When the Frog Jumped- 適合中級的英語短篇故事

Leo and Maya step off the bus beside a quiet pond during the school field trip. Tall grass edges the water, and dragonflies zip above it. Leo opens a small laptop; a waterproof camera already rests on a pole. They have planned to film a shy creature that slipped between the lilies earlier this week. A cable that connects the camera to the laptop drapes over a railing. Warm air settles over the reeds. Small waves tap against the wooden platform.

Maya pushes the record button, yet the screen has been dimmed by the sun, so the picture looks almost blank. At the same time, the bus engine coughs in the distance, and departure draws closer. Two forces squeeze their plan: glare and ticking minutes. Leo kneels, lowers the camera, and tries to dive its lens under the surface, but the cable tightens and stops his hand. He changes tactic, tilting the laptop lid to block sunlight like a small roof. A clear image pops up; ripples spiral outward from the pole. Suddenly, the creature bursts from the water, landing on the platform beside their shoes—only a tiny frog with bright spots. It pauses, then springs back with a soft splash. The ripples fade, and the screen still shows its bright shape swimming away.

在學校的戶外教學中，Leo 與 Maya 來到一座安靜的池塘。高草圍繞水面，豆娘在其上飛快掠過。Leo 打開一台小型筆電；防水攝影機已固定在長竿末端。他們計畫拍下幾天前溜進睡蓮間的一隻神祕小動物。連接攝影機與筆電的線垂在欄杆旁。溫暖的空氣籠罩蘆葦，細小的波浪輕拍木製平台。

Maya 按下錄影鍵，然而陽光讓螢幕變得幾乎全白。此時遠方的遊覽車引擎傳來陣陣聲響，準備開走。眩光與時間雙重壓力讓計畫受阻。Leo 跪下，試著把鏡頭往水下探，但纜線繃緊令他停手。他改變做法，把筆電蓋斜立成小屋頂，螢幕頓時清晰；水面從竿子外擴散出漣漪，形成螺旋。忽然，那隻小動物衝出水面，落在他們鞋旁——原來是一隻帶亮點的小青蛙。牠停住片刻，再次跳水濺起輕聲。漣漪漸散，螢幕上仍可見牠明亮的身影游向深處。