The Branch That Dropped Petals- 適合初級的英語短篇故事

Suki walked across the garden with quick, light steps. The garden band would start its practice soon. Each year she carried a small drum from the shed. Today the drum waited beneath the wide cherry tree. The drum belonged to a quiet garden tradition. She knelt and pulled the thin wooden lid upward. The wooden lid refused to shift. Suki tried again with both hands and careful force. Only a dull thud answered her effort.

She paused, tapped one corner, and heard a hollow tone. That sound hinted at an empty space under the board. Suki slid her fingers along the edge, seeking a gap. One thin plank lifted with a soft creak and cool dust. She removed the plank, and a narrow tunnel appeared inside. A tied cord ran through the tunnel toward a higher branch. She gave the cord one moderate pull. Above, the branch lowered, bringing the drum within easy reach. Loose petals also dropped around her shoes and covered the grass. She lifted the drum and walked toward the waiting chairs. Petals kept swirling behind her path.

蘇琪輕快地走過花園。樂隊待會就要開始練習。每年她都要從棚子裡搬出一面小鼓。今天，那面鼓靜靜地躺在寬大的櫻花樹下。這面鼓屬於花園中的一項安靜傳統。她跪下，雙手拉起薄木蓋。木蓋卻完全不動。蘇琪又用雙手加力，但仍無變化。只有沉悶的聲音回應她的動作。

她停下來，用指尖敲了一下角落，聽到空洞的回響。這聲音告訴她，木板下方是空的。蘇琪沿著邊緣慢慢摸索，尋找縫隙。一塊薄板伴隨輕微吱呀聲被她抬起，涼涼的灰塵冒出。她抽走木板，看見裡面通向高處枝幹的細長通道。一條綁好的繩索穿過通道。她稍稍用中等力拉了一下繩索。上方的枝條便壓低，把鼓送到她手邊。鬆散的花瓣同時落在她的鞋邊，覆滿草地。她抱起小鼓，朝排好的椅子走去。花瓣仍在她身後旋轉。