Medusa’s Annoyance
美杜莎（一）
“Medusa’s annoyance” is a story for HSK7+ learners. Stories I share are some Chinese folk tales, and some are my own creations.
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Story
坐在梳妝台前的美杜莎(Medusa)嘆了口氣，每到了這個季節美杜莎就會開始煩惱，這是蛇脫皮的季節，看著鏡子中原本黑黑的頭髮現在都被白皮蓋著，扭動的頭髮把白色的屑屑丟了下來，白點在美杜莎肩膀看起來就像頭皮屑一樣。坐在梳妆台前的美杜莎(Medusa)叹了口气，每到了这个季节美杜莎就会开始烦恼，这是蛇脱皮的季节，看着镜子中原本黑黑的头发现在都被白皮盖着，扭动的头发把白色的屑屑丢了下来，白点在美杜莎肩膀看起来就像头皮屑一样。
她不高興地看著鏡中的自己，難過地想著為什麼她永遠得有著這又重又黑的頭髮，要是自己也能有像雅典娜一樣的金色長髮，或許就可以讓更多人喜歡自己了。她不高兴地看着镜中的自己，难过地想着为什么她永远得有着这又重又黑的头发，要是自己也能有像雅典娜(Athena)一样的金色长发，或许就可以让更多人喜欢自己了。
美杜莎無奈地拍了拍肩上的屑屑，接著用兩根手指撐開眼皮，再用另一隻手摘下眼球上的隱形眼鏡……美杜莎无奈地拍了拍肩上的屑屑，接着用两根手指撑开眼皮，再用另一只手摘下眼球上的隐形眼镜……
English Translation
Sitting in front of her vanity, Medusa sighed. Every year when this season came around, she would start to worry — it was the season when snakes shed their skin. Looking in the mirror, she saw that her once jet-black hair was now covered in white flakes; as her writhing hair moved, white bits fell down, and the white specks on her shoulders looked just like dandruff. She looked at herself in the mirror unhappily, thinking sadly about why she always had to have this heavy, black hair — if only she could have golden hair like Athena’s, maybe more people would like her.
Medusa helplessly patted the flakes off her shoulders, then used two fingers to hold her eyelid open, and with her other hand, took the contact lens out of her eye……
Author’s Note
蛇在傳統中國的故事中並不代表邪惡，相反地常常有神聖、治癒的形象；在古希臘文中美杜莎也有保護者、守護者的含義，甚至美杜莎翅膀中所流出的血也具有治癒的作用。蛇在传统中国的故事中并不代表邪恶，相反地常常有神圣、治愈的形象；在古希腊文中美杜莎也有保护者、守护者的含义，甚至美杜莎翅膀中所流出的血也具有治愈的作用。
In traditional Chinese stories, snakes do not represent evil. On the contrary, they often have sacred and healing connotations. In ancient Greek, Medusa also had meanings of protector and guardian. Even the blood flowing from Medusa’s wings had healing properties.
