When the Mower Moved- 適合初級的英語短篇故事

Owen stood on the porch and watched the garden fountain.

Cool mist hung in the morning air.

Sprays of water rose, paused, then fell in soft sheets.

They formed a curtain of drops across the curved stone path.

A yellow tennis ball lay beside the pool edge.

He wanted the ball for his next game with Suki.

A rubber mat lay near the door, wet on one corner.

Owen crouched and began to examine the rhythm of the fountain.

Each burst lasted three beats then five counts of quiet.

He counted two full cycles and nodded.

When the third spray stopped he sprinted over the slick stones.

His shoes slipped but he grabbed the ball before water returned.

The sudden splash pushed extra drops onto the waiting mat.

Water raced across the boards and touched the old lawnmower wheels.

The wheels turned once and the machine bumped against a clay pot.

Owen lifted the ball and stepped back onto dry brick.

The fountain kept its steady rhythm behind him.

The lawnmower stayed by the pot, tiny drips marked its track.

He kicked water from his shoe and closed the porch door.

奧文站在門廊上，看著花園的噴泉。

清涼的水霧瀰漫在早晨的空氣裡。

水柱升起、停頓，接著化成柔軟的水幕落下。

水珠像一道簾幕，穿過彎曲的石徑。

一顆黃色網球躺在池邊。

他想拿球，等一下和紗希玩。

門邊放著一塊橡膠墊，其中一角已被水潤濕。

奧文蹲下來，開始觀察噴泉的節奏。

每股水柱持續三下，接著五下安靜。

他數了兩輪，便點頭。

第三次水停時，他踩著濕石飛奔過去。

鞋底打滑，但他在水再度噴出前抓到球。

忽然加大的水花濺向那塊墊子。

水沿著木板衝去，碰到舊割草機的輪子。

輪子轉了一圈，機器撞到一個陶盆。

奧文舉著球，退到乾燥的磚地上。

噴泉仍照著固定節奏運作。

割草機停在盆旁，細小水滴留下移動痕跡。

他甩掉鞋上的水，關上門廊的門。