The Chickens Take a Holiday 小雞放假

李明娟選譯

The sun was about to rise1 on Farmer Tims farm. Chester Chicken woke up the cows with his important news2.

在農夫蒂姆的農場里，太陽馬上就要升起，小雞切斯特用一條重要消息喚醒了奶牛們。

“The chickens are taking a holiday today，” Chester Chicken said.

切斯特說：“雞今天休假?！?/p>

“Is that so？” said Daisy the cow. “What is so special？”

“是這樣嗎？”奶牛黛西說，“有什么特殊的原因嗎？”

“We worked too hard this week，” Chester said.

切斯特說：“本周我們工作太努力了?！?/p>

“You did？” asked Daisy.

“真的嗎？”黛西問。

“Yes！We laid3 ten eggs this week，” Chester said， “and there are only five of us.”

切斯特說：“是的！我們本周產了十個雞蛋，而我們只有五只雞?！?/p>

Daisy smiled4 and nodded5 her head. Ten was a lot of eggs for five chickens.

黛西笑了笑，點了點頭。十只雞蛋對五只雞來說夠多了。

“Enjoy your day off，” she said.

她說：“好好享受假期吧?！?/p>

“But what about us？” the other cows said to Daisy， “We gave Farmer Tim 100 pails6 of milk this week. There are only ten of us！”

“但是我們呢？”其他奶牛對黛西說，“本周我們給農夫蒂姆產了100桶牛奶。我們只有十頭牛！”

Daisy agreed7 with the cows， too. 100 pails of milk would make a lot of cheese8.

黛西也同意這些奶牛的說法，100桶牛奶能做很多奶酪。

“But we cant take a holiday on the same day as the chickens，” Daisy said. “What would Farmer Tim say？”

“但是我們不能和小雞在同一天度假?！?黛西說，“農夫蒂姆會怎么說？”

Daisy and the cows moved over to a patch of grass9 to have their breakfast.

黛西和奶牛們走到一塊草地上吃早餐。

“The chickens are taking a holiday，” Daisy told the trees. “And we dont think its fair10.”

“這些雞正在度假?！?黛西對樹說，“而且我們認為這不公平?！?/p>

The trees were not happy with this news.

樹木們聽到這個消息不高興了。

“Ive dropped11 over 1，000 apples this year，” one said.

有的說：“今年我掉落了1000多個蘋果?！?/p>

“And Ive had a million12 cherries13 picked！” said another.

“而我已經被采摘了幾百萬顆櫻桃！”另一個說。

The wind blew and the trees put on their angry14 faces.

一陣風吹了過來，樹木們露出生氣的樣子。

“We deserve15 a holiday more than the chickens！” the trees all shouted. “We worked too hard all year.”

“我們比雞更應該度假！”樹木們一起大喊，“全年我們都在非常努力地工作?！?/p>

This woke up the rake16 that was sitting on the grass under the trees.

這聲音喚醒了坐在樹下草地上的耙子。

“Have you heard the news？” the apple tree asked the rake. “The chickens are taking a holiday. They think they worked too hard this week.”

“你聽說那個消息了嗎？”蘋果樹問耙子，“雞正在度假。它們認為這周它們工作太辛苦了?！?/p>

The rake stood up and said， “I raked over one million leaves this year. And theres only one of me！If anyone deserves a holiday， it is a poor17 tired rake.”

耙子站起來說道：“今年我耙了超過一百萬片葉子。而我只有一個人！如果有誰應該度假，那就是可憐的疲憊不堪的我?！?/p>

Just then Rowdy Rooster jumped on the fence18 and began to crow19. It was time for the farmer to wake up.

就在這時，公雞羅迪跳上籬笆開始打鳴。農夫該醒了。

The chickens and cows and trees waited20 for Farmer Tim to come out and pick up the rake.

雞、牛和樹木等著農夫蒂姆出來撿起耙子。

But a minute later Farmer Tim did not come out.

但是一分鐘過去了，農夫蒂姆沒有出現。

Rowdy called two more times.

羅迪又喊了他兩次。

“Call him again，” the chickens shouted to the rooster. “He must be having a dream.”

“再喊他一次?！?其它雞對公雞大喊，“他一定還在做夢?！?/p>

Rowdy made one last call and this time Farmer Tim woke up. But he didnt come out and pick up the rake， milk the cows， or find the eggs under the chickens. He opened the window and shouted. Everyone could hear：

羅迪叫了最后一次，這次農夫蒂姆醒了。但是他沒有出來撿耙子，沒有給奶牛擠奶，也沒有找雞屁股底下的雞蛋。他打開了窗戶，大聲地喊叫著，讓每個人都可以聽到：

“I worked too hard this week， I say. Its time to take a holiday！”

“我這周工作太辛苦了，是時候放個假了！”

（英語原文選自：englishclub.com）

【Notes】

1. rise ?v. 攀升;起床;升起

2. news ?n. 新聞，消息

3. lay ?vi. 下蛋

4. smile ?v. 微笑;微笑著表示

5. nod ?v. 點頭;點頭表示

6. pail ?n. 桶，提桶

7. agree ?vt. 同意，贊成

8. cheese ?n. [食品] 奶酪;干酪

9. a patch of grass 草叢，一塊草地

10. fair ?adj. 公平的

11. drop ?v. 掉，投下

12. million ?n. 百萬;無數

13. cherry ?n. 櫻桃;櫻桃樹

14. angry ?adj. 生氣的;憤怒的

15. deserve ?v. 應受，應得

16. rake ?n. 耙子;v. 用耙子耙

17. poor ?adj. 貧窮的;可憐的

18. fence ?n. 柵欄;圍墻

19. crow ?v. 打鳴

20. wait ?v. 等候