What the Microwave Dropped- 適合中級的英語短篇故事

Leo had already carried a bowl of tomato soup to the small kitchen. He planned to warm it quickly in the microwave and return to his desk. Sunlight dotted the tiles, and a lazy fly circled the faucet. Steam drifted above the sink, carrying a faint smell of basil and soap. Afternoon light passed through green glass jars. The creative process of making the soup yesterday had left red stains on the wooden spoon that lay near the stove, which has been cleaned but not bleached. Leo set the bowl inside the microwave, tapped the buttons, and leaned back.

Just then, a gust slid through the open window and flapped the page of a magazine. The page brushed the power cord, and the plug slipped halfway out; the microwave screen went dark. Wind also chased crumbs across the counter toward the edge. Leo hurried, catching the magazine with one hand while his left foot slid on a droplet of water that had spilled earlier. He regained balance, pushed the plug fully inside, and shut the window. When power returned, the microwave beeped, sharp and sudden. The noise shook a metal lid that was resting upside-down on top; the lid rolled off, struck the bowl, and something round bounced onto the floor. A blue marble spun under the table. Leo stared; it was the valued marble he had hoped to find since spring. His brother entered, offering a quick apology; the voice sounded sincere, because the marble had been missing after their last game. Leo laughed, placed the bowl back inside, and watched the timer glow quietly.

李奧拿著一碗番茄濃湯走進小廚房。他打算用微波爐快速加熱，然後回到書桌。陽光在瓷磚上閃動，一隻慵懶的蒼蠅在水龍頭旁盤旋。水槽上方的蒸氣帶著些許羅勒和肥皂的氣味。午後的光線穿過綠色玻璃罐。昨天熬湯的創意過程在木勺上留下紅色斑點，勺子已經洗過但還沒漂白。李奧把碗放進微波爐，按下按鍵，向後倚靠。

此時，一陣風從開著的窗子灌入，掀起雜誌的頁面。紙頁掃過電源線，插頭滑出一半，微波爐的螢幕瞬間變暗。風還將麵包屑追趕到檯面的邊緣。李奧快步伸手抓住雜誌，左腳卻踩到先前灑下的小水滴。穩住身子後，他重新插好插頭並關上窗戶。電力恢復時，微波爐發出尖銳的嗶聲。聲音震動了倒扣在機頂的金屬蓋，蓋子滾落，撞到湯碗，一顆圓球彈到地板。藍色玻璃彈珠在桌下旋轉。李奧盯著它；那正是他春天以來苦尋不著的珍貴彈珠。哥哥走進來，匆匆道歉，聲音聽起來真誠；那顆彈珠在上次遊戲後就不見了。李奧笑了，把湯碗重新放入，注視著計時器靜靜亮起。