息。他跪下，將木筏放入水中，鬆開小帆。一陣調皮的風捲來，把小船旋回他的靴邊。他撈起濕帆，注意到船桅在匆忙步行時已經被扭歪。

他早就鑽好了第二個桅杆孔，於是插入備用木棍，並從口袋取出新線繫緊。修補看起來牢固，但旁邊一位小孩仍盯著鬆動的舵皺眉。Bela對她露出迅速的微笑並比了個大拇指，接著再次推船入水。風已平息，一隻好奇的鴨子卻游來頂撞船身，把甲板灌滿水。Bela輕笑，但抓著池岸的手忽然收緊。如果他當時選了更重的木頭，鴨子就無法掀翻它。他撈起濕淋淋的小船，清涼的水意外地令手腕感到舒適。

喘了口氣後，他腦中忽然浮現最後的點子。Bela解開小帆，將一顆小石子放到船尾以平衡重量。此時，中央噴泉擾動出的緩波已取代先前的風。他再次滑動木筏，這回它越過鴨子，穿過細長的蘆葦帷幕。漩渦旋起船身，畫出慵懶的圈後，又把它帶回池邊，好像旅程從未發生。Bela的肩膀垂下，寬大的漣漪在鞋尖周圍慢慢消散。

小木筏靠著潮濕的泥土停住。