高齊云

here was once a redhead hen who lived with her chicks on a farm. In late summer， she saw that the corn was ripe1， ready to harvest and to become a good food and had an idea， “What if I make a delicious corn cake？！Everyone will like it！”

從前，一只紅頭發(fā)母雞和她的小雞一起住在農(nóng)場里。夏末的時候，她看到玉米已經(jīng)成熟，準(zhǔn)備收割作為一種很好的食物，她想出了一個主意：“如果我做一個美味的玉米蛋糕會怎么樣呢？！大家都會喜歡的！”

It was hard work. She needed enough corn for the cake.

這是個辛苦活，她需要足夠的玉米來做蛋糕。

Who could help harvest the corn cob2 in the foot？ Who could help thresh3 all the corn？ Who could help grind4 corn to make corn flour for the cake？

誰能幫忙把玉米棒子掰下來？誰能幫忙給那些玉米脫粒？誰能幫忙把玉米磨成做蛋糕用的玉米粉呢？

Now on the farm there lived other animals： dog， cat and pig. She came to them.

現(xiàn)在農(nóng)場里還生活著其他動物：狗、貓和豬。她來找他們。

“Who can help me harvest the corn to make a delicious cake？”

“誰能幫我收玉米做美味的蛋糕？”

“I cannot！” said the cat， angrily. “You woke me up for this？”

“我?guī)筒涣?！”貓生氣地說：“你就為了這事把我吵醒？”

“I cannot！” said the dog. “I like ready dish.”

“我?guī)筒涣耍　惫氛f?！拔蚁矚g現(xiàn)成的菜?！?/p>

“I cannot！” said the pig. “I do not like to mess5 me.”

“我?guī)筒涣?！”豬說。“我不喜歡把自己搞得臟兮兮的。”

So the redhead hen was preparing it alone： Harvested the corn， threshed the corn， ground corn flour， prepared the cake and put it in the oven.

所以紅頭母雞就只能獨自一人開始做準(zhǔn)備：收割玉米、脫粒、磨粉，做成蛋糕，然后放進(jìn)爐子里。

When the cake was ready…

當(dāng)?shù)案庾龊玫臅r候……

“That smell is wonderful！” said the pig. “It comes from the hen house. I also want to eat！”

“這個味道太香了！”豬說?！笆菑碾u舍那邊過來的。我也想吃！”

It made everyones mouth water and they were all running over.

所有人都垂涎欲滴地跑了過來。

“I want to eat！I want to eat！I want to eat！” said the three at the same time.

“我想吃！我想吃！我想吃！”三個家伙異口同聲道。

Then the redhead hen asked， “Who was it that helped me to harvest the corn and flour to make the cake？”

紅頭發(fā)母雞就問道：“有誰幫我收過玉米、磨過粉、做過蛋糕？”

All were silent. （No one had helped.）

所有人都沉默了。（沒人幫過忙。）

“So who will eat the delicious corn cake are me and my chicks only. You can continue to rest.”

“所以能吃美味的玉米蛋糕的人，只有我和我的小雞。你們繼續(xù)休息吧?！?/p>

And so it was： The hen and her chicks enjoyed the dinner and none of the lazy invited.

因此事情就是這樣的：母雞和她的小雞享用了這次大餐，懶惰的家伙沒有一個受到邀請。

Notes

1. ripe? adj. 熟的，成熟的

2. cob? n. 雄天鵝;玉米穗軸

3. thresh? v. （給谷物）脫粒;打谷

4. grind? vt. 磨碎

5. mess? vt. 弄亂，弄臟;毀壞