The Marble That Escaped- 適合初級的英語短篇故事

Mira kneeled near a low rock on the beach. A small blue marble pressed against the rock edge. She wanted to take it for her collection at home. A wave slid over the sand and touched her shoes. Water covered the marble, then pulled away again. Morning light filled the salt air. Each increment of water reached the rock a little higher. The moving line of foam looked like a slow clock. Mira waited and watched the pattern.

Next, the rock stood dry, and the marble stayed visible. An unpleasant smell rose from wet algae beside her knee. Then water returned, filled the gap, and lifted loose sand. The movement felt like a small transaction between sea and land. Careful practice helped Mira judge the exact moment of change. When the rock sat under water, she pushed seaweed under the edge. Seaweed became a useful resource for grip and soft lifting. Water left again, and the seaweed stayed under the rock. The rock tipped just enough, and the marble rolled free. Mira caught it before the next wave. Foam washed the empty space where the marble lay.

米拉跪在海灘上一塊矮岩旁。一顆藍色小彈珠卡在岩石邊緣。她想把它帶回家收藏。浪花滑過沙面，碰到她的鞋。海水蓋住彈珠，隨後又退去。晨光灑滿鹹鹹空氣。每次水位微微增高，都更接近岩石。移動的泡沫線像慢速時鐘。米拉等待並觀察這個規律。

接著，岩石變乾，彈珠清晰可見。一股不悅的藻味從她膝旁升起。水再度湧回，填滿縫隙，並抬起鬆沙。這動作像海與陸之間的小小交換。謹慎的練習讓米拉抓到變化時點。當岩石浸在水中時，她把海藻塞進岩縫。海藻成了抓握並輕撬的好資源。水再次退去，海藻仍夾在岩下。岩石微微傾斜，彈珠滾了出來。米拉在下一波浪前接住它。泡沫沖刷著彈珠原本所在的空隙。