高级预览：甲虫先生面对成名

大家好。

Hello, everyone.

我是Rhea，简单说一下。

This is Rhea with a quick note.

这是Little Stories Premium会员专享内容的预览。

This is a preview of an episode exclusive to Little Stories Premium.

成为Little Stories Premium会员，你能看到更多你爱的故事，享受无广告的聆听体验，还能解锁《Little Stories for Sleep》——这是一档专属的睡前播客，每期都有全新的催眠故事，特别适合放在你睡前歌单的最后一首。

Little Stories Premium gives you more of the stories you love, an ad free listening experience, and access to Little Stories for Sleep, an exclusive bedtime podcast featuring brand new sleepy stories perfect for that last track on a bedtime playlist.

想订阅或送礼的话，请访问 littlestoriespremium.com。

Subscribe or purchase a gift subscription by visiting littlestoriespremium.com.

好了，马上开始今天的节目。

Now on to the show.

我是Ria。

This is Ria.

欢迎来到《给小家伙们的小故事》。

Welcome to Little Stories for Tiny People.

最近我正忙着打扫我那套古董茶杯的残存藏品，突然脑子里冒出一个从没想过的问题。

I was going about my day recently, dusting the remains of my antique teacup collection, when a thought bubbled up in my mind from unknown depths.

老贝特尔最近在忙啥呢？

What has old Mr.

老贝特尔最近在忙啥呢？

Beetle been up to?

这个问题一直跟着我，从整理我的海马图案睡衣抽屉，到清空那堆压箱底、好多年没碰过的旧衣服。

That question followed me throughout the morning as I organized my seahorse print pajamas drawer and cleaned out my things I haven't worn in forever closet.

老贝特尔最近在忙啥呢？

What has old Mr.

老贝特尔最近在忙啥呢？

Beetle been up to?

脑子里那个小声音不停嘀咕，最后我实在受不了，按下了书桌底下那个专门用来记录灵感的按钮。

That tiny voice in my head kept saying, until finally I pressed the story idea alert button I installed under my writing desk.

我的灵感音乐立刻响起来，我一屁股坐上那张硬邦邦的金属凳子，写下了这个故事。

My idea music came on at once, and I sat down on my hard metal stool and wrote this story.

事情就是这么发生的，只不过有几处小细节跟我刚才说的不太一样。

That's exactly how it happened, except for a few minor details that might have been slightly different from what I just laid out.

不过讲故事嘛，稍微夸张点也无妨，你说是不是？

But sometimes it helps for storytellers to be a bit dramatic, don't you think?

咱们再来听听咱们最爱的那位爱夸张的故事大王——Mr. Beetle，看看他最近在忙啥。

Let's revisit one of our favorite dramatic storytellers, Mr.

到底他最近干了些什么呢？

Beetle, to find out what he has been up to.

咱们今天的故事叫《Mr. Beetle 如何应对走红》。

Our story is called Mr.

《Mr. Beetle 如何应对走红》。

Beetle Tackles Fame.

Niku，你来开个头吧。

Take it away, Niku.

记住啊，这故事没配图。

Remember, there are no pictures.

你得在脑子里自己想象那些画面。

You have to imagine the pictures in your mind.

怎么想都行，随你便。

You can imagine them however you want.

好嘞。

Okay.

开始吧。

Let's go.

在遥远的地方，住着一只小甲虫，他每天都会带着他的跳蚤宠物赫斯珀斯散步。

In a faraway land, there was a small beetle who enjoyed taking walks with his pet flea, Hesperus.

没错。

Yes.

他每天早上四点十七分准时带赫斯珀斯出门散步。

He took a walk with Hesperus at 04:17 each day.

哎，他是不是生气了？

Oh, is he getting angry?

我没生气。

I am not angry.

我只是想给你讲个故事。

I'm just trying to tell you a story.

一个不是喜剧的故事。

A story that is not a comedy.

他确实对笑声挺烦的。

He's definitely frustrated with the laughing.

那无聊的部分啥时候来啊？

When's the boring part coming?

快了。

Soon.

别担心。

Don't worry.

老先生

Old Mr.

甲虫推了推眼镜，环顾四周一群小昆虫。

Beetle adjusted his spectacles and looked around at the crowd of young bugs.

他勉强认出隔壁的朋友格温——也是一只甲虫，正躲在热情的听众后面操作着音乐播放器。

He could barely make out his neighbor and friend, Gwen, a beetle herself, who worked the music player tucked behind his energetic audience.

这种时候，他多希望格温能给他一个鼓励的微笑或点头，可中间挤满了太多虫子，根本看不到她。

In moments like these, he could really use an encouraging smile or nod from Gwen, but there were simply too many bugs in the way for him to see her.

老甲虫叹了口气，试着继续讲他的故事。

Old mister beetle sighed and attempted to continue his story.

这只小甲虫叫木星。

This small beetle, Jupiter

等等。

Wait.

你管这只小甲虫叫木星？

You're naming a small beetle Jupiter?

这哪说得通啊。

That doesn't make any sense.

他性格特别张扬，脾气还特别暴躁。

He he has a big personality and a stormy temper.

这话一出，台下顿时炸开了锅，笑声和议论声一片。

At this, his audience erupted into chatters and giggles.

第二十五根树枝上密密麻麻全是小虫子。

The twenty fifth branch was positively blanketed with bugs.

它们扒在树皮上，甚至踩在彼此的甲壳上，就为了看得更清楚。

They were clinging to the bark and even standing on one another's exoskeletons to get a better view.

是的，贝特尔先生。

Yes, Mr.

贝特尔先生每周三晚上的故事会，现在已经成了热门节目。

Beetle's Wednesday evening story times had become something of a draw.

他那些古怪又无意间特别好笑的故事，早就传遍了整个虫界。

News of his strange and inadvertently funny stories traveled far and wide.

没过多久，每周的虫虫故事会，场场都站满了人。

And soon, old Bug storytime was standing room only each and every week.

甲虫先生的故事会评论开始出现在周边地区报纸的文艺休闲版块，这让他相当懊恼。

Reviews of his storytime began to populate the arts and leisure sections of newspapers around the region, much to mister Beetle's consternation.

格温，你看到这个了吗？

Gwen, do you see this?

书上说第二十五号树枝现在有了自己的甲虫狂热现象。

It says the twenty fifth branch now has its own form of beetle mania.

这是什么意思，格温？

What does that mean, Gwen?

这是什么意思呢？

What does that mean?

而且好像每次甲壳虫先生

And it seemed as though every time Mr.

打开收音机，都能听到有人聊到他每周的故事会。

Beetle turned on the radio, there was some mention of his weekly performances.

那快跟我们说说，你为啥每周三都特地跑到第25分馆来，就为了看这位虫子老先生？

Now tell us, what brings you to the 25th branch each and every Wednesday to see this elderly bug?

你就光笑个不停，因为根本讲不通，反而特别好笑。

Well, you just laugh and laugh because it doesn't make a whole lot of sense, so it's really funny.

接着他就讲得你困得睡着了。

And then he bores you to sleep.

真是绝了。

It's incredible.

我明白了。

I see.

太感谢你抽空来跟我们聊了。

Well, thank you so much for sitting down with us.

接下来，你的跳蚤是不是看起来闷闷不乐？

Up next, does your pet flea seem depressed?

医生。

Doctor.

维罗妮卡来了，有办法帮它们打起精神。

Veronica is here with ideas to lift their spirits.

看起来老甲虫先生

It seemed old Mr.

有点被自己的成功给坑了

Beetle had become somewhat a victim of his own success.

随着他的故事时间越来越受欢迎，听众也越来越多。

As the popularity of his story times grew, so did the size of his audience.

几十只虫子，偶尔还有吓人的啮齿动物——现在主要是鼩鼱——几乎他每说一句话，它们都会哈哈大笑。

Dozens of bugs and the occasional terrifying rodent, mostly shrews these days, laughed after nearly everything he said.

他努力想记起自己故事里的关键情节时，整个过程都让人频频出戏，特别好笑。

It was enormously distracting as he tried to remember the important plot elements of his stories.

木星和金星总爱在第23根树枝那儿散步，

Now Jupiter and Hesperus often took their walks on the twenty third branch.

哦不对，

Oh, wait.

不对不对，是第21根树枝来着。

It it it was the twenty first branch.

这可是个关键区别。

That's an important distinction.

还是第十九枝？

Or was it the nineteenth?

他一卡壳，底下就笑得更欢了。

When he stumbled over his words, they only laughed louder.

只要不是太累，贝etle先生还是每周二晚上跟格温一起喝茶。

When mister beetle wasn't too exhausted, he still met up with Gwen for tea on Tuesday evenings.

有天晚上，就在Beetle先生又开始长篇大论吐槽他那群狂热粉丝时——

On one particular evening, during one of Mr.

上星期，底下堆了六层高的虫子。

Beetle's extended rants about his fawning audience members Last week, there was a stack of bugs six high.

格温，那些虫子整个故事时间都在摇摇晃晃的。

Gwen, they were swaying precariously throughout the entire story.

我根本没法专心讲下去。

I could hardly focus on my narrative arc.

格温想了个主意。

Gwen had an idea.

然后，当然了，当我讲到关于那个部分的时候

And then, of course, when I got to the bit about the

要不咱们换个地方？

What if we went somewhere else?

先生

Mr.

甲虫眨了眨眼。

Beetle blinked.

他把茶杯放在他们中间的石桌上。

He set down his teacup on the stone table between them.

怎么了？

What now?

格温说着，也把茶杯放了下来，

Well, Gwen said, setting down her own teacup,

你的名气好像已经开始影响你的讲故事能力了。

it seems as though your fame is taking a toll on your storytelling.

真的吗？

Really?

当然是真的。

Yes.

要不咱们去个没人认识你的分部吧？

Perhaps we should travel to a branch where the bugs don't know you.

没人认识我？

Where they don't know me?

行啊。

Sure.

那观众里肯定就没那么多狂热粉丝了。

That would certainly cut down on the number of adoring fans in my audience.

没错。

Undoubtedly.

连笑声都会变少的。

There would be less laughter.

这是肯定的。

Unquestionably.

那这样反而是件好事吗，格温？

And that would be a a positive thing, Gwen?

可是你这段时间一直都在抱怨这事儿啊

Well, you have been grumbling quite

每次我们喝茶的时候都会聊起这些事儿的。

a bit about those things whenever we have tea.

毕托尔先生

Mr.

他眯起了眼睛。

Beetle narrowed his eyes.

这话他确实没法反驳。

He couldn't argue with that.

我觉得这能解决不少问题。

I think it would solve a lot of problems.

先生。

Mr.

beetle 喝了一口茶，从第二十五根树枝上望向远方。

Beetle took a sip of his tea and gazed out from their perch on the twenty fifth branch.

格温，有你真好。

Gwen, I'm lucky to have you.

你说得对。

You're right.

下周三，我们去另一根树枝上。

Next Wednesday, we will travel to a different branch.

格温笑了。

Gwen smiled.

这一周过得真快。

The week seemed to fly by.

星期三突然就来了，像鼩鼱背上的跳蚤一样蹦出来。

Wednesday popped up like a flea off the back of a shrew.

老先生。

Old Mr.

beetle 在第二十五根树枝上待了多年，早就不想再往外跑了。

Beetle had spent many years on the twenty fifth branch, and he was well past wanting to venture beyond it.

但那年春天的星期三，他本该去办故事会，他和 Gwen 商量着偷偷溜到另一棵树上，想躲开到处认出他的那些虫子，也想找回当初第一次办故事会的那种感觉。

But on that Wednesday in spring, when he would be expected to hold a story time, he and Gwen agreed to sneak away to a different tree altogether in order to recapture both his anonymity, he was tired of being recognized everywhere he went, and to recapture the magic of that very first story time.

于是他们收拾好东西，搬到了隔壁那棵树。

So they packed up their things and traveled to the next tree.

Gwen，我感觉这事特别靠谱。

Gwen, I have a very good feeling about this.

没错。

Oh, yes.

可惜，那棵树上的虫子都从《跨树时报》上听说过 beetle 的大名，一窝蜂地围了上来。

Unfortunately, the bugs on that tree had heard of mister Beetle from the Intertree Times newsletter, and they swarmed him.

虫子们把他里三层外三层围得严严实实

They crowded him.

还是用这个说法更贴切

That's a better word.

于是甲虫老先生

So old Mr.

就和格温只好接着往下一棵树出发了

Beetle and Gwen traveled to the next tree.

可谁知道，这棵树上的虫子居然能接收到第25根树枝传来的广播信号，他们也早就听说了那个既出名又无趣的比特尔先生，

But apparently, this tree picked up the radio signal from the 25th branch, and they too had heard of the famously hilarious and boring Mr.

就是比特尔本人。

Beetle.

就这么着，

Mr.

比特尔先生和格温很快就被团团围住了。

Beetle and Gwen were quickly surrounded.

他俩从人群底下钻了个空子，逃了出来。

They managed to slip beneath the crowd to escape.

之后他们小心翼翼地摸去第三棵树那里。

They tentatively crept up a third tree.

那边安安静静的，什么事都没有。

All was quiet.

虫子们只是随意地四处晃悠。

Bugs milled about.

甲壳虫老爷根本没多看他们一眼，

Not giving them a second glance, Mr.

他转头看向格温，格温朝他鼓励地点了点头。

Beetle looked at Gwen and she gave him an encouraging nod.

终于，

Finally, Mr.

甲壳虫老爷又变回了那个没人关注的普通人。

Beetle was anonymous once more.

他不过是个普通的补鞋匠，晚年又重拾了讲故事的营生。

He was but a simple bootmaker and late in life storyteller once more as well.

格温拿出了泡沫板和颜料。

Gwen got out her poster board and paint.

比尔特先生

Mr.

比尔特先生在琢磨招牌上该写点啥。

Beetle considered what to put on the sign.

我得小心点，不能让人看出我是谁，格温。

I have to be careful not to reveal who I am, Gwen.

这话说得在理。

Certainly true.

我确实不该把咱们这事儿搞得太过明目张胆，对吧？

I shouldn't make it too obvious what we're doing here, should I?

嗯，确实不该。

I suppose not.

那好吧。

Alright then.

我有个绝妙的主意，Gwen。

I have the perfect thing, Gwen.

Beetle先生口述了招牌上该写什么。

Mister Beetle dictated what the sign should say.

‘老虫之谜夜’，Beetle先生开了头。

Elder bug mystery night, mister beetle began.

Gwen一笔一画地把字画得流畅又好看。

Gwen painted the letters smoothly, and they had a charming look to them.

Beetle先生接着口述。

Mister beetle continued dictating

由一只老虫主办的神秘活动。

Mystery event hosted by an old bug.

Gwen继续画，他继续口述。

And Gwen continued painting, and he continued dictating.

你绝对猜不到谁会让你睡着。

You definitely don't know who will put you to sleep.

而且

And

格温一直画着，直到——

Gwen continued painting until in an

特别有意思的方式。

entertaining way.

就这些了。

That's it.

老虫子神秘夜，一场由你完全不认识的老虫子举办的、用特别有意思的方式让你睡着的活动。

Elder bug mystery night, a mysterious event hosted by an old bug you definitely don't know who will put you to sleep in an entertaining way.

格温轻声说。

Gwen murmured.

先生。

Mr.

甲虫低头看了看那块 painted 的牌子，皱起了眉头。

Beetle glanced down at the painted sign and furrowed his brow.

看来我还是没把所有内容都写上去。

It looks like I couldn't fit everything.

甲虫先生念着牌子上的字。

Mister beetle read the sign.

老甲虫神秘之夜——一场由你绝对不认识的老甲虫举办的神秘活动。

Elder bug mystery night, a mysterious event hosted by an old bug you definitely don't know.

这么一说，确实挺神秘的。

It does make it sound very mysterious.

格温提前做了充分准备，带了额外的展板和颜料。

Gwen, having prepared extensively, had an extra poster board and additional paint.

但那时候已经很晚了。

But by that time, it was quite late.

因为甲虫先生……

Due to Mr.

因为小甲虫太出名了，他们之前不得不躲开好几拨粉丝，才好不容易落到这根树枝上。

Beetle's extreme fame, they'd had to escape several adoring crowds before landing on this branch.

太阳早就落山了。

The sun was completely down.

Mr.

Mr.

小甲虫恋恋不舍地盯着那块备用的海报板，可实在没时间了。

Beetle looked longingly at the extra poster board, but there was simply no time.

Mr.

Mr.

小甲虫只好等着观众来，心里直打鼓：真会有人来吗？

Beetle settled in for his audience to arrive and wondered if anyone would come at all.

格温把音乐播放器摆好，忙着调试音量。

Gwen set up her music player and fiddled with the settings.

这故事里还有更多内容呢。

There is so much more to this story.

想听完整版节目？成为《小故事》高级会员就行。

You can hear the full episode by becoming a Little Stories Premium subscriber.

去 littlestoriespremium.com 注册吧。

Visit littlestoriespremium.com to join.

一如既往，谢谢你们收听。

And thank you, as always, for listening in.