The Sparrow That Flew In- 適合初級的英語短篇故事

Reed pushed a round stool across the quiet kindergarten library corner. Soft morning light fell between tall shelves. He wanted a picture book on the top section. He liked to imagine the story inside it. He stood up, but the cover stayed just beyond reach. He leaned further; the stool slid and tapped a low flowerpot. Loose soil fell onto the floor and touched a line of ants. The tiny insects burst forward in every direction. The sudden group of legs moved near an open window. A sparrow on the sill saw the motion. It darted inside and swooped after the shining movement.

Reed froze as wings beat around the gathering of children on cushions. Wind from the sparrow lifted loose papers into a swirl. One sheet landed over Reed's eyes, and he staggered back. That stumble nudged the stool again, blocking the ant trail. The blocked path turned the insects away from the window. The sparrow saw clear glass ahead and flew out again. Paper drifted down. Reed set the picture book back on a lower shelf. One sheet kept sliding across the polished floor toward the door.

里德把一張圓凳推過安靜的幼兒園圖書角落。柔和的晨光落在高高的書架之間。他想拿最上層的一本圖畫書。他喜歡想像書裡的故事。他站起來，但書皮仍然夠不到。他再往前傾，凳子滑動，碰到一個矮花盆。鬆土落在地上，沾到一串螞蟻。無數小螞蟻立刻向四方奔跑。這突如其來的腳群移到開著的窗旁。一隻停在窗台的麻雀看到動靜。牠衝進室內，追著閃動的蟲影俯衝。

里德頓住不動，翅膀在坐墊上孩子們的聚集旁拍打。麻雀帶起的風捲起鬆散的紙張。一張紙落在里德眼前，他踉蹌後退。這一下又推到凳子，擋住了螞蟻的路。被擋的螞蟻改向離開窗戶。麻雀看到前方透明的玻璃，再度飛出去。紙片慢慢飄落。里德把圖畫書放回較低的書架。單張紙沿著光滑的地板持續滑向門口。