The Hidden Sea Star- 適合初學者的英語短篇故事

Sharp salt air drifts over the beach. Niall presses his palm on wet sand. Small rings open and close around it. He taps a loose shell edge. The shell lifts then flops quietly. A sea star shows under clear water. He pats the warm driftwood once. A bird startles and skims upward. Sand grains drift down like light powder. Katia stands near a tide pool.

Niall points toward the soft water. The water stays calm around their toes. A small dog, her pet, sniffs foam. The dog shakes, spraying tiny droplets. Droplets pat the bucket beside Katia. A crab clicks inside the bucket. Niall lowers a pebble without request. The pebble lands, making a plink. They watch bubbles rise and burst. A distant gull gives one sharp call.

銳利的鹹味空氣飄過海灘。奈歐將手掌按在濕沙上。小小的圓圈在他掌邊開合。他輕敲一片鬆動的貝殼邊緣。貝殼抬起又輕輕翻落。一隻海星出現在清澈水中。他拍拍一根溫熱的漂流木。一隻鳥受驚掠空而起。沙粒像輕粉般飄落。凱蒂雅站在潮池旁。

奈歐朝柔軟的水面指去。水在他們腳邊保持平靜。一隻小狗——她的寵物——嗅著泡沫。小狗抖身，灑出細小水珠。水珠拍打凱蒂雅旁的桶子。一隻螃蟹在桶內喀喀作響。奈歐放下一顆小鵝卵石，未出言請求。鵝卵石落下，發出清脆聲。他們注視氣泡升起又破裂。遠處一隻海鷗發出尖銳叫聲。