The Sparrow on the Seed Pot- 適合中級的英語短篇故事

Leo balanced a light backpack full of seed packets. Mira unfolded a crumpled schedule outside the apartment block. Their mission looked simple: deliver the seeds to the community garden before the midday bell. Warm sunlight brushed the iron fences. A sweet smell of cut grass drifted under their noses. They have visited the small garden every Saturday this month, yet today promised a small adventure. According to the schedule, the gate would slide shut at twelve. Both children hurried along the narrow alley. A wheelbarrow that blocked the path slowed them. Loose pebbles rolled beneath their shoes.

Halfway there, the backpack zipper jammed, spraying seeds across the pavement. Mira knelt, scooping quickly, while Leo steadied the bag. A neighborly gardener who swept leaves nearby bent down silently. He offered an empty flowerpot for the loose seeds. The scattered pile was gathered within seconds, but the church tower chimed eleven-fifty. When they reached the garden, the gate was already half closed. Leo ducked under the rail, yet Mira hesitated. He pushed the pot through the gap, and the gate jerked. It then stopped; its motor had been turned off earlier than posted. Mira spotted a service door that stood open behind the shed. A faded notice that hung near the tool rack had hidden it before. They slipped in and placed the pot on a bench. A sparrow fluttered onto the rim.

利奧扛著裝滿種子包的小背包。米拉在公寓樓外攤開一張皺巴巴的時刻表。他們的任務看起來很簡單：在午鐘響前把種子送到社區花園。溫暖的陽光刷過鐵欄，割下的青草帶著甘甜氣味飄到他們鼻尖。這個月的每個星期六，他們都去過那座小花園，但今天似乎多了一點冒險。依照時刻表，大門十二點就要關上，所以兩個孩子沿著狹窄的小巷加快腳步。一台擱在路中央的手推車拖慢了速度，鬆散的小石子在鞋底下滾動。

走到一半，背包拉鍊卡住，種子撒滿人行道。米拉蹲下快速撿拾，利奧則扶穩袋子。一位正在掃葉的鄰家園丁俯身，不聲不響地遞來一個空花盆收集散落的種子。幾秒內，地上的種子全被拾起，但教堂鐘聲敲出了十一點五十分。抵達花園時，大門已經關了一半。利奧鑽過欄杆，米拉卻停在外面。他把花盆推過縫隙，鐵門猛地一抖隨後停止；電動機被提前關掉了。米拉在工具棚後發現一扇服務門敞開著，先前被掛在架旁的褪色公告擋住了視線。他們鑽進去，把花盆放在長椅上，一隻麻雀飛落到盆沿。