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我是Ria。
This is Ria.
欢迎收听《小人儿的小故事》。
Welcome to little stories for tiny people.
前几天，我出去跑步。
The other day, I was out for a run.
其实吧，更像是慢跑，速度也就跟快走差不多。
Well, it was more of a jog, really, at the pace of a speedy walk, you might say.
总之，我正以极慢的速度慢跑时，一只闪着彩虹光泽但相当没礼貌的甲虫直直撞上了我的膝盖。
Anyway, I was out for an extremely slow jog when a beautifully iridescent, but also rather rude beetle flew straight into my knee.
它飞走的时候，对刚才的事毫不在意，而就在这时，一个问题像那只甲虫一样猛地击中了我。
And as it flew away, untroubled by what it had done, a question struck me with equal force to that of the beetle.
不过，这个问题击中我的不是膝盖，而是我的脑海。
But the question struck me in my mind rather than my knee.
这个问题就是：Mr.
The question was, what has Mr.
这只甲虫先生最近都在忙些什么？
Beetle been up to?
我们这就来解开这个谜底。
We're going to find out.
今天要讲的故事名字是《甲虫先生的
Our story is called Mr.
夏日惊喜》。
Beetle's Summer Surprise.
开始吧，梅森。
Take it away, Mason.
记住，脑海里没有画面。
Remember, there are no pictures.
全靠你自己想象。
You in your mind.
你可以随意构想。
You can can however you want.
好的。
Okay.
那我们开始吧。
Here we go.
先生。
Mr.
夏天一个周二的下午，甲虫先生心情特别好。
Beetle was in lofty spirits on a Tuesday afternoon in summer.
他一边擦靴子一边吹口哨。
He whistled as he shined his boots.
他沿着第二十五根树枝轻快地走着，嘴里哼着小曲。
He hummed as he skittered along the 25th branch.
当他滑进座位，和忠实的助手格温面对面喝茶时，他给了她一个大大的笑容。
And when he slid into his seat for tea across from Gwen, his faithful assistant, he flashed her an expansive grin.
她隔着杯子打量着他。
She eyed him over her mug.
格温，甲虫先生说，我老是唠叨的是什么？
Gwen, mister Beetle said, what is it that I'm always going on about?
格温若有所思地抬头看了看头顶的树叶，格温，近年来鞋带的质量大幅下降，你一直想去当地的鞋带厂找负责人谈谈。
Gwen glanced thoughtfully thoughtfully up at the leafy canopy Gwen that there's been a stunning decline in the quality of bootlaces in recent years, and that you have half a mind to visit the local bootlace factory and have a word with who's ever in charge?
你看到它们磨损得多快了吗？
Have you seen how quickly they fray?
这太气人了，但今天我想的不是这个。
It is an outrage, but that's not what I have in mind today.
还有其他猜测吗？必须得管管那些不守规矩的。
Any other guesses that something must be done about the unruly.
先生。
Mr.
甲虫先生忍不住了。
Beetle could not contain himself.
必须得管管这根树枝上的不守规矩行为。
Something must be done about the unruliness on this branch.
没错。
That's it.
你太了解我了。
You know me too well.
格温，你来看看这个。
And Gwen, just look at this.
甲虫先生潇洒地挥舞着最新一期的《树梢新闻周刊》，把它拍在了石桌上。
With a flourish, mister Beetle brandished the latest issue of Treetop News Weekly and slapped it on the stone table.
格温喝了一口茶。
Gwen took a sip of her tea.
你说吧。
Go ahead.
念念那个标题。
Read that headline.
先生。
Mr.
甲虫掸了掸右翼上并不存在的灰尘。
Beetle brushed an invisible piece of dust from his right wing.
第二十五街区治安委员会新任主席承诺将严厉打击扰乱秩序的行为。
New president of the twenty fifth branch neighborhood watch committee promises crackdown on disorderly behavior.
总算有个虫子能管管这儿的烂摊子了。
Well, finally, some bug is going to fix things around here.
你觉得他们会先从哪儿下手？
Where do you think they'll start?
最糟糕的就是这些。
With the worst of it.
那些小虫子整天瞎闹腾，干些荒唐事。
The young bugs and their shenanigans, their tomfoolery.
总得有人管管这帮小家伙，这对我们的故事时间肯定有好处。
Some bug needs to get these youngsters in line, and no doubt it will benefit our story time.
没错，甲虫先生举起茶杯，格温也碰了碰她的杯子。
Surely, mister Beetle raised his teacup, and Gwen clinked hers against it.
第二天晚上，他们像往常一样在周三晚上的故事时间见面。
The next evening, they met for their usual Wednesday night story time.
当格温设置好她的音乐播放器时，甲虫先生
As Gwen set up her music player, Mr.
绕了一圈去检查他们上周贴的那些告示牌。
Beetle did a circuit to check on the signs they'd put up the previous week.
最后一块牌子是贴在靠近甲虫先生附近的一根小树枝上的。
The last sign posted to a twig near Mr.
甲虫的话让他一下子停住了脚步。
Beetle's stage stopped him in his tracks.
格温用她漂亮的字迹在上面写了字。
Gwen had painted it in her lovely handwriting.
原本上面写的是‘老虫子故事时间’，意思是让年轻的小虫子们在睡前听故事解闷。
It was supposed to read old bug story time where young bugs are entertained before they fall asleep.
但有人贴了一块树皮盖住了结尾，还歪歪扭扭地写上了新的内容。
But someone had tacked a piece of bark over the ending and had scrawled a new message.
先生。
Mr.
甲虫先生自己念了出来。
Beetle read it aloud to himself.
老虫故事时间，小虫们在睡着之前会开心，但会从木头上掉下去。
Old bug story time, where young bugs are entertained before they fall off a log.
他哼了一声，哼了一声，把树皮撕了下来。
With a harrumph, harrumph, he tore down the bark.
但一想到邻里监督委员会即将进行的整顿，他的怒气就消散了。
But his outrage dissipated when he remembered the coming crackdown from the neighborhood watch committee.
这些捣乱的家伙很快就会被管住的。
These mischief makers will be put in line soon enough.
几十只小虫落在了树枝上。
Dozens of young bugs landed on the branch.
先生。
Mr.
甲虫先生整理了一下马甲的翻领，抖了抖翅膀，走向他的讲故事舞台。
Beetle straightened the lapels of his vest, brushed off his wings, and headed to his storytelling stage.
几个月来，甲虫先生一直处于巅峰状态，那天晚上也不例外。
Mister Beetle had been at the top of his game for months, and that evening was no exception.
惠珀森·多布利是一只多才多艺的蟾蜍。
Whipperson Dobbly was a toad of many talents.
他带着一群小虫子听众，踏上了一个充满冒险的曲折故事——哇。
He brought his audience of young bugs along on a winding tale filled with adventures Woah.
哦，天哪。
Oh, wow.
你们觉得接下来会发生什么？
What do you think is gonna happen?
还有笑话，然后他让故事平稳落地，目的是让他们愉快地犯困睡着。
And jokes, then brought the story in for a gentle landing designed to bore them pleasantly to sleep.
但和往常不同，这天晚上，小虫子们没有睡着，因为甲虫先生……
But unlike every other night, on this night, the young bugs did not fall asleep as Mr.
甲虫讲完了故事。
Beetle finished his story.
从那以后，惠珀森·达德利再也没见过那只神气的蚱蜢。
And Whipperson Dudley never saw the jaunty grasshopper ever again.
他数了数，只有三只小虫子睡着了。
He counted three sleeping bugs.
其他的小虫子全都醒着呢。
Every other bug was wide awake.
他们当中好多人正从小袋子里吃着薯片。
Many of them were eating crisps from small bags.
beetle先生
Mr.
beetle先生并不介意观众吃零食，只要他们别嚼得太响就行。
Beetle didn't mind his audience eating snacks as long as they didn't chew too loudly.
但到了故事的这个节点，虫子们平时通常都在打呼噜，而不是在吃东西。
But at this point in his story, bugs were usually snoring, not snacking.
甲虫先生讲完了，他讲完了吗？
And after mister Beetle finished Is he done?
我觉得故事就到这里了，各位。
I think that was the end, guys.
他们一下子全都开始说话了。
They all began talking at once.
先生。
Mr.
甲虫先生离开了舞台，飞快地跑到音乐播放器那里。
Beetle abandoned the stage and skittered to the music player.
格温，这些小家伙真是吵得不行。
Gwen, these youngsters are downright boisterous.
确实。
Indeed.
他们不但没睡着，反而比我开始讲故事时更有精神了。
Instead of being asleep, well, they've got more energy than when I started the story.
确实如此。
It was true.
那些虫子简直快从第二十五根树枝上蹦下来了。
The bugs were practically bouncing off the twenty fifth branch.
先生。
Mr.
甲虫先生和格温看着他们一边聊着天，一边开怀大笑地走进夜色中。
Beetle and Gwen watched as they headed out into the night, chattering to one another and laughing heartily.
你们看看这个？
And will you look at this?
甲虫先生说着，弯腰从地上捡起一个黄色的东西。
Mister Beetle said, stooping to pluck something yellow from the ground.
看看这些垃圾。
Just look at all this litter.
其实只有一个薯片袋，但甲虫先生确实有点夸张。
There was only the one crisps bag, but mister Beetle did have a flare for hyperbole.
我第一个盼着这个社区巡逻委员会赶紧行动起来。
I, for one, can't wait for this neighborhood watch committee to get to work.
甲虫先生
Mr.
甲虫先生和格温收拾好东西，在月光下踏上了回家的路。
Beetle and Gwen packed up and headed home beneath the moon.
今晚的经历让他们心里不太踏实，一路上都能听到远处那些小虫子还在闹腾。
Unsettled by the night's events, they could hear the young bugs carrying on in the distance the whole way.
第二天早上，甲虫先生还在琢磨那只小虫子为什么这么晚还不睡呢。他坐在屋里，试图集中注意力看一本关于采集树皮的教程书，但怎么也看不进去。
Mister Beetle was still stewing over the mystery of the young bug's wakefulness the next morning as he sat trying and failing to focus on a how to book about harvesting tree bark.
这时门口传来敲门声，他正愁没地方分散注意力，这声音倒是帮了他大忙。
He was grateful for the distraction when a knock came at the door of his hut.
甲虫先生打量着站在门口的这只年轻虫子。
Mister Beetle eyed the youngish bug on his doorstep.
有什么事吗？
May I help you?
那只虫子看了看他的记录板。
The bug consulted his clipboard.
我猜你是甲虫先生吧？
Mister Beetle, I presume?
甲虫先生笑了。
Mister Beetle smiled.
时不时会有年轻的粉丝找到他的住处，来找他签名。
From time to time, a young fan found where he lived and sought him out for an autograph.
甲虫先生，我是蒙蒂·甲虫书，第25分支社区守望委员会的主席。
Mister Beetle, I'm Monty Beetle Book, president of the neighborhood watch committee on the 25th Branch.
哦，真是风水轮流转啊。
Oh, how the tables had turned.
甲虫先生差点没忍住要晕过去。
Mister Beetle had to keep himself from swooning.
甲虫书先生，很高兴见到你。
Mister Beetle Book, it is a pleasure to meet you.
谢谢您，先生。
Thank you, sir.
我早就说过，这个分支的混乱状况必须得管管了。
I've been saying for a long time that something must be done about the unruliness on this branch.
同意，先生。
Agreed, sir.
所以我今天才来。
That's why I'm here.
就在昨晚，我发现一只小虫子把我助手做的牌子给涂改了。
Just last night, I discovered a young bug had defaced a sign made by my assistant.
我说，真是涂改了。
Defaced, I say.
哦，还有那些垃圾。
Oh, and the litter.
那些虫子几乎把零食包装撒得到处都是。先生，我不想打断您，但我来是因为昨晚我们收到了多起投诉，说第二十分支在您讲故事结束后有噪音污染。甲虫先生看了一眼他的记事板。
Those bugs practically scattered snack packages all over the Sir, I hate to interrupt, but I'm here because last night we received multiple complaints of Beetlebug glanced at his clipboard, noise, pollution coming from the 20 branch at the conclusion of your story time.
比格尔先生在他的眼镜后面快速眨了眨眼。
Mister Beetle blinked rapidly behind his spectacles.
噪音污染？
Noise pollution?
恐怕我得给你开一张林地噪音违规罚单，因为你是那场活动的组织者。
I'm afraid I'm going to have to issue you a woodland noise violation as you were the orchestrator of the event in question.
但是，但是，先生，我们这就开始吧。
But but here we go, sir.
蒙蒂·比格尔·布克拿出一个小本子，撕下最上面一页，递给比格尔先生，比格尔先生用颤抖的腿接了过去。
Monty Beetle Book produced a small pad, tore off the top page, and held it out for mister Beetle who accepted it with a shaking leg.
比格尔先生，我们委员会最近投票决定加重这类违规行为的处罚。
Mister Beetle, our committee recently voted to increase penalties for such infractions.
恐怕如果你收到三张噪音违规罚单，你就得被迫停止你的故事时间。
I'm afraid if you receive three noise violations, you'll be forced to shut down your story time.
比格尔先生很少说不出话来，但这种情况确实偶尔会发生。
It was rare for mister Beetle to be speechless, but it did happen from time to time.
祝您今天过得愉快，先生。
You have a good day, sir.
蒙蒂·甲虫用帽檐点了点，转身溜走了，把惊讶的甲虫先生独自留在门口。
With the tip of his hat, Monty Beetle Book turned and skittered out of sight, leaving an astonished Mr.
甲虫先生孤零零地站在门口。
Beetle alone on his doorstep.
甲虫
Mr.
甲虫气了好几天。
Beetle fumed for several days.
他在花园里除草时，心里憋着一团火。
He burned with frustration as he weeded his garden.
他热罐头汤的时候，锅里的汤咕嘟咕嘟地冒着泡，就像他心里的怒火一样。
He boiled along with his pot as he heated a tin of soup.
不过到了周二下午他和格温喝茶的时候，他已经把情绪收拾好了。
But by the time he met Gwen for tea the following Tuesday, he had collected himself.
格温，这完全是个误会。
Gwen, this is all a big misunderstanding.
哦。
Oh.
那个叫甲虫书的人物是想树立自己的权威。
This Beetle book character is trying to establish his authority.
看起来是这样。
Seems likely.
我不能怪他。
I can't blame him.
我年轻时也冲动过。
I was young and impetuous once.
确实。
Indeed.
但我不能再吃一张噪音罚单了。
But I can't afford another noise violation.
当然不行。
Certainly not.
我们明晚必须让那些虫子睡着。
We've got to get those bugs to sleep tomorrow night.
那这次你就别搞那些刺激冒险的桥段了。
Well, why don't you skip the thrills and adventures this once?
讲个温和的故事，保证能让他们犯困的那种。
Tell a gentle story, something that will be sure to make them sleepy.
从一开始就把他们无聊到睡着。
Bore them to sleep from the get go.
一点热闹都不要有。
No boisterousness at all.
也别再制造噪音违规了。
And no more noise violations.
格温, 你真是个天才。
Gwen, you're a genius.
事情就这么定了。
It was settled.
甲虫先生和格温碰了碰茶杯，表示同意。
Mister Beetle and Gwen clinked their teacups together in agreement.
第二天晚上，一个温暖的夏夜，满天繁星，甲虫先生讲了他能想到的最无聊的故事。
The following evening, a balmy summer night lit by a sky full of stars, mister Beetle told the most boring story he could muster.
弗雷德的毛衣老鼠的院子里有很多树叶。
There were many leaves in Fred's sweater mouse's yard.
很多很多树叶。
Many, many leaves.
一个灰蒙蒙的早晨，他决定去扫那些树叶。
One gray morning, he decided to rake those leaves.
在音乐播放器旁，格温只按那些最没劲的歌曲的按钮。
At the music player, Gwen pressed buttons only for the most lifeless of songs.
没有兴奋点，几乎没什么情节。
There was no excitement, barely any plot.
弗雷德·毛衣鼠打扫院子扫到一半时，注意到一只米色的蛾子落在树叶堆上。
When Fred Sweatermouse was halfway done with the yard, he noticed a beige moth land on the pile of leaves.
然后，它什么有趣的事都没做，就飞走了。
Then, without doing anything interesting at all, it flew away.
先生。
Mr.
甲虫先生讲这个平淡无奇的故事讲得太出色了，讲到一半，他自己都被自己那些无聊的话给催眠了，站着就睡着了。
Beetle did such an outstanding job of telling a humdrum tale that halfway through, lulled by his own mundane words, he himself fell asleep where he stood.
小虫子们面面相觑，一脸困惑，嘴里嚼着零食。
The young bugs exchanged perplexed looks and crunched on their snacks.
这是故事的一部分吗？
Is this part of the story?
过了一会儿，格温也在椅子上睡着了。
A moment later, Gwen fell asleep in her chair.
她倒了下去，头正好压在了音乐播放器的一个按钮上。
She toppled over and her head pressed a button on the music player.
甲虫先生在台上惊醒了。
Mister Beetle startled awake on stage.
什么？
What?
格温也惊醒了。
Gwen startled awake too.
哎呀。
Oh my.
尽管甲虫先生是个大人，他还是继续讲他的故事，说出了最后一句。
Adult though he was, mister Beetle forged ahead with his story when he delivered the final line.
然后弗雷德·毛衣老鼠把耙子放回棚子里，走进屋子，那天剩下的时间什么都没做。
Then Fred Sweater Mouse returned his rake to the shed and walked into his house and did nothing at all the rest of the day.
故事讲完了。
The end.
小虫子们盯着他，然后一下子都开始说起来。
The young bugs stared at him, then they all began talking at once.
你们得安静点。
You've got to keep it down.
没人理他。
No one paid him any attention.
他飞快地跑到格温身边。
He skittered to Gwen.
格温，我该怎么办？
What should I do, Gwen?
这些虫子比之前还吵。
These bugs are louder than ever.
但就算格温回答了，
But if Gwen said anything in reply, Mr.
甲虫先生也听不见，因为太吵了。
Beetle could not hear it over the din.
观众们从树枝上陆续离开，咯咯笑着，闹出巨大的动静。
The audience filed off the branch, cackling with laughter and raising a tremendous racket.
最后一只小虫子飞走后，一只年纪更大的虫子落在了第二十五根树枝上。
As soon as the last young bug flew away, a different, older bug landed on the twenty fifth branch.
甲虫先生，我们又见面了。
Mister Beetle, we meet again.
蒙蒂·甲虫·布克从马甲口袋里掏出了他的记事本。
Monty Beetle Book withdrew his pad from a vest pocket.
先等等。
And now hold on a minute.
我刚刚近距离看到了那个词引起的混乱。
I just got an up close look at the unruliness at the utterance of that word.
甲虫先生的眼睛瞪大了。
Mister Beetle's eyes widened.
那是他的词。
That was his word.
就是一直警告你的那个混乱。
The unruliness you've been warned about.
我得再给你开一张噪音违规单。
And I'm going to have to issue you a second noise violation.
蒙蒂甲虫本从记事本上撕下最上面一页，递了过去。
Monty Beetle Book tore the top page from the pad and held it out.
先生。
Mr.
甲虫惊得目瞪口呆，除了眨眼什么也做不了。
Beetle stared in astonishment, unable to do anything but blink.
过了好一会儿，格温才伸手拿过那张纸。
At length, Gwen reached out and took the paper.
祝您晚安，先生。
You have a good night, sir.
甲虫博士飞向了空中。
Beetle Book lifted into the air.
哦，还有记住，如果你再收到第三次违规通知，我们就不得不关闭你的魔术表演了。
Oh, and remember, if you receive a third violation, we will be forced to shut down your magic show.
这真是雪上加霜。
Talk about adding insult to injury.
魔术表演？
Magic show?
我怎么可能去演那种闹剧。
As if I would put on such a farce.
先生
Mr.
比德尔看着对手消失在夜色里，胸腔里涌上一阵不祥的预感。
Beetle watched his adversary recede into the dark as a sense of foreboding settled in his thorax.
我觉得有件事你得看看。
I think there's something you ought to see.
比德尔先生先是
It took Mr.
愣了一秒才反应过来格温刚才说了话，又过了一秒才弄懂她话里的意思。
Beetle a second to register that Gwen had spoken, then another to understand what she had said.
他转过身，看到她手里拿着一片垃圾，是他们几周来一直看到小虫子们拿的那种亮黄色零食包装袋。
He turned to see her holding a piece of litter, one of the bright yellow snack bags they'd seen the young bugs with for weeks.
甲虫先生叹了口气，快步溜到她站的地方。
Mister Beetle sighed and skittered over to where she stood.
来，读读这个。
Here, read this.
月亮被树叶遮住了一半。
The moon was half hidden by leaves.
甲虫先生得眯起眼睛看。
Mister Beetle had to squint.
虫眼能量零食。
Bug eye energy snacks.
甲虫先生把包装翻过来。
Mister Beetle flipped the package.
格温，看前两种成分。
Gwen, look at the first two ingredients.
格温盯着那个袋子看。
Gwen peered at the bag.
蜂蜜和茶提取物。
Honey and tea extract.
好吧，我想我们现在知道为什么虫子们听你的故事不睡觉了。
Well, I suppose now we know why the bugs haven't been falling asleep to your stories.
格温，小虫子们这几周一直在不停地吃这些零食。
Gwen, the young bugs have been eating these snacks nonstop for weeks.
你有没有在茶里加过太多蜂蜜？
Have you ever added too much honey to your tea?
格温若有所思地抬头看了看月亮。
Gwen glanced up at the moon with a pensive expression.
在我年轻的时候，偶尔会，怎么了？
In my younger years, on occasion, what happened?
格温猛地看向先生。
Gwen shot Mr.
甲虫好奇地看了她一眼。
Beetle a curious look.
好吧，那我就会突然精力充沛，直到最后撑不住，当然。
Well, I'd suddenly have all the energy in the world until the crash, of course.
如果格温有眉毛可以挑的话，她那时候肯定会挑一下眉毛。
If Gwen had had an eyebrow to raise, she would have raised it then.
撑不住，这是不可避免的，对吧？
The crash, it's inevitable, isn't it?
肯定是这样。
It must be.
是的。
Yes.
那你下一个故事得讲长一点。
You'll have to make your next story longer.
长到让那些小虫子在你故事结束前就撑不住睡着。
Long enough so that the young bugs crash before your story ends.
太棒了，Gwen。
Brilliant, Gwen.
我得熬过这些小虫子们的糖分亢奋期。
I've got to outlast the bugs' sugar rush.
等它们终于睡着了，树枝上就安静了。
When they finally fall asleep, the branch will be silent.
但事与愿违。
But no.
先生。
Mr.
甲壳虫摇了摇头，现实感涌上心头。
Beetle shook his head, reality hitting.
格温，如果这些小虫子每周都吃这些零食，那我以后恐怕得一直讲到深夜了。
Gwen, if these young bugs keep eating these snacks week after week, I'll have to be telling stories late into the night forever.
不行。
No.
我们得想个办法，把这些零食彻底弄走。
We've got to find a way to get rid of the snacks for good.
我们该怎么办呢？
How will we manage it?
格温，你看这个。
Gwen, look at this.
甲虫先生指着虫眼能量零食的包装袋。
Mister Beetle pointed at the bug eye energy snack package.
包装袋底部有一行小字，写着一个地址。
There, written in fine print at the bottom, was an address.
第二天早上，当5先生
The following morning when Mr.
甲虫先生和格温落在第27根树枝上时，他们确信自己没找错地方。
Beetle and Gwen landed on the 27th branch, there was no doubt they were in the right place.
树枝上贴满了刺眼的黄色广告牌，全是虫眼能量零食的广告。
Signs, garish yellow signs, touting bug eye energy snacks were plastered all over the branch.
牌子太多了，
There were so many that Mr.
甲虫先生不得不侧身绕过挡在路上的几个。
Beetle had to sidestep a few that loomed in his path.
他重重地哼了几声后，
After a few hearty harumphs harumphs, Mr.
甲虫先生来到一个摊位前，格温紧随其后。
Beetle arrived at a booth with Gwen close behind.
一个戴着帽子的老虫子坐在凳子上翻着杂志。
An oldish bug wearing a cap sat on a stool flipping through a magazine.
他完全没注意到他们。
He took absolutely no notice of them.
打扰一下，先生。
Excuse me, sir.
“嗯，”那虫子头也不抬地说。
Yep, the bug said without looking up.
你在卖虫眼零食吗？
Are you selling bug eye snacks?
你要多少？
How many you want?
甲虫先生
Mr.
挺直了身子，站到最高。
Beetle drew himself up to his maximal height.
我可不要这些可恶的零食。
I don't want any of these these dastardly snacks.
我要你收拾摊位，永远离开这根树枝。
What I want is for you to pack up your booth and leave this branch forever.
那只虫终于抬头看了一眼，死死盯着甲虫先生，又看看格温，再回头看甲虫先生，然后又低头看杂志了。
The bug finally glanced up, stared hard at mister Beetle, looked at Gwen, back at mister Beetle, then returned to his magazine.
听着，老兄。
Look, buddy.
我跟你一样有权待在这里。
I got as much right to be here as you do.
格温往前迈了一小步。
Gwen took a small step forward.
这些零食让那些小虫子一直熬夜到很晚。
These snacks are keeping the young bugs awake until all hours.
这对二十号分支来说挺扰乱的。
It's quite disruptive to the 20 branch.
虫子耸了耸肩。
The bug shrugged.
这些小孩几点睡觉不关我的事，明白吗？
I'm not responsible for these kindergarteners' bedtimes, capiche.
他又低头看起杂志来。
He returned to his magazine.
甲虫先生不知道“明白吗”是什么意思，但他一点也不喜欢这语气。
Mister Beetle had no idea what capiche meant, but he did not like it one bit.
就在那时，他才彻底明白了事情的严重性。
And it was then that the fullness of the situation hit him.
他多年来不辞辛劳准备的讲故事时间，那个让虫子们听得入迷、最后又一个个打瞌睡掉下去的节目，这下彻底完了。
His story time that he had worked on tirelessly for years, that had kept bugs on the edge of their seats before sending them toppling off snoring, was doomed.
他一直知道这一天迟早会来。
He had always known it would end eventually.
所有事情都有结束的时候，但他一直以为会是自己说了算，而不是因为什么可笑的零食和多管闲事的社区巡逻队。
All things ended, but he'd always imagined it would be on his own terms, not due to a ridiculous snack and a meddlesome neighborhood watch committee.
甲虫先生
Mr.
迷迷糊糊地转过身去。
Beetle turned away in a daze.
他不知道自己要去哪儿，踉踉跄跄地沿着树枝走着，结果——哎哟——
Unsure of where he was headed, he stumbled along the branch and Ow.
一头撞上了那些刺眼的黄色告示牌。
Walked smack into one of the garish yellow signs.
甲虫先生抱着头，踉踉跄跄地走开了。
Mister Beetle cradled his head and staggered away.
他抬头怒视着撞到他的那块牌子，然后读了起来，真正认真地读了一遍。
He glared up at the sign that had struck him, and he read it, really read it for the first time.
你没事吧？
Are you alright?
格温出现在他身边说道。
Gwen said, appearing at his side.
格温，看那块牌子。
Gwen, look at that sign.
读一下。
Read it.
好吗？
Will you?
虫眼能量零食，专为最时髦的翅膀虫虫准备。
Bug eye energy snacks for the most fly wing bugs.
格温，fly wing是什么意思？
Gwen, what does fly wing mean?
这是小虫子们说的新词。
It's a word the young bugs say.
我觉得是个正面的说法。
It's a positive expression, I believe.
大概就是时髦、酷的意思。
It means something along the lines of hip, groovy.
像我们年轻的时候，可能会说thorax tastic。
When we were young, we would have said thorax tastic.
一阵微风吹过第二十七根树枝，吹动了比格尔先生的触角。
A breeze wafted over the twenty seventh branch, fluttering Mr.
触角。
Beetle's antennae.
格温，我算是个fly wing虫子吗？
Gwen, am I a fly wing bug?
他眼里重新有了光彩。
The light had come back to his eyes.
他的脑子里充满了各种想法。
His mind was ablaze with ideas.
恐怕不行。
I'm afraid not.
我也不行。
Neither am I.
我们年纪太大了。
We're much too old.
只有年轻的小虫子才会觉得这很酷。
Only young bugs would be considered flying.
只有年轻人才会这么想，Gwen，你看看这些标语。
Only young bugs, Gwen, look at all these signs.
上面可没写这些零食的味道怎么样。
They don't say anything about the taste of these snacks.
看看那个。
Look at that one.
虫眼能量零食。
Bug eye energy snacks.
给你的爬行加点骨头。
Put some skelly in your skitter.
骨头。
Skelly.
这是他们用的另一个词。
That's another word they use.
我不太确定是什么意思，但他们经常说。
I'm not sure what it means, but they say it quite a lot.
格温，这些零食不是因为味道才受欢迎的。
Gwen, these snacks are not popular for their taste.
它们是潮流。
They're trendy.
在年轻虫子中很流行。
Trendy with young bugs.
格温，我觉得我刚想到了一个绝妙的主意。
Gwen, I do believe I was just struck with a brilliant idea.
真的吗？
Really?
甲虫先生转身大步走回零食摊。
Mister Beetle turned on his heel and marched back to the snack seller.
那只虫子没有从杂志上抬起头来。
The bug did not look up from his magazine.
你要零食吗？
You want snacks?
你要多少？
How many you want?
全部都要。
All of them.
展开剩余字幕（还有 143 条）
每一包都要。
Every last package.
虫子抬头看了一眼。
The bug glanced up.
哦，又是你。
Oh, you again.
他眯起了眼睛。
He narrowed his eyes.
你说你要全部是什么意思？
What do you mean you want them all?
我要把你所有的零食都买下来。
I'll take every snack you have.
他买得起。
He could afford them.
毕竟，甲虫先生前世可是个传奇的靴匠。
After all, mister Beetle was a legendary bootmaker in a former life.
卖家起了疑心。
The seller was suspicious.
你知道，如果你把他从树枝上扔下去，总能再弄到更多。
You know, if you toss him off the branch, can always get more.
但归根结底，他首先是个做生意的虫子。
But before anything else, he was a business bug.
甲虫先生不得不飞回自己的小屋，去取几袋种子作为付款，还有一辆手推车。
Mister Beetle had to fly to his hut to retrieve pouches of seeds as payment as well as a cart.
但不到一个小时，他就和格温一起，把所有的虫眼能量零食都拉走了。
But within the hour, he and Gwen trundled off with the entire lot of Bug Eye energy snacks.
接下来的一周，都在忙碌的准备中度过。
The rest of the week was a blur of preparation.
甲虫先生
Mr.
忙着编一个能讲到深夜的长故事。
Beetle worked on crafting a lengthy story that would last well into the night.
格温不停地写着邀请函，准备寄出去。
Gwen worked tirelessly writing invitations to put in the mail.
到了周二喝茶的时候，他们俩都累坏了。
By the time tea rolled around on Tuesday, they were both exhausted.
格温，你觉得我们的计划能行吗？
Gwen, do you think our plan will work?
甲虫先生说着，喝了一口茶。
Mister Beetle said, taking a sip of his tea.
必须行。
It has to.
不然的话，他们俩谁都不想说出来。
Otherwise, well, neither of them wanted to say it aloud.
他们都知道，如果计划不成功，甲虫先生就会收到第三次森林噪音违规通知。
They both knew that if the plan didn't work, mister Beetle would receive a third woodland noise violation.
他的讲故事生涯就完了。
His storytelling days would be over.
他们喝完了剩下的茶，默默地并肩坐着，然后轻轻碰了碰杯子，又回去干活了。
They spent the rest of tea thinking silently side by side, then gently clinked their cups and returned to work.
星期三的天气特别好。
Wednesday was gorgeous.
树上挂满了翠绿的叶子。
The trees were heavy with green leaves.
天空被美丽的柔和晚霞染得五彩斑斓。
The sky awash in lovely pastel sunset colors.
这是整个夏天以来，树枝最美的一次。
The branch was the loveliest it had been all summer.
它一点也没有要出问题的迹象。
It gave no hint of trouble.
格温把音乐播放器摆好，把每个按钮都按了一遍，确认都正常工作。
Gwen set up her music player and ran through some buttons to make sure all were in good working order.
与此同时，甲虫先生正焦急地等着观众到来。
Mister Beetle, meanwhile, was anxious for his audience to arrive.
他为了不让自己去想这可能是他最后一次讲故事，就忙着收拾那个本来就已经很整洁的舞台。
He distracted himself from the fact that this might be the last story time of his life by tidying the already tidy stage.
虫子们开始落到树枝上。
Bugs began landing on the branch.
甲虫先生叹了口气，转身快速爬回自己的位置。
With a sigh, mister Beetle turned and skittered to his place.
最年长的虫子们先到了。
The oldest bugs arrived first.
它们颤颤巍巍地落下来，然后沿着树枝慢慢挪动，有些还拄着拐杖。
They landed shakily, then shuffled along the branch, some helped by canes.
格温跟它们打招呼。
Gwen greeted them.
非常感谢你们能来。
Thank you so much for joining us.
哎呀，你们的邀请函那么漂亮。
Well, your invitation was so beautiful.
现在很难看到浮雕了。
It's so rare to see embossment these days.
这是一门失传的艺术。
It's a lost art.
她把长辈们叫到音乐播放器旁边，向他们详细说明了计划。
She gathered the elders by the music player and filled them in on the plan.
他们明白大意后，周围都发出了轻笑。
Once they got the gist of it, there were chuckles all around.
然后她快速教了一遍。
Then she gave a quick tutorial.
你可以用很多词。
There are a number of words you can use.
比如翅膀。
Fly wing is one.
意思是胸腔超赞或类似的。
It means thorax tastic or thereabouts.
飞轮？
Fly wheel?
飞翼。
Fly wing.
啊。
Ah.
还有骷髅。
There's also skelly.
它的意思是，嗯，其实不重要。
It means well, it doesn't really matter.
你也可以加上“外骨骼”这个词。
You can throw in the word exo too.
回声？
Echo?
外骨骼。
Exo.
我觉得它的意思跟搞笑差不多。
I believe it means something akin to funny.
接下来，格温带他们去见甲虫先生，他站在座位区附近，给他们每人发了一袋虫眼能量零食。
Next, Gwen ushered them over to mister Beetle, who stood near the seating area and handed them all bags of bug eye energy snacks.
一只老甲虫朝甲虫先生的方向晃了晃拐杖。
An old beetle shook his cane in mister Beetle's direction.
这些东西会让我睡不着吗？
Are these going to keep me up?
吃一两片薯片就行。
Just eat a crisp or two.
最重要的是让他们看到你拿着袋子。
It's most important that they see you holding the bags.
他邀请他们坐下。
He invited them to take seats.
我得坐在靠过道的位置，万一需要活动活动腿。
I need to sit on an aisle in case I need to shake out my legs.
那完全没问题。
That's perfectly fine.
坐哪儿都行。
Anywhere will do.
就在小虫子们开始涌向第25根树枝时，甲虫先生走上了舞台。
Just as the young bugs began pouring onto the 25th branch, mister Beetle took his position on stage.
甲虫先生也为小虫子们准备了很多零食，但大多数人都自己带了。
Mister Beetle had plenty of snacks for the young bugs too, but most of them had brought their own.
他们坐满了座位，开始叽叽喳喳地聊天，嘎吱嘎吱地吃零食。
They filled in the seats and began chattering and crunching away.
直到甲虫先生向人群打招呼，
It was not until Mr.
大家才安静下来。
Beetle greeted the crowd.
欢迎来到甲虫先生的……
Welcome to Mr.
甲虫先生的故事时间。
Beetle's story time.
嗯，大家今晚过得怎么样？
Well, how is everyone doing this fine evening?
这话让周围的长辈们注意到了这群小家伙。
That the youngsters took notice of the elders seated around them.
我倒是挺喜欢这些零食的，后排一只老虫子大声说道。
I, for one, am loving these snacks, bellowed an old bug in the last row.
我同意。
I concur.
这些带鳞片的零食让我觉得自己像个飞轮一样转个不停。
These scaly snacks make me feel like a veritable flywheel.
小虫子们开始四处张望，交换着困惑的眼神。
The young bugs began glancing around, exchanging mystified looks.
这些带翅膀的零食让我感到无比……不好意思。
These fly wing snacks give me a tremendous sense of excuse me.
就一点痰而已。
Just a bit of phlegm.
一种强烈的想亲亲的感觉。
A tremendous sense of XO.
在音乐播放器旁，格温强忍住笑。
At the music player, Gwen stifled a chuckle.
先生。
Mr.
甲虫饶有兴致地注意到，不少小虫子都停下了咀嚼。
Beetle observed with interest that a number of young bugs had paused in their nibbling.
有的嘴里还叼着薯片，悬在半空没送进嘴里。
Some with crisps suspended in the air halfway to their mouths.
他们的眼睛确实瞪得老大，但这可不是因为零食。
Their eyes were certainly bugging out, but not because of the snacks.
接着，甲虫先生自己掏出一袋“虫眼能量脆片”，在舞台上嚼了几口。
Then mister Beetle himself whipped out a bag of bug eye energy snacks and crunched a few on stage.
哎呀呀。
My my.
这些可真是顶级的骷髅外骨骼小零食。
These are some supremely Skelly Exo tidbits.
一阵浪潮似乎席卷了那些小虫子。
A wave seemed to wash over the young bugs.
长辈们继续开心地嚼着，时不时嘀咕几句。
The elders continued crunching happily, muttering now and then.
我还以为我的苔藓粥是外骨骼飞行级别的呢。
And I thought my moss porridge was exo flying.
但小虫子们放下零食袋，一脸厌恶。
But the young bugs put down their snack bags with looks of revulsion.
先生。
Mr.
甲虫先生看了格温一眼，她给了他一个鼓励的点头。
Beetle glanced at Gwen, who gave him an encouraging nod.
接着，月光倾洒在树枝上，他面带微笑，开始讲述他的故事。
Then beaming in the moonlight, flooding the branch, he began his story.
小虫子们虽然放下了零食，但在到达之前他们一整天都在吃。
The young bugs may have set down their snacks, but they'd been eating them all day before arriving.
他们体内流淌着足够的蜂蜜和茶提取物，足以让他们保持清醒好几个小时，但甲虫先生自己那天下午就喝了好几袋。
They had enough honey and tea extract coursing through their systems to keep them alert for hours, but mister Beetle himself had downed several bags that afternoon.
真不敢相信这些这么受欢迎。
I can't believe these are so popular.
甜得让人受不了。
They're dreadfully sweet.
格温也是这么觉得。
So had Gwen.
我完全吃不惯这些。
They don't agree with me at all.
看来他们俩都得熬过漫漫长夜了。
And both of them were prepared for a long night.
而且这故事确实又长又曲折。
And it was certainly long and winding.
beetle先生
Mr.
beetle先生的故事一波三折，中间来了个意外转折，紧接着又是两个。
Beetle's story had plot twist after plot twist, a midpoint surprise followed by two more.
它不仅有反转，还安排了两次假结局。
It had not one, but two false endings.
格温一直守在音乐播放器旁，精准地配合着节奏播放音效和音乐。
Gwen remained alert at the music player, injecting perfectly timed sounds and music.
那些老虫子平时早就该睡觉了，但他们嚼着昆虫眼零食，硬是撑着没睡。
The old bugs, whose normal bedtimes had long passed, kept awake by crunching on their bug eye snacks.
过了午夜，年轻虫子的眼睛开始变得迷离，身子也微微歪向座位一边。
It was after midnight when the young bugs' eyes turned classy when they leaned slightly in their seats.
作为一位讲故事的高手， beetle先生
Expert storyteller that he was, Mr.
甲壳虫先生换了节奏，从悬疑紧张转成了彻底的枯燥无味。
Beetle shifted gears, switched from intrigue and suspense to utter boredom.
格温也跟着照做。
Gwen followed suit.
在夜深人静的时候，小虫子们终于，谢天谢地，睡着了。
And in the very deepest hour of the night, the young bugs finally, mercifully crashed.
有的直接从座位上掉了下来。
Some literally fell off their seats.
有的歪倒在了旁边伙伴身上。
Others slumped into their neighbors.
还有的往后一靠，嘴巴张着。
Still more leaned back, mouths ajar.
他们怎么睡着的其实不重要。
However they did it doesn't really matter.
所有小虫子都睡着了。
Every last young bug fell asleep.
先生。
Mr.
甲虫先生摇摇晃晃，有点踉跄，但他从触角到触角都咧着嘴笑，然后他飞快地跑到格温身边。
Beetle tottered, stumbled a bit, but he was grinning antenna to antenna when he skittered over to Gwen.
她按下了最后一个按钮，然后他们并排站着，欣赏着自己的杰作。
She pressed a final button, then they stood side by side surveying their accomplishment.
年长的虫子们从座位上缓缓起身，打着哈欠。
The elder bugs rose haltingly from their seats, yawning.
他们拖着脚步走下树枝，挥舞着帽子，得意地朝先生摇着手杖。
They shuffled off the branch, waving their caps, and shaking their canes triumphantly at Mr.
甲虫先生和格温。
Beetle and Gwen.
非常感谢你们。
Thank you so much.
我永远感激不尽。
I'm forever in your debt.
等长辈们离开后，第二十五枝上安静极了，只有轻轻的睡觉声。
Once the elders were gone, the twenty fifth branch was silent, save for the soft sounds of sleep.
甲虫先生
Mr.
和格温悄悄地收拾好装备，在月光下溜回了家。
Beetle and Gwen quietly packed up their equipment and skittered home beneath the moon.
我们亲爱的甲虫们不知道，蒙蒂·甲虫书就蹲在附近的第二十五枝上，等着热闹起来，好给甲虫先生
Unbeknownst to our dear beetles, Monty Beetle Book had perched himself nearby on the twenty fifth branch waiting for boisterousness to break out so that he could deliver Mr.
开出第三次也是最后一次噪音违规罚单。
Beetle's third and final noise violation.
但他自己也睡着了，而且睡得特别香，是他这辈子睡得最好的一次。
But he too had fallen asleep, and it was one of the best sleeps of his life.
他再也没有去打扰甲虫先生
He never bothered Mr.
了。
Beetle ever again.
希望你们喜欢这个故事。
I hope you loved the story.
《给小朋友的小故事》由我瑞亚·赫克特撰写、演播并制作。
Little Stories for Tiny People is written, performed, and produced by me, Rhea Hector.
我的内部技术总监彼得·凯负责运营我的网站，并把我的故事发布到网上，供大家欣赏。
My in house tech director, Peter Kay, runs my website and puts my stories on the Internet for all of you to enjoy.
感谢梅森在开头提供的超重要提醒信息。
Thank you to Mason for the super important reminder message at the beginning.
这个故事里用到的音效，是由许多优秀的付费订阅者提供的。
Many wonderful premium subscribers supplied sound effects used in this story.
感谢 PHILIP、EDEN、ZADIE、CHARLI、NELLY、OWEN、Rory、FINN、MIA、Cordelia、Lucia、Celine、CAROLINE、FREYJA、SOVEN、RAEYA、DAVIDA、NATALIA 和 MELISSA。
Thank you to PHILIP, EDEN, ZADIE, CHARLI, NELLY, OWEN, Rory, FINN, MIA, CORDELIA, LUCIA, Celine, CAROLINE, FREYJA, SOVEN, RAEYA, DAVIDA, NATALIA, and MELISSA.
一如既往地感谢大家的收听。
And thank you, as always, for listening in.
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