A Quiet Child 一个安静的小孩

向红

There was once a child who was very quiet. Very different from other kids of her age， she spoke very few words and was quiet for most of the time， as if lost in some thought1.

从前有个孩子非常安静。与其他同龄孩子不同的是，她很少说话，大部分时间都沉默不语，好像陷入了沉思中。

“My dear， why dont you play in the streets with the other children？ You will get bored2 sitting here all day long，” her mom asked.

妈妈问她：“亲爱的，你为什么不和别的孩子一块到街上去玩呢？整天坐在这里会感到无聊的。”

But she was never bored. The little child always likes to sit at one corner3 of her house quietly， making trouble4 to no body. When she grew up and she could go to school， she asked her mother to get her a book and let her learn at home. Then， her mother got a story book for her.

但她从不感到无聊。这个小孩总喜欢安静地坐在屋子的一个角落里，不给任何人惹麻烦。当她长大了可以去上学的时候，她恳求妈妈给她一本书，让她在家学习。于是她妈妈给她买了一本故事书。

“How can you read， my dear？” her mother said to her， “You have not got your lessons all.”

“亲爱的，你要怎么读呢？”妈妈对她说，“你还没上完课呢。”

But she was able to read at once without being taught. Day after day， she sat in the corner reading her books and thinking.

但她不用人教就能立刻阅读。日复一日，她坐在角落里读书思考。

When she grew up a little， she asked her mother to build a little room for her away from the house. Then she could study there and think without any disturbance5.

她再长大一点的时候，她让妈妈给她建一间远离她家房子的小房间，这样她可以在那不受打扰地学习和思考。

A little room was soon built for her and the girl shut6 herself in there. Her mother often knocked7 on her door without getting any answer. She peeped8 through the keyhole9 to see whether she was all right. Then she would leave some food and water out the door and go away. She then found the bowls were emptied10.

很快地，妈妈为她建了一间小房间，小女孩把自己关在里面。她妈妈经常去敲她的门，但没有得到任何回应。她从钥匙孔里偷看，看那孩子是否安然无恙。她会把食物和水放在门口再离开，然后她发现这些碗都空了。

But one day， her mother found the food not eaten. She peeped through the hole and was surprised to find her child sitting there， reading her book. A little girl stood beside her and talked with her happily， and all kinds of animals were all over the little room.

但是有一天，她的媽妈发现这些食物都没有人吃。她从锁眼往里偷看，惊奇地发现她的孩子坐在那里看书，有一个小女孩站在她旁边和她高兴地交谈，还有各种各样的动物塞满了这个小房间。

The mother didnt know and was curious11 to know why her child could talk and smile12 suddenly13. Why didnt she get along with other kids？ And why were there many animals in the room？ Where were they from？ A lot of questions were in the mothers mind， but she couldt ask her child.

妈妈不知道为什么，也很好奇她的孩子为什么突然会又说又笑的。为什么她不和其他的孩子好好相处呢？为什么房间里会有这么多动物呢？它们从哪里来的？虽然心里充满了许多疑问，但是她不能去问孩子。

When many days went away， the child went out the room and was smiling. Just like another child. Her mother and many people did not know why and how. But， it really was a good change14.

许多天过去了，那孩子微笑着走出房间，就像变了一个人一样。她妈妈和许多人都不知道这是为什么，怎么就变成这样了。但是，这确实是一个很好的改变。

One day， her mother asked the girl，“Dear， I want to know...uhh...why you became outgoing15 suddenly. ”

有一天，妈妈问小姑娘：“亲爱的，我想知道……呃……你为什么突然变得这么开朗了。”

“Because one day， I read an interesting book and have a friend in it. She said to me， everyone can have a great life， and everyone should have friends so that your life can be the whole one. I found what I did in the past was not right because at that time， I thought I was all alone in the world and no one would love me. So I did not want to talk with others， but just stay with books.”

“因为有一天，我读了一本有趣的书，并在书里交了一个朋友。她对我说，每个人都可以拥有美好的生活，每个人都应该有朋友，这样你的生活才算是完整的。我意识到我过去所做的是错的，因为在那个时候，我认为在这个世界上我是孤单一个人，没有人会爱我，所以我不愿意和别人说话，只想和书相处。”

After her daughters words， the mother thought that she gave little love to her and then hugged16 her. She said， “My dear， how can you think that？ We are your parents and we will always love you.”

妈妈听到女儿说这样的话才意识到自己对她的爱太少了，她抱着女儿说：“亲爱的，你怎么会这样想呢？我们是你的父母，我们永远爱你。”

From then on， the kind child was not alone and she has made many real friends.

从那时起，这个善良的孩子不再孤单，她交到了很多真正的朋友。

【Notes】

1. thought [] n. 思想;思考;想法 2. bored [      ] adj. 无聊的;无趣的

3. corner [        ] n. 角落，拐角处 4. trouble [      ] n. 麻烦

5. disturbance [             ] n. 干扰 6. shut [] v. 关上

7. knock [     ] v. 敲;打 8. peep [     ] v. 窥视，偷看

9. keyhole [         ] n. 锁眼 10. empty [        ] v. 使……成为空的

11. curious [          ] adj. 好奇的 12. smile [       ] v. 微笑;微笑着表示

13. suddenly [         ] adv. 突然地;忽然 14. change [         ] v. 改變，转变

15. outgoing [            ] adj. 对人友好的，开朗的 16. hug [     ] v. 拥抱;紧抱