给布兰布尔顿·甲虫的礼物

我是里亚。

This is Ria.

欢迎来到《给小家伙们的小故事》。

Welcome to Little Stories for Tiny People.

说实话，几年前，要是有好心人送我一盆绿植，我第一反应不是感激。

Truth be told, years ago, when some very nice person would give me a houseplant as a gift, my first reaction was not gratitude.

而是害怕。

It was fear.

我脑子里立刻就想：这植物肯定活不了。

And my first thought was always, this plant is not gonna make it.

那时候，我特别擅长把植物浇死。

Back then, I was excellent at overwatering plants.

我也特别擅长把植物渴死。

I was also excellent at underwatering plants.

就是不太擅长刚好浇对水。

I was not so good at just watering plants.

所以，每当我家里多一盆植物，它自己担心，我也跟着提心吊胆。

So a plant entering my home had good reason to worry, and so did I.

不过现在，我养植物可厉害多了，基本都能养活。

But I've gotten a lot better at keeping plants alive.

现在有人送我植物，我只觉得开心又感激。

And now when someone gives me one, I'm just happy and thankful.

我能真正体会到，这是一份用心的礼物。

I can appreciate it for the gift that it is.

今天的故事，讲的也是这么一段经历，只不过更离谱一点。

Our story today is about a similar, albeit slightly more ridiculous, journey.

故事叫《给布兰布尔顿·T的礼物》。

It's called a gift for Brambleton T.

甲虫。

Beetle.

接下来，有请伊芙琳。

Take it away, EVELYN.

记住啊，这儿没图。

Remember, there are no pictures.

你得自己在脑子里想象画面。

You have to imagine the pictures in your mind.

怎么想都行，随你便。

You can imagine the pictures however you want.

好嘞。

Okay.

咱们开始吧。

Here we go.

然后我和但丁居然同时脱口而出：‘你们有十二码的吗？’

So then Dante and I said at the exact I mean, the exact same time, do you have those in a size twelve?

那场面太搞笑了。

It was so funny.

不过嘛，你没在现场的话，可能真体会不到。

Although, I guess you had to be there.

所以上次在布兰布尔顿那儿……

So last Brambleton T.

甲虫努力集中注意力。

Beetle tried to focus.

他特别喜欢他的表妹德琳。

He loved his cousin, Delphine.

他爱听她那些天马行空的冒险故事，可脑子里总也甩不掉那堆待办事项。

He loved her wild tales of adventure, but he could not stop thinking about his ever growing to do list.

好多年了，布兰布尔顿一直想当森林甲虫活动委员会的财务。

For years, Brambleton had wanted the job of treasurer of the local forest beetle events committee.

他老想着自己坐在一堆整齐的文件里，做各种花里胡哨的饼图来展示关键数据。

He pictured himself sifting through orderly documents and creating lots of colorful pie charts to illustrate important data.

但这个位置早就被林肯先生占着了。

But the position had long been held by Mr.

林肯·甲虫·布利斯，一个怪老头，脖子上总围着条手帕。

Lincoln Beetle Bliss, a peculiar old beetle who always wore a kerchief round his neck.

终于，Beetle Bliss搬去老年甲虫社区后，这个职位空出来了。

At last, the position opened up when Beetle Bliss moved away into an elder beetle community.

Brambleton靠着邻居Melody的推荐，顺利被提名并选为新任出纳。

Brambleton had been nominated and voted in as the new treasurer on the strength of his neighbor Melody's recommendation.

Brambleton特别靠谱。

Brambleton is so responsible.

我出去度假时，总让他帮我浇毒荨麻。

When I go away on vacation, I always have him water my stinging nettles.

而且他数数特别准。

Also, he's very good with numbers.

我出去度假时，总让他帮我浇六遍毒荨麻，他从来不会数错。

When I go away on vacation, I always have him water my stinging nettles six times, and he never counts wrong.

在第一次委员会会议上，他才发现这工作跟想象的完全不一样。

At his first committee meeting, he had discovered the reality of the job did not quite match his expectations.

Brambleton收到一堆Beetle Bliss留下的皱巴巴文件，好多都沾着像蒲公英茶一样的污渍，至少有十几张还被疑似树汁的黏糊糊东西粘在一起，而且全都是用Lincoln先生那

Brambleton had been handed a tremendous stack of wrinkled papers left behind by Beetle Bliss, many of which were stained with something resembling dandelion tea, at least a dozen of which were stuck together with what appeared to be spilled tree sap, and all of which were written in Mr.

甲虫布利斯那鬼画符一样的字迹。

Beetle Bliss's incomprehensible handwriting.

最近，布兰布尔顿的小屋也开始一块块地散架了。

Meantime, Brambleton's hut had lately decided to fall apart piece by piece.

那年春天是森林里多年最潮湿的，雨水一来，屋顶到处漏水，他家院子里还积水成患。

It was the wettest spring the forest had had in years, and with the rain came various leaks in the roof and drainage problems on his property.

布兰布尔顿好几个星期都睡不安稳，动不动就惊醒，总觉得有雨滴打在脸上。

Brambleton had slept fitfully for weeks, bolting awake at odd moments, sure that raindrops were hitting his face.

每天早上他走出小屋，都会发现地上多了好大一滩一滩的烂泥，都是昨晚积的水。

In the mornings, he'd leave his hut to find thick puddles of mud where pools had formed overnight.

这些烦心事让他心神不宁，根本听不进客厅里他那可爱的表姐还在那儿叽叽喳喳地说个没完。

These and other concerns clouded his mind as he tried and failed to listen to his lovable cousin as she prattled on in the living room of his hut.

我知道等很久了，但等我一回来咱们就聚。

I know it's a long time, but we'll get together as

我一回来就马上见你。

soon as I get back.

布兰布尔顿看着德尔菲娜。

Brambleton looked at Delphine.

她还是一如既往地微笑着。

She was smiling as usual.

她的眼睛也和往常一样闪着光。

Her eyes twinkled as usual.

他努力回想她刚才说的那最后一分钟的话。

He tried to play back the last minute of what she'd said.

脑子里一片空白。

Nothing came to him.

什么也想不起来。

Nothing at all.

你一回来就马上？

As soon as you get back?

就是你回来的那一刻？

The very minute?

德琳咯咯笑了。

Delphine giggled.

你根本没听我说话，对吧？

You didn't hear a word I said, did you?

她太了解他了。

She knew him too well.

我猜我刚才走神了，”布拉姆顿嘀咕着，偷偷瞥了眼天花板，找有没有漏水的地方。

I suppose my mind wandered slightly, Brambleton muttered, casting a sly glance at the ceiling, scanning for leaks.

哎呀，布拉姆顿，你最近心不在焉得厉害啊。

Oh, Brambleton, you've been so distracted lately.

我说了，我要和那帮人出去玩，到月底才回来。

I said I'm going away until the end of the month with the gang.

我们要去玩悬崖跳水。

We're doing a cliff jumping tour.

我要想死你了，

I'm gonna miss Delphine stared up at the ceiling of the hut.

她眯起眼睛，专心致志地盯着看。

Her eyes narrowed in concentration.

两个不行。

Two no.

我们每周三次聚餐。

Three of our weekly lunches.

等我回来咱们就再聚，你得把我在外面这段日子你都干了啥全告诉我。

But we'll get together as soon as I'm back, and you can fill me in on all the adventures you take while I'm away.

她刚才是不是冲我眨了眨眼？

Did she just wink?

德琳往前一扑，给了布兰布尔顿一个勒得人喘不过气的拥抱。

Delphine stepped forward and embraced Brambleton in a suffocating hug.

你玩得开心点，他勉强挤出一句话。

Have a great time, he managed.

别光顾着担心。

Don't spend all your time worrying.

你保证吗？

Do you promise?

我再想想。

I'll consider it.

德琳一溜烟儿就出门了。

Delphine breezed out the door.

别忘了，好好享受生活。

And remember, live a little.

一定。

Will do.

平平安安地回来啊。

Come back in one piece.

布拉姆顿轻轻关上门，长舒了一口气。

Brambleton eased the door shut then sighed with relief.

他当然会想她，但脑子里事儿太多了。

Of course, he would miss her, but he had so much on his mind.

尽管她魅力十足，但德尔菲娜嗓门特别大。

And despite her many charms, Delphine was loud.

布拉姆顿，我有个超疯狂的消息要告诉你。

Brambleton, I have the craziest news.

而且还老是气喘吁吁的。

And breathless.

你刚看到那只鹰了吗？

Did you just see that hawk?

天哪。

Oh, man.

我真想骑一次鹰。

I really wanna do a hawk ride.

迭戈说那感觉简直爽到飞起，当然，危险也是真有。

Diego told me it's like the biggest rush, and obviously, the danger is about it.

现在她走了，他终于能安静下来把事儿办了。

Now he'd have quiet time to get things done while she was away.

布兰布尔顿回到摇椅上，继续翻看林肯·比特尔·布利斯留给他的那一堆文件，这时他注意到一张绿色卡片从纸堆里露出了角。

Brambleton returned to his rocking chair and resumed sifting through the mess of papers bequeathed to him by Lincoln Beetle Bliss when he noticed the corner of a green card sticking out from the stack.

他一把抓出来，胸口顿时一紧。

He grasped it and a knot formed in his thorax.

上面用大字写着：树叶滑翔冒险。

Leaf gliding adventures, it shouted in large letters.

可享受一次不可思议的午后树叶滑翔。

Good for one incredible afternoon of leaf gliding.

德琳用她那标志性的花体字，在卡片底部写了一行字。

In her distinctive loopy handwriting, Delphine had added a note at the bottom.

亲爱的比特尔，我这个月没空用我的树叶滑翔券，就当是送你的小惊喜吧。

Dear Beetle, I won't be here to use my monthly leaf gliding session, so consider it a just because gift from me to you.

月底前一定要用掉，不然就作废了，我知道你最讨厌浪费东西。

You have to go by the end of the month or it will go to waste, and I know how you don't like to waste things.

爱你的，德琳。

Love, Delphine.

布兰布尔顿盯着那张卡片，足足愣了一分钟，半信半疑。

Brambleton stared at the card in mild disbelief for a full minute.

接着他轻笑出声，又觉得好笑，又有点恼火，还莫名被打动了。

Then he released a chuckle, amused, annoyed, and charmed in equal measures.

布兰布尔顿根本不知道什么叫叶子滑翔。

Brambleton had no idea what leaf gliding was.

他也不知道这玩意儿是在水面上玩，还是在草地上跑。

He had no idea whether one did it on water or through grass.

不管这是啥，他一点都没觉得这是份礼物。

Whatever it was, it did not feel like a gift at all.

倒像是又给他的待办清单上添了一桩事儿。

It felt like one more item on his ever lengthening to do list.

这时屋外传来敲门声，他如释重负，赶紧把卡片塞进抽屉，去开门见客。

When a knock came at the door of his hut, he gladly shoved the card into a drawer and went to greet his unknown visitor.

所以简单说就是，我要去照顾我妹妹唐娜，她刚做完外骨骼手术，得找个靠谱、稳重、负责任的人来照看马格努斯。

So all that's to say, since I'll be away helping my sister Donna recover from exoskeleton surgery, I need someone trustworthy and reliable and responsible to take care of Magnus.

你一直把我的荨麻打理得特别好。

And you've always done such a good job with my stinging nettles.

布兰布顿低头看着门廊上的甲虫——他的邻居梅洛迪。

Brambleton peered at the beetle on his doorstep, his neighbor, Melody.

她是个性格温柔的小虫子，一激动翅膀就扑棱棱地扇个不停。

She was a sweet natured bug with wings that fluttered when she was excited.

现在她的翅膀又在扑棱了。

The wings fluttered now.

不行。

No.

我不会帮你照顾那只我连面都没见过、也不怎么想见的宠物。

I will not take care of your pet, whom I have not met and do not particularly want to.

不行。

No.

我可不会再给自己添一堆新活儿了。

I will not add yet another set of tasks to my list.

布兰布顿本来想这么说的。

That's what Brambleton wanted to say.

幸好他没说出口。

Thankfully, he kept those thoughts to himself.

布兰布顿，我真替你高兴。

I'm excited for you, Brambleton.

真的，我特别替你高兴。

Really, I am.

梅洛迪继续说着，翅膀又兴奋地扇动起来。

Melody went on, her wings lifting in a new flurry of flutters.

你只要和马格努斯待一会儿，烦恼就全没了。

Your worries simply melt away when you spend time with Magnus.

烦恼就全没了？

Your worries melt away?

哦，对啊。

Oh, yes.

我经常忙得焦头烂额，事情多得做不完。

Lots of times, I'll be completely overwhelmed with all that I have to do.

捡树枝、摆整齐、扫屋子、扫门口，只要一看见我亲爱的马格努斯，所有烦心事就全没了。

Picking up sticks, arranging them, sweeping the floor of my hut, sweeping the stoop of my hut, and one look at my dear Magnus, and it all fades away.

布拉姆顿想象着自己牵着一只小蜗牛，在树林里悠闲散步。

Brambleton pictured himself taking a tiny snail for leisurely strolls in the woods.

他想象着马格努斯懒洋洋地趴在他腿上，看他破解林肯甲虫·布利斯那鬼画符一样的字迹。

He imagined Magnus lazing on his lap as he worked to decode Lincoln Beetle Bliss' impenetrable handwriting.

他想象着那只脾气好的蜗牛，悄无声息地在他修屋顶时慢悠悠地爬来爬去。

He imagined the good natured snail sliding sweetly and silently around the hut as he patched his roof.

也许，养个宠物真能让他从这些鸡毛蒜皮的小事里抽身出来。

Maybe a pet was precisely what he needed to get his mind off his trifling concerns.

这不正是试一试的绝佳机会吗？

And wouldn't this be the ideal way of trying it out?

再说，梅洛迪还帮了他大忙，让他如愿当上了出纳。

Besides, Melody had kindly gotten him the treasurer job he had so desired.

他该为她这么做。

He should do this for her.

梅洛迪，你说你走多久啊？

Melody, how long did you say you'd be gone?

到月底。

Till the end of the month.

月底啊，布兰布尔顿心想。

The end of the month, Brambleton thought.

你得在月底前走，不然就浪费了。

You have to go by the end of the month or it will go to waste.

你知道吗？有研究说，每天摸一摸蜗牛七分钟，幸福感能提升14%。

You know, there's been studies that say if you pet a snail for seven minutes every day, it boosts your well-being by 14%.

相当于每天2%。

That's 2% per

我干了，布兰布尔顿说。

I'll do it, Brambleton said.

你真的会？

You will?

梅洛迪的翅膀急促地扇动着。

Melody's wings fluttered in a frenzy.

我很乐意。

I'm happy to.

哦，布兰布尔顿，谢谢你。

Oh, Brambleton, thank you.

梅洛迪喋喋不休地说着。

Melody prattled on.

你得把所有室内植物都收好，不然没等你反应过来，它们就全没了。

Now make sure you put away all your house plants or they'll be gone before you know it.

但布兰布尔顿满脑子想的，是自己答应的另一个原因。

But Brambleton was too busy thinking about the other reason he had said yes.

如果他要照顾这只黏人的蜗牛直到月底，那就没法抽空去玩树叶滑翔了。

If he was pet sitting, a needy snail, until the end of the month, He'd have no way to take an afternoon off to go leaf gliding.

对不起，德琳。

I'm sorry, Delphine.

我实在没空用那张叶子滑翔券。

I just had no time to use the leaf gliding pass.

马格努斯需要我。

Magnus needed me.

对，帮梅洛迪照看宠物真是个好主意。

Yes, pet sitting for Melody was the answer.

这样既能把德琳送的礼物从待办清单上划掉，又能有个乖巧的宠物陪着，分散注意力。

He could cross Delphine's gift off his to do list and reap the benefits of having a relaxing pet to take his mind off his troubles.

我乐意给你拉一车蒲公英茎过来，省得你操心。

I'm happy to bring over a cart filled with dandelion stems so that you don't have to

不用了，布兰布尔顿回过神来，说道。

That won't be necessary, Brambleton said, returning to the present.

我相信他能自己凑齐马格努斯需要的东西。

I'm sure he can scrounge up whatever Magnus needs.

哦，既然你这么坚持，那好吧。

Oh, well, if you insist.

第二天一早，布兰布尔顿就起来准备迎接客人。

Brambleton rose early the following morning to prepare for the arrival of his guest.

昨晚又下了一场雨，但太阳一出来，树林就干得差不多了，他采了一篮子蒲公英茎，放在厨房的小碗里。

It had rained again overnight, but the woods were dry enough by sunup that he was able to collect a basket of dandelion stems, which he set in a small bowl in the kitchen.

旁边还放了一碟新鲜的水。

Beside it, he put a dish filled with fresh water.

他以前从没照顾过蜗牛，但他觉得马格努斯肯定会喜欢有个专门睡觉的地方。

He had never cared for a snail before, but he imagined Magnus would appreciate having a special place to sleep.

他挑了自己最心爱的羽毛枕，摆在了床脚。

He selected a well loved pillow stuffed with feathers and laid it at the foot of his own bed.

一切都安排妥当后，他就坐进摇椅里，继续审阅森林甲虫活动委员会的文件。

Once all that was done, he settled into his rocking chair and continued his work of reviewing documents for the Forest Beetle events committee.

正午整点，屋顶传来细密而稳定的雨滴声，门被敲响了。

At precisely noon, with a light but steady drizzle pattering the roof, there came a knock at the door.

他猛地从椅子上跳起来，总算能歇口气了，这工作真是闷得慌。

He practically leapt out of his chair, glad to have a break from the tedium of his work.

要是有只蜗牛趴我腿上，干活儿肯定舒服多了。

It would be so much nicer getting things done with a snail on his lap.

可当他打开小屋的门时

But when he opened the door of his hut

你好啊，布兰布顿。

Hello, Brambleton.

他立刻明白，今天，还有将来很长一段时间，都别想有蜗牛趴他腿上了。

He understood that there would be no snail sitting on his lap that day or any day in the near future.

这是马格努斯，

This is Magnus,

梅洛迪说得很开心——至少布兰布顿觉得那是梅洛迪的声音。

Melody said brightly, or that is Brambleton strongly believed it was Melody.

可他根本看不见她。

He could not actually see her.

马格努斯堵满了整个门框。

Magnus took up the entire doorway.

他把外面所有的光都挡住了。

He blocked all light from the outside.

马格努斯可不是那种可爱小巧的蜗牛。

Magnus was not a sweet, diminutive, little snail.

他大得吓人。

He was gigantic.

我到底干了什么啊？

What have I done?

布兰伯顿这八分钟里，第47次问自己。

Brambleton wondered for the forty seventh time in the last eight minutes.

梅洛迪早就溜了。

Melody had left swiftly.

我得赶我的火鸡出租车。

I have to catch my turkey taxi.

再次谢谢你，布兰伯顿。

Thank you again, Brambleton.

对了，我妹妹家特别偏僻。

Oh, and by the way, my sister's place is very remote.

恐怕你用蜻蜓也联系不上我，不过我想一切都会没事的。

I'm afraid you won't be able to reach me by dragonfly, but I'm sure everything will be fine.

乖乖的啊，马格努斯。

Be good, Magnus.

马格努斯可没乖。

Magnus was not good.

他一转身就把布兰伯顿家的十一盆植物全吃光了。

Magnus ate all 11 of Brambleton's house plants in a single sweep of the room.

连布兰伯顿放在小盘子里的蒲公英茎也一块儿吃了。

Additionally, he had eaten the dandelion stems Brambleton had collected in the small dish.

连那个盘子他都给吞了。

He'd also eaten the dish.

水碗几秒钟就打翻了，那巨兽在小屋里转来转去，轻轻一碰就撞翻了——这屋子自从他进来，好像缩水了一大圈。

The water bowl had been spilled within seconds, the casualty of a mere nudge from the enormous creature as it slid around the hut, which seemed to have shrunk considerably since he'd arrived.

看着这只巨型蜗牛慢悠悠地转圈，撞倒台灯，壳还刮着墙，布兰布尔顿本来觉得挺可笑，心想让马格努斯睡小枕头这主意还挺靠谱，结果一抬头，好家伙，马格努斯正把那枕头当菜吃呢。

Watching the giant snail move in slow circles, knocking over a lamp, and scraping the walls with its shell, Brambleton had to laugh when he considered his plan for Magnus to sleep on his little pillow until he looked over to catch a glimpse of Magnus eating the pillow.

布兰布尔顿这回真是把宠物托管的事儿彻底搞砸了。

Brambleton had spectacularly misjudged this pet sitting arrangement.

不过有一件事他倒是猜对了——陪马格努斯待着，还真能让他暂时忘了其他烦心事。

Though there was one thing he'd anticipated correctly, spending time with Magnus did get his mind off his other responsibilities.

接下来那一周，布兰布尔顿醒着的每一分钟，都在忙着给马格努斯喂食、逗他玩。

For the next week, Brambleton spent every waking moment keeping Magnus fed and occupied.

天还没亮他就出门，到处找能吃的绿叶回来。

He rose before dawn to collect anything leafy he could find.

他把找来的叶子全摆到橱柜里最大的盘子上，端到那睡得占满整间屋的巨兽面前——他得侧着身子挤过去，才能绕到自己的摇椅那儿。

He served up what he gathered on the largest platter he had in the cupboard and set it before the sleeping giant who took up so much space in the hut, Brambleton had to squeeze around him to reach his rocking chair.

马格努斯一醒，咕噜一下就把整盘叶子吞了，布兰布尔顿急得手忙脚乱，连盘子都怕被他一口吞了，赶紧抢回来。

Magnus would wake, gulp down the whole platter full with Brambleton frantically grabbing the platter itself to see that it too was not swallowed.

没过几分钟，马格努斯就猛地从休息的地方爬起来，好像还在找东西吃。

Within moments, Magnus would lurch up from his resting spot, seemingly searching for more to eat.

马格努斯，离那个远点。

Magnus, get away from that.

马格努斯，别吃那个沙发垫子。

Magnus, do not eat that couch cushion.

这简直累死人了，布莱姆顿根本没空管他的财务工作，也没心思打理家里的事。

It was desperately exhausting and left Brambleton no time at all to devote to his treasurer duties nor to his home maintenance.

天花板角落又漏了水，可他太累了，根本懒得管。

A new leak sprung from a corner of the ceiling, but he was too tired to care.

到了第八天，就算睡了一整晚，布莱姆顿还是困得睁不开眼，到处翻找树叶喂这头怪物。

On the eighth day, even after a full night's sleep, Brambleton could hardly keep his eyes open as he scrounged for foliage to feed the monster.

他拖着一篮子植物踉跄回家，全倒进了马格努斯的盘子里。

He staggered home with a basket filled with plants and deposited them on Magnus' platter.

那巨兽眨了眨它那双怪异的眼睛，开始嚼起来。

The beast blinked his strange eyes open and began chewing.

与此同时，布兰布尔顿猛地清醒了过来。

Meantime, Brambleton shook himself fully awake.

就在这一瞬间，睡意散去，他瞥见那堆叶子，触角一下子竖了起来——他认出来了。

And it was then when his mind cleared away the fog of sleep that he glanced at the pile of leaves and his antennae shot straight up in recognition.

盘子上，赫然堆着一大把毒蕨菜。

There, on the platter, was a large bundle of poisoned fern.

天哪。

Oh, no.

马格努斯，天啊，宝贝，快停下。

Magnus, oh, there, boy.

让我，让我把那拿开，不行——

Let me let me just get that no.

已经太迟了。

It was too late.

马格努斯把所有东西都吃光了，连毒蕨菜也没放过。

Magnus ate everything, poisoned Fern and all.

这次他连盘子都吞了下去。

This time, he even ate the platter.

他大概能挺过来。

He'll probably survive.

这可不是布兰布尔顿希望听到的答案啊——他可是小心翼翼、一步一步带着马格努斯穿过森林，找到梅洛迪留给他的那位兽医的。

This was not the answer Brambleton had been hoping to hear after he had guided Magnus slowly, so slowly, through the forest to the veterinarian whose name Melody had left with him.

他从来不会生病。

He never gets sick.

这小子身体可硬朗了，对吧，马格努斯？

He's a robust fellow, aren't you, Magnus?

但以防万一，这是医生的地址。

But just in case something comes up, this is Doctor.

比特脚的地址。

Beetlefoot's address.

出事了，偏偏就是那有毒的蕨菜。

Something had come up, specifically poisoned fern.

不好意思。

Sorry.

你刚才是不是说‘可能’？

Did did you say probably?

十有八九能挺过去。

More likely than not.

他能撑住的。

He'll make it.

不管是医生的话、贝特尔脚医生的表情，还是马格努斯从早餐后就明显低落的状态，都没让人觉得安心。

Neither the words nor doctor Beetlefoot's expression nor Magnus's demeanor, which had been noticeably dark since breakfast, were especially reassuring.

马格努斯今晚得留在我们这儿过夜。

Magnus here will have to remain at our office overnight.

其实得待两晚，好观察和监测情况。

Two nights, in fact, for observation and monitoring.

观察？

Observation?

还有监测。

And monitoring.

对。

Right.

剩下的交给我们吧，布拉姆顿先生。

We'll take it from here, mister, Brambleton.

你知道吗，贝特尔足医生突然变得很开朗地说。

You know, doctor Beetlefoot said, suddenly jovial.

布拉姆顿还以为他要带来什么好消息呢。

Brambleton thought perhaps he was going to offer some good news.

结果他却说：我本人也叫布拉姆顿。

Instead, he said, I'm a Brambleton myself.

布拉姆顿G。

Brambleton G.

哦。

Oh.

但医生接着说，脸色突然严肃起来。

But The doctor added, his face growing serious.

你还是叫我贝特尔脚医生吧。

I would prefer that you call me doctor Beetle Foot.

好的。

Right.

过几天再见。

We'll see you in a couple days.

谢谢，再见，马格努斯。

Thanks, and goodbye, Magnus.

在经历了这么多天跟一只巨型蜗牛较劲之后，布兰布尔顿回家的路上穿过森林，竟出奇地宁静。

Brambleton's walk home through the forest was disarmingly peaceful after so many days spent wrangling an enormous snail.

时值晚春，灌溉充足的树木郁郁葱葱，绿意盎然。

It was late spring, and the well watered trees were lush with greenery.

这是几周来最干燥的一段日子，森林里也悄然添了几分暖意。

It was the driest it had been in weeks, and a new warmth had visited the forest.

他穿梭在灌木丛中，不禁反思起自己的蠢行。

As he skittered through the underbrush, Brambleton reflected on his own foolishness.

他本来以为养个宠物，能让他在完成待办事项时有个伴儿，放松一下。

He'd thought having a pet would give him some relaxing companionship as he ticked items off his to do list.

一只鸟儿从高枝上鸣叫，歌声婉转动人，让他一下子停住了脚步。

A bird called from a high branch, a lovely, lilting song that stopped him in his tracks.

他抬起头来。

He looked up.

洁白的云朵缓缓飘过柔和的蓝天。

Milky clouds glided through a mellow blue sky.

布兰布尔顿看着那只鸟儿展翅飞起。

Brambleton watched as the bird took flight.

真想飞到树顶上去啊。

Oh, to lift above the trees.

布兰布尔顿从来都不会飞。

Brambleton had never been able to fly.

他小时候翅膀长得太短了。

His wings had grown in too short when he was a baby.

他又抬头看了好一会儿，才回过神来，匆匆赶回家。

He stared up a while longer then came back down to earth and skittered home.

他回到家，发现一张明信片卡在小屋门框上。

He arrived to find a postcard wedged in the frame of the door of his hut.

正面画着陡峭的悬崖，背景是绚丽的日落。

On the front was an illustration of jagged cliffs before a brilliant sunset.

他翻过来看了看。

He turned it over.

亲爱的布兰布顿，信开头是那熟悉的花体字。

Dear Brambleton, the note began in those familiar looping letters.

这儿美极了。

It's beautiful here.

我们玩得超嗨，就是蒙蒂昨天跳得太猛，断了一条腿。

Were having a blast, except for Monty who lost a leg yesterday in a pretty spectacular jump.

但他说他还有五个，这就够了。

But he says he's got five more, and that's enough for him.

等我回去，非得跟你把所有事儿都唠一遍，也特别想听你说说叶子滑翔的事儿。

Can't wait to tell you everything when I get back, and can't wait to hear all about leaf gliding.

爱你的，你最爱的表弟。

Love, your favorite cousin.

叶子滑翔。

Leaf gliding.

马格努斯一来，屋里乱成一团，布拉姆伯顿压根儿把叶子滑翔券这事儿忘得一干二净。

In the flurry of chaos following Magnus' arrival, Brambleton had genuinely forgotten about the leaf gliding pass.

他进屋后，在书桌抽屉里翻出了那张券，举到下午的阳光下仔细瞧。

He went inside and found it in his desk drawer and held it up in the afternoon light.

他那套蹩脚的借口又冒了出来。

His pathetic line of reasoning came back to him.

德琳，我真的不是故意的，就是没空用这张券。

Delphine, I just had no time to use the gift.

马格努斯需要我。

Magnus needed me.

布拉姆顿瞥了一眼空荡荡的小屋。

Brambleton glanced at his empty hut.

没有蜗牛需要他。

There was no snail who needed him.

天花板也没漏水。

There was no water leaking from the ceiling.

下一次委员会会议还得等一周呢。

His next committee meeting was not for another week.

外面阳光明媚。

Outside, the sun was shining.

空气暖洋洋的。

The air was warm.

他想象着戴尔芬回来时那副狂野的笑容。

He pictured Delphine's wild grin upon her return.

布兰伯顿，你觉得叶子滑翔怎么样？

Brambleton, what did you think of leaf gliding?

给我讲讲全过程吧。

Tell me all about it.

他没法对德尔菲娜撒谎。

He could not lie to Delphine.

布兰伯顿抓起一包叶子卷饼，边走边吃，出发去体验叶子滑翔了。

Brambleton grabbed a pouch of leaf rolls to eat on the way and set off to leaf gliding adventures.

回家路上，他看见一只鸟从树枝上飞向湛蓝的天空——这已经不是他第一次羡慕了，甚至可以说无数次想过，可他永远做不到。

When Brambleton saw the bird take flight from the branch into the clear blue sky on his walk home, it was not the first time he'd wished he could do the same, not even close, but it could never be.

至少，他一直这么以为。

At least, that's what he had believed.

结果发现，叶子滑翔根本不是在水里或泥坡上玩的运动。

Leaf gliding, as it turned out, was not a sport you did in water or on a mudslope.

你也不是在草坡上或冰面上让叶子滑下去。

You did not glide a leaf down a grassy hill or across ice.

这事儿得跳起来才行。

It involved leaping.

在布兰布顿这儿呢，是被热情的教练莉拉一把推下去的。

Well, in Brambleton's case, being pushed by the enthusiastic instructor, Lilac

你肯定行的，布兰布顿。

You've got this, Brambleton.

从树枝上跳下去。

Off a tree branch.

哇哦。

Woah.

对了，我哥也叫布兰布顿。

By the way, my brother's name is Brambleton too.

他叫布兰布顿·S。

He's Brambleton s.

这太巧了。

That's that's great.

拉紧你的绳子。

Pull up on your lines.

对，就是这样。

There you go.

你做得太棒了。

You're doing great.

记得找降落圈。

Remember to look for the landing circle.

树叶滑翔是布兰布顿第一次真正体验飞行。

Leaf gliding was Brambleton's very first taste of flying.

一切都和他想象中一样精彩。

And it was just as amazing as he'd always imagined.

他的树叶降落伞飘在他小座椅上方，用各种线绳固定着。

His leaf parachute was aloft above his little seat, secured with various threads.

莉拉说这些线是用最强韧的蜘蛛丝做的。

Lilac had assured him were made of the strongest spider's silk.

等他摸清了各根线杆的操控后，哦。

Once he got the hang of the different line poles Oh.

哎呀，糟了。

Oh, no.

好吧。

Okay.

他乘着风势直冲而上，飘在树冠之上。

He soared upward, catching the wind, and drifted above the trees.

哇哦。

Woah.

越飞越高，他看到的不只是树木，而是整片生机勃勃的森林。

As he flew higher, he did not only see the trees, he saw the whole living forest.

底下的一切都变得好小好小。

Everything down below appeared so tiny.

他看见一群鹿正沿着小路走。

He saw a pack of deer on a trail.

它们看起来好小啊，小到他真想伸手摘下一头鹿的角。

They looked so small, like he could pluck one up by the antlers.

就连马格努斯，可怜的马格努斯，估计也挺好的吧。

Even Magnus, poor Magnus, who would be okay, probably.

从那么高的地方看，他都显得特别精致了。

Even he would look positively dainty from those heights.

而在高处，布拉姆顿终于得到了的，不是他一直想要的，而是他好几个星期真正需要的东西。

And up there, Brambleton finally got precisely not what he'd wanted, but what he'd needed for weeks.

暂时逃离森林里那些鸡毛蒜皮的小事。

A rest from the trifling cares of forest life.

文件、家务，等他回去，一样都不会少。

The paperwork, the home maintenance, it would all be there for him when he returned.

但至少这个下午，他飞在了这一切之上。

But just for the afternoon, he flew high above it all.

当布拉姆顿缓缓滑向降落圈——虽然飞得不算专业，但也够稳了——他突然意识到，他迫不及待想跟德尔菲娜分享今天的一切，也想好好谢谢她送的这份礼物。

As Brambleton glided, perhaps not expertly, but decently enough towards the landing circle, it occurred to him that he couldn't wait to tell Delphine about his day, and he couldn't wait to thank her for the gift.

马格努斯没事的。

Magnus was okay.

我觉得我得跟你说一声。

I feel like I have to tell you that.

之前故事里没来得及提，但他真的好好的。

I couldn't fit it into the story, but yes, he was fine.

梅洛迪对布兰布尔顿帮忙照看宠物特别满意，打算以后还找他。

And Melody was so pleased with Brambleton's pet sitting that she's hoping to book him again in the future.

走着瞧吧。

We'll see.

希望你喜欢这个故事。

I hope you enjoyed this story.

写给你的时候，我特别开心。

It was a delight to write it for you.

《给小家伙们的小故事》由我，丽亚·佩赫特，创作、演绎并制作。

Little Stories for Tiny People is written, performed, and produced by me, Ria Pechter.