After the Bulbs Rolled- 適合中級的英語短篇故事

A hollow rumble travelled under the wooden platform, shaking the metal roof panels above the small station. Joy waited for the mid-morning bus and held a paper cup filled with sunflower seeds. The planks under her shoes trembled again as a luggage trolley picked up speed beside the ticket office. One loose wheel wobbled, struck the foot of a flower stand, and jolted a shallow tray where dry tulip bulbs had been arranged in neat rows. The tray slid forward, lost balance, and the bulbs rolled down like marbles. One bulb knocked against Joy’s ankle; she stumbled, caught the bench rail with her left hand, and shifted her weight sideways just before the little brown missiles crossed her previous spot. The bench rail, its blue paint flaked by years of sun, felt rough against her palm.

The rolling bulbs gained momentum on the smooth concrete, struck the leg of the bench, and tipped Joy’s seed cup. Sunflower kernels poured out, bounced once, then scattered across the warm planks at the platform edge. A sparrow that had been waiting on the timetable board dived first, landing close enough to peck at the moving food. A finch followed, wings flicking, then both birds hopped after the drifting line of seeds as though chasing tiny boats on a slow river. Thin diesel smoke mixed with the faint scent of fresh pastry from the kiosk, forming a strange cloud that drifted through the striped shadow of the awning while feathers brushed the air.

Joy straightened and laughed under her breath, but she kept her feet apart to stay clear of the sliding bulbs and restless birds. She left the cup on the bench; one hand stayed on the rail while the other patted dust from her coat. The trolley continued down the platform without the attendant noticing the chain it had started. Bulbs still spun toward the gutter that lined the track, and the freed seeds rolled after them. Feather tips stirred the loose husks, and an uneven stream of yellow kernels creeps toward the narrow gap beside the rails.

空洞的隆隆聲從木質月台下穿過，震動了小車站上方的金屬屋頂板。喬伊等著上午的班車，手裡拿著裝滿向日葵種子的紙杯。當行李推車在售票口旁加速時，她腳下的木板又一次發抖。一個鬆動的輪子搖晃著，撞到花架的腳，推得擺著乾燥鬱金香球莖的淺托盤猛然一震。托盤向前滑出、失去平衡，球莖像彈珠般滾落。一顆球莖撞到喬伊的腳踝；她踉蹌了一下，用左手抓住長椅欄杆，並側身換重心，才避開這些棕色小砲彈。長椅欄杆多年的日曬把藍漆剝落，觸感粗糙。

球莖在光滑的混凝土上加速滾動，撞到長椅的腳，又把喬伊的種子杯撞翻。向日葵種子倒出、彈起、散開，沿著月台邊緣的暖木板四處飛舞。一隻原本停在時刻表板上的麻雀率先俯衝下來，停在夠近的位置啄食移動中的顆粒。一隻朱雀隨後跟進，拍著翅膀，兩隻鳥像追逐慢河上的小船般跳躍追隨漂動的種子。稀薄的柴油煙與販賣部新鮮糕點的淡淡香氣混合，飄過遮雨棚投下的條紋陰影，羽毛輕刷空氣。

喬伊暗暗地笑著站直身子，但仍分開雙腳，以免被滑動的球莖或躁動的鳥絆住。她把杯子留在長椅上，一手仍扶欄杆，另一手拍掉大衣上的灰塵。推車繼續沿月台前進，工作人員未察覺它引發的連鎖。球莖仍朝鋪在軌道旁的排水槽旋轉，散落的種子跟在後面。羽尖攪動鬆散的外殼，崎嶇的黃色顆粒流向鐵軌旁狹縫的細縫。