玛格丽特披萨肖像画廊 🍕（再次出镜的披萨爱好者猫咪）

朋友们，大家好，欢迎收听《安睡小故事》。

Hello, friends, and welcome to Sleep Tight Stories.

莉比又开学了，但她这次没那么开心。

Libby has started school again, and she is not enjoying it as much.

她的朋友们都被分到了不同的班级，现在她只能在午饭时间见到他们。

All of her friends have different homerooms, and she only gets to see them at lunchtime now.

她能交到新朋友吗？

Will she be able to make new friends?

玛格丽特披萨肖像画廊。

Margherita's Pizza Portrait Gallery.

莉比拖着步子，沿着人行道往家走。

Libby dragged her feet as she walked down the sidewalk toward home.

她戴着耳机听音乐，尽管妈妈告诉她不要这样，说这样会听不到周围的声音。

She had her headphones on listening to music, even though her mom told her not to something about being able to hear things around her.

平时她会听话，但今天莉比真的很需要音乐。

Normally she would listen but today Libby needed her music.

音乐能帮她放松和集中注意力。

Music helped her relax and focus.

而今天她确实需要这种帮助。

And today she definitely needed the help.

风有点凉，所以她拉上帽子，走完了回家的最后一个街区。

The wind was cool, so she pulled up her hood as she walked the final block home.

她低声嘟囔着：“破学校。”

Stupid school, she mumbled to herself.

她走上台阶，打开家门，迎接她的是玛格丽塔，它正耐心地坐在那里等她。

She walked up the steps to her house and opened the door to be greeted by Margherita, who was sitting patiently waiting for her.

自从开学以来，玛格丽塔看起来有点闷闷不乐，好像是想念利比，但又怪她离开。

Ever since school started back up, Margherita seemed kind of depressed, like she missed Libby but blamed her for leaving.

或者也许它只是觉得冷，因为利比的妈妈拒绝开暖气，尽管外面已经变凉了。

Or maybe she was just cold because Libby's mom refused to turn on the heat even though it was getting chilly outside.

利比说：“玛格丽塔。”

Margherita, Libby said.

见到你我很开心。

I'm happy to see you.

你今天想我了吗，还是超级饿，想吃点披萨零食？

Did you miss me today, or are you super hungry and want some pizza snacks?

玛格丽塔轻轻走过来，用头蹭了蹭利比，还发出轻柔的喵喵声，这是她独特的打招呼方式。

Margherita padded over closer and greeted Libby with a gentle headbutt and a soft meh, her signature way of saying hello.

利比坐在地板上，给她那只傻乎乎的橘猫挠了挠耳朵后面。

Libby sat down on the floor to give her silly orange cat a scratch behind the ears.

玛格丽塔发出呼噜声，还奇怪地看了利比一眼，好像在评判她为什么在室内还戴着耳机、戴着帽子。

Margherita purred and gave Libby a strange look, as if judging her for having her headphones on and her hood up indoors.

我希望你今天过得比我好。

I hope your day was better than mine.

我敢打赌你过得肯定比我好。

I bet it was.

你大概就是睡了一觉吧。

You probably just napped.

对吧？

Right?

你是不是舒舒服服地窝在毯子里？

Were you cozy under your blanket?

我猜你梦到披萨了，还有猫会梦到的其他东西，Libby深深叹了口气说。

I bet you dreamed about pizza and all the other things cats dream about, Libby said with a deep sigh.

今天是我上学的第三天，情况一点都没好转。

Today was my third day of school, and it isn't getting any better.

今年我所有的朋友都在不同的班级，有些甚至不能和我一起上美术课。

All my friends are in different homerooms this year, and some of them won't even be in the same art classes with me.

我想我们可以在午餐时见面，但他们已经和新同学坐在一起了，你知道我在新认识的人面前有多不自在。

We can meet at lunch, I guess, but they're already sitting with their new classmates, and you know how hard it is for me around, like, new people.

Margherita在Libby腿上蜷得更紧了，呼噜声平稳而安抚，这声音让Libby感觉没那么糟糕了。

Margherita curled up closer in Libby's lap, her purring steady and soothing, a sound that made Libby feel just a little less terrible.

你肯定很享受被挠痒痒吧。

You certainly love your scratches.

看来我们俩都需要来点披萨小点心。

I guess we both could use a pizza snack.

你要来一个吗？

Would you like one?

我想我们还有一些剩下的。

I think we still have some left.

玛格丽塔停止了呼噜声，竖起耳朵，好像完全知道莉比在说什么。

Margherita stopped purring and perked up almost like she knew exactly what Libby was talking about.

莉比把运动鞋放好，把背包丢进卧室后，就去厨房给自己和玛格丽塔做披萨小点心了。

Libby put her sneakers away and after dropping her backpack off in her bedroom, went to the kitchen to make some pizza snacks for her and Margherita.

好了，玛格丽塔。

Okay, Margherita.

看来我们运气不错。

Looks like we're in luck.

我们有意大利辣香肠披萨小点和芝士披萨小点。

We have pepperoni pizza bites and cheese pizza bites.

你想要哪个？

Which would you like?

利比先举起意大利辣香肠的，再举起奶酪的，看看玛格丽塔更喜欢哪个。

Libby held up first the pepperoni then the cheese to see which Margherita might prefer.

当利比举起奶酪口味的时候，玛格丽塔发出了“嗯”的声音，显得不太感兴趣。

Margherita went, meh, when Libby raised the cheese kind.

利比说：“好选择。”

Good choice, Libby said.

那些意大利辣香肠的看起来有点可疑。

Those pepperoni ones looked kind of suspicious to me.

我觉得它们可能是早春时候的。

I think they might be from early spring or something.

有时候披萨小吃在冰箱里放久了，就会变成小冰球。

Sometimes pizza snacks get lost in the freezer and turn into little hockey pucks.

利比给玛格丽塔热了几个，放进她的碗里，看着她狼吞虎咽地吃起来。

Libby heated up a few for Margherita, placed them in her bowl, and watched as she started devouring them.

她把自己的那份放在盘子里，然后走向卧室，准备继续画那幅画，也许还能做点作业。

She put her own on a plate and headed toward her bedroom to continue a painting she was working on and maybe tackle some homework.

我在房间里。

I'll be in my room.

你吃完了就过来找我，但这次我可不会分零食给你了。

Come join me when you're done, but I'm not sharing my snacks this time.

上次你把你的和我的都吃了。

Last time you ate yours and mine.

Libby把盘子放在书桌上，从背包里拿出书来。

Libby set her plate down on her desk and took out her books from her backpack.

好的。

Okay.

先做什么呢？

What first?

数学作业还是画画？

Math homework or painting?

利比小声自言自语。

Libby said quietly to herself.

既然没人反对，那选什么就很明显了。

Since no one's disagreeing, I think the choice is obvious.

我就继续画画吧。

I'll work on my painting.

利比画这幅玛格丽特吃超大披萨的肖像画已经画了几个星期了，快完成了。

Libby had been working on this portrait of Margherita eating a supersized slice of pizza for a couple of weeks, and it was almost finished.

选好画画时听的歌单后，她戴上耳机，开始专心画画。

After selecting her painting playlist, she put on her headphones and got to work.

每次利比一边听音乐一边画画，时间就过得飞快。

Whenever Libby listened to music and painted, time seemed to flash by.

房间外的世界仿佛消失了，只剩下色彩、笔触和最喜欢的歌曲的节奏。

The world outside her room disappeared, and there was nothing but colors and brushstrokes and the rhythm of her favorite songs.

直到一个小时后歌单播完，她才看了看时钟，意识到已经过了这么久。

It wasn't until her playlist stopped an hour later that she looked at the clock and realized how much time had passed.

玛格丽塔怎么还没进来帮我画画？

Why hasn't Margherita come in to help me paint?

她自言自语道。

She wondered aloud.

通常，她的橘猫几分钟内就会出现，要么坐在书桌上监督她，要么打翻她的水杯。

Usually, her orange cat would appear within minutes, either to sit on her desk and supervise or to knock over her water cup.

这种安静让人觉得有点奇怪。

The silence felt strange.

莉比摘下耳机，伸了个懒腰。

Libby pulled off her headphones and stretched.

她弓着背在画布前坐了很久，背都僵了，手也因为握着画笔而有点酸痛。

Her back was stiff from hunching over the canvas, and her hand ached a little from gripping the paintbrush.

“玛格丽塔，”她喊道。

Margherita, she called.

“你在哪儿，小傻猫？”

Where are you, silly cat?

没有回应。

No response.

连一声远处的猫叫都没有。

Not even a distant meow.

玛格丽塔？

Margherita?

还是没有回应。

Still no response.

出于好奇，莉比放下画笔，走出房间。

Curious, Libby set down her brush and walked out of her room.

玛格丽塔，你是不是在哪儿打盹呢？

Margherita, are you napping somewhere?

她走进走廊时，突然停住了脚步。

As she stepped into the hallway, she stopped short.

到处都是披萨盒。

Pizza boxes everywhere.

这到底是怎么回事？

What in the world?

利比低声说道，盯着这奇怪的场景。

Libby whispered, staring at the bizarre scene.

它们沿着墙壁排列，就像博物馆里的画作，每一盒都精心摆放在不同的高度和角度。

They were lined up along the walls like paintings in a museum, each one carefully positioned at different heights and angles.

那是上周五晚餐留下的盒子，靠在浴室旁边的墙上。

There was the box from last Friday's dinner propped against the wall near the bathroom.

两周前妈妈累得不想做饭时留下的那个，放在储物柜旁边。

The one from two weeks ago when her mom had been too tired to cook was positioned by the linen closet.

甚至几个月前生日派对留下的那个旧盒子，不知怎么从回收箱里被救了出来，现在展示在妈妈卧室门口。

Even the ancient box from her birthday party months ago somehow rescued from the recycling bin and now displayed near her mother's bedroom door.

而玛格丽塔就坐在第一件展品旁边，尾巴整齐地绕在爪子上，看起来得意极了。

And there was Margherita sitting regally beside the first exhibit with her tail wrapped neatly around her paws looking incredibly pleased with herself.

她看到利比时，骄傲地叫了一声，然后站起来，故意走向走廊里的下一个盒子。

When she saw Libby, she let out a proud meow and stood up walking deliberately to the next box down the hall.

利比眨了眨眼，揉了揉眼睛，又看了一眼。

Libby blinked, rubbed her eyes, and looked again.

没错。

Nope.

还在那儿。

Still there.

她的猫显然在过去一个小时里搞出了全世界最荒唐的艺术装置。

Her cat had apparently spent the last hour creating the world's most ridiculous art installation.

玛格丽塔，利比慢慢地说，强忍着不笑出来。

Margherita, Libby said slowly, trying not to laugh.

你到底在搞什么名堂？

What exactly have you been up to?

玛格丽塔又叫了一声，这次更急切，然后开始朝第一个披萨盒走去。

Margherita meowed again more insistently this time and began walking toward the first pizza box.

她在旁边坐下，姿势端正，橘色的尾巴卷在爪子周围，就像在给自己摆姿势拍照一样。

She sat down beside it with perfect posture, her orange tail curled around her paws like she was posing for a portrait herself.

哦，我明白了，利比说着，恍然大悟。

Oh, I see, Libby said, catching on.

你是在给我做导览，对吧？

You're giving me a tour, aren't you?

玛格丽塔缓缓地眨了下眼，利比知道这基本上就是她表示“那当然”的方式，然后她又更夸张地叫了一声。

Margherita blinked slowly, which Libby had learned was basically her way of saying obviously and let out a more theatrical.

她用头朝披萨盒示意了一下，然后期待地看着利比。

She gestured with her head toward the pizza box, then looked back at Libby expectantly.

利比实在忍不住了。

Libby couldn't help herself.

她开始咯咯地笑起来。

She started giggling.

好吧。

Okay.

好吧。

Okay.

玛格丽特女士，给我讲讲这件作品吧。

Tell me about this piece, Madame Margherita.

仿佛一直在等这个问题，玛格丽特站起来，开始了一场堪称表演的展示。

As if she'd been waiting for exactly this question, Margherita stood up and began what could only be described as a performance.

她绕着盒子慢慢走了一圈，尾巴高高翘起，戏剧性地甩来甩去。

She walked in a slow circle around the box, her tail held high and swishing dramatically.

然后她坐回去，盯着盒子，神情专注，仿佛在欣赏一件无价之宝。

Then she sat back down and stared at the box with intense concentration, as if studying a priceless masterpiece.

啊，我明白了，利比说，努力憋住笑。

Ah, I see, Libby said, trying to keep a straight face.

这显然是在评论披萨的短暂易逝。

This is clearly a commentary on, the fleeting nature of pizza.

玛格丽特满意地喵了一声，然后，接下来的一幕让利比忍不住大笑起来——她凑上前，深深闻了闻盒子，闭上眼睛，像在品味美酒一样。

Margherita meowed approvingly, and then, and this was the part that made Libby burst into laughter, she leaned forward and sniffed the box deeply, closing her eyes like she was savoring a fine wine.

你太逗了，利比说着，擦去眼角的泪水。

You're ridiculous, Libby said, wiping tears from her eyes.

接下来呢？

What's next?

玛格丽塔立刻小跑到亚麻柜旁边的第二个箱子那里。

Margherita immediately trotted to the second box positioned near the linen closet.

这个箱子的展示更加精心。

This one got an even more elaborate presentation.

她绕着箱子转了三圈，停下来舔了舔爪子——这显然是艺术创作的一部分——然后坐下来，用爪子拍打箱子松动的角，好像在指出重要的细节。

She circled it three times, paused to groom her paw clearly part of the artistic process and then sat down and began batting at a loose corner of the box with her paw as if pointing out important details.

哦，这个还有互动元素，莉比评论道，真是前卫。

Oh, this one has interactive elements, Libby observed, very avant garde.

但玛格丽塔还没完。

But Margherita wasn't done.

她突然侧身倒在箱子旁边，夸张地伸展开来，好像被这艺术鉴赏累坏了。

She suddenly flopped onto her side next to the box stretching out dramatically like she was exhausted from all this art appreciation.

然后她翻了个身，四脚朝天，倒着看向莉比，仿佛在说：你感受到这里的深层情感了吗？

Then she rolled onto her back, paws in the air, and gave Libby an upside down look that seemed to say, are you getting the emotional depth here?

莉比笑得不行了，只好靠在墙上支撑自己。

Libby was laughing so hard now that she had to lean against the wall for support.

玛格丽塔，你真是疯了。

Margherita, you're absolutely crazy.

听到自己的名字，玛格丽塔立刻翻过身来，蹦蹦跳跳地跑到第三个盒子前，就是生日派对上那个旧盒子。

Hearing her name, Margherita immediately flipped back over and pranced to the third box, the ancient one from the birthday party.

这次展览需要最戏剧性的展示。

This exhibition required the most dramatic presentation yet.

玛格丽塔慢慢靠近它，压低身子，像在跟踪猎物一样。

Margherita approached it slowly, crouching low like she was stalking prey.

然后她猛地扑过去，正好落在盒子前面，四只爪子张得大大的，好像在保护它免受隐形艺术窃贼的侵害。

Then she pounced, landing right in front of the box with all four paws spread wide, as if protecting it from invisible art thieves.

她保持这个姿势整整三秒钟，然后端庄地坐下来，开始梳理自己的毛，好像刚才的一切都很正常似的。

She held this pose for exactly three seconds, then sat down primly and began grooming herself as if the whole thing had been perfectly normal.

那真是……哇，莉比在笑声中断断续续地说。

That was wow, Libby managed between giggles.

我觉得你错过了当行为艺术家的机会。

I think you missed your calling as a performance artist.

但就在她说完这句话的时候，玛格丽塔分心了。

But just as she said it, Margherita got distracted.

原来有一小块奶酪粘在生日盒子的角上，她立刻用激光般的目光锁定了它。

A tiny piece of cheese had apparently been stuck to the corner of the birthday box, and she spotted it with laser focus.

所有的艺术气质瞬间消失，她把脖子伸得老长，想够到那块奶酪碎屑，却又不肯挪动半步。

All artistic presense vanished as she stretched her neck as far as it would go, trying to reach the cheese crumb without actually moving from her spot.

她伸了又伸，粉红色的小舌头都探出来了，可那碎屑就是差那么一点点。

She stretched and stretched, her pink tongue poking out, but the crumb was just out of reach.

最后她彻底放弃了尊严，直接扑了上去，还把披萨盒撞歪了一点。

Finally, she gave up on dignity entirely and dove for it, knocking the pizza box slightly askew in the process.

“这才是真正的玛格丽塔，”利比摇着头说。

And there's the real Margherita, Libby said, shaking her head.

那个优雅的艺术评论家形象是不错，但我们都清楚，你其实就是为了奶酪来的。

The sophisticated art critic was nice, but we all know you're really just here for the cheese.

玛格丽特成功抓到并吃掉了那块奶酪碎，抬头看着莉比，胡须上还沾着旧奶酪渣，不满地喵了一声，好像在说：我不知道你在说什么。

Margherita, having successfully captured and devoured the crumb, looked up at Libby with old cheese bits on her whiskers and meowed indignantly as if to say, I have no idea what you're talking about.

这从来都是为了奶酪。

This was always about the cheese.

就在这时，前门开了，莉比听到妈妈钥匙的叮当声。

Just then the front door opened, and Libby heard her mother's keys jingling.

莉比，我回来了。

Libby, I'm home.

怎么会有披萨盒在这里——天哪。

Why are there pizza boxes in the oh my goodness.

莉比转过身，看到妈妈站在走廊尽头，看着这奇怪的场景。

Libby turned to see her mother standing at the end of the hallway taking in the bizarre scene.

玛格丽特似乎觉得两个人当观众更好，立刻小跑回第一个盒子，摆出她高贵的姿势，准备重新开始整个参观。

Margherita, apparently deciding that two people made for a better audience, immediately trotted back to the first box and sat down in her regal pose, ready to start the whole tour over again.

妈妈，来认识一下玛格丽特的披萨盒肖像画廊，莉比说着，还在咯咯笑，妈妈站在门口，一手提着公文包，盯着走廊里的展览。

Mom, meet Margherita's pizza box portrait gallery, Libby said, still giggling as her mother stood in the doorway, briefcase in one hand, staring at the hallway exhibition.

她妈妈慢慢放下包，打量着那些摆放整齐的披萨盒和玛格丽塔，玛格丽塔正摆出她那高贵的坐姿，迎接新观众。

Her mother set down her bag slowly, taking in the carefully arranged pizza boxes and Margherita, who was now performing her regal sitting pose for a new audience member.

她妈妈终于开口说：“好吧，我得承认，这绝对不是我回家时预料到的场景。”

Well, her mom said finally, I have to admit, this is definitely not what I expected to come home to.

她走近仔细看第一个盒子。

She walked closer to examine the first box.

她是在带参观吗？

Is she giving tours?

哦，是的。

Oh yes.

莉比说：“还配有戏剧性的动作表演和旧奶酪碎屑的幕间休息。”

Complete with dramatic interpretive movements and old cheese crumb intermissions, Libby said.

她在我画画的时候弄了这个。

She put this together while I was painting.

玛格丽塔显然很高兴有第二个观众，站起来走向放亚麻布柜子的那个盒子，还回头看看确保两个人都跟着。

Margherita, clearly delighted to have a second viewer, stood up and began walking toward the linen closet box, looking back over her shoulder to make sure both humans were following.

我觉得我们被召唤了，利比的妈妈笑着说。

I think we're being summoned, Libby's mom said with a laugh.

我们最好跟过去。

We'd better follow.

她们跟着玛格丽塔完成了她简短的第二次导览，利比的妈妈配合着，在玛格丽塔在生日派对盒子旁戏剧性地倒下时，认真地点头。

They followed Margherita through her abbreviated second tour, and Libby's mom played along, nodding seriously as Margherita performed her dramatic flop beside the birthday party box.

她真是个艺术家，她妈妈评论道。

She's quite the artist, her mother observed.

非常，嗯，我没有你的艺术天赋。

Very, well, I don't have your talent for art.

也许我们应该在晚饭前把这些收拾一下？

Maybe we should clean this up before dinner?

我觉得披萨盒艺术不是我们想在走廊里永久展示的东西。

I don't think pizza box art is a permanent installation we want in our hallway.

大概不会吧，利比同意道，尽管拆掉玛格丽塔的作品让她有点难过。

Probably not, Libby agreed, though she felt a little sad dismantling Margherita's creation.

她们收拾盒子准备回收时，妈妈问：“那你今天过得怎么样？”

As they gathered the boxes for recycling, her mom asked, so how was your day?

利比叹了口气，怀里抱着三个盒子。

Libby sighed balancing three boxes in her arms.

就是那个班级分组的事。

It's just the homeroom thing.

我所有的朋友都在不同的班级，连吃午饭时也是。

All my friends are in a different homeroom than mine and even at lunch.

我本来以为午饭时能见到他们，但等我到那儿，他们已经和新同学坐在一起了。

I mean I thought I would see them at lunch, but they're already sitting with their new classmates when I get there.

你也知道，我觉得认识新朋友很难。

And you know how I find meeting new people hard.

妈妈若有所思地点点头，她们一起走向厨房。

Her mom nodded thoughtfully as they walked to the kitchen.

我知道你觉得难，但你知道吗？

I know you find it hard, but you know what?

你当初能交到那些朋友，说明你也能交到新朋友。

You made those friends in the first place, which means you can make new ones too.

可能需要一些时间。

It might take time.

你有自己的节奏，但你会找到新朋友的。

You have your own process, but you'll find new friends.

而且，你也可以偶尔试着和老朋友一起坐坐。

And maybe you can just try sitting with your old friends from time to time too.

也许吧，莉比说，说起来容易做起来难。

Maybe, Libby said, it's just easier said than done.

大多数值得做的事情都是这样，她妈妈一边从冰箱里拿食材一边回答。

Most worthwhile things are, her mom replied, pulling ingredients from the fridge.

但在这期间，你还有我们呢。

But in the meantime, you've got us.

而且，显然你还有一个非常尽职的艺术策展人，他觉得你值得拥有一个私人画廊。

And apparently, you have a very dedicated art curator who thinks you deserve a personal gallery.

她们看向玛格丽塔，她正坐在自己的碗旁边，一脸期待的表情。

They looked over at Margherita, who was sitting by her bowl with an expectant expression.

说到这个，利比的妈妈说，我觉得我们的小艺术家已经准备好享用她的晚餐了。

Speaking of which, Libby's mom said, I think our artist is ready for her evening meal.

要不要由我们来主持这个仪式？

Should we do the honors?

像时钟一样准时，她们开始了玛格丽塔的晚间例行程序。

Like clockwork, they began Margherita's nightly routine.

牛奶？

Milk?

被不屑地嗅了一下，拒绝了。

Refused with a disdainful sniff.

金枪鱼？

Tuna?

完全被无视了。

Ignored completely.

高级猫粮呢？

Premium cat food?

连看都不看一眼。

Not even a glance.

最后，她妈妈热了一片剩下的披萨，放进玛格丽特的碗里。

Finally, her mom heated up a slice of leftover pizza and set it in Margherita's bowl.

猫咪大声咕噜咕噜地叫着，扑上去就吃，好像这一切本来就是意料之中的事。

The cat purred loudly and dove in, as if this hadn't been the inevitable outcome all along.

你知道吗，利比看着玛格丽特吃东西，说，也许明天不会那么糟。

You know, Libby said, watching Margherita eat, maybe tomorrow won't be so bad.

至少我知道回家后会有最傻乎乎的好朋友等着我。

At least I know I'll come home to the silliest best friend anyone could ask for.

她妈妈笑了。

Her mom smiled.

这才对嘛。

That's the spirit.

而且谁知道呢？

And who knows?

说不定你的新班级里就有喜欢披萨的人呢。

Maybe your new homeroom will have some pizza lovers in it.

那天晚上，莉比刷完牙、换上睡衣后，就带着速写本爬上了床。

Later that night, after brushing her teeth and getting into her pajamas, Libby crawled into bed with her sketchbook.

最近，她喜欢在睡前画点东西。

Lately, she liked to draw a little before sleep.

这能让她静下心来。

It helped quiet her mind.

玛格丽特跳上床，在床尾安顿下来，开始她每晚的梳理毛发日常。

Margherita hopped up and settled at the foot of the bed, beginning her nightly grooming routine.

你知道吗，玛格丽特，莉比一边在纸上随意画着圈一边说。

You know, Margherita, Libby said, sketching lazy circles on the page.

你今天的艺术画廊真是棒极了。

Your art gallery was pretty amazing today.

我真不知道你是怎么把那些箱子从回收站里拖出来的，我都没听见你动静。

I don't know how you managed to drag all those boxes out of the recycling without me hearing you.

玛格丽塔舔到一半停了下来，看了她一眼，那眼神好像在说：魔术师从不透露自己的秘密。

Margherita paused mid lick and gave her a look that seemed to say, A magician never reveals her secrets.

莉比笑了，给她画的猫添了几根胡须。

Libby smiled, adding some whiskers to her doodle of a cat.

我在想妈妈晚饭时说的话，说我以前交过朋友，所以还能再交到朋友。

I was thinking about what mom said at dinner, about how I made friends before so I can make them again.

只是重新开始真的很累，你知道吗。

It's just starting over is exhausting, you know.

得去弄清楚谁好谁不好。

Having to figure out who's nice and who's not.

谁和我喜欢一样的东西？

Who likes the same things I do?

谁会不觉得我因为太爱聊书和艺术而古怪？

Who won't think I'm weird for talking too much about books or art?

她停顿了一下，用铅笔敲着纸页。

She paused, tapping her pencil against the page.

但后来我意识到了一件事。

But then I realized something.

那天你第一次跟我回家的时候，我并没有想跟你交朋友。

When you first followed me home that day, I wasn't trying to make friends with you.

你就那么出现了，现在看看我们。

You just showed up, and now look at us.

玛格丽塔已经舔完了爪子，正用那双绿色的大眼睛盯着莉比，认真地听着。

Margherita had finished cleaning her paw and was now staring at Libby with those big green eyes listening intently.

也许我一直都想错了，莉比继续说。

Maybe I've been thinking about it all wrong, Libby continued.

也许与其担心别人会不会喜欢我，不如就做自己，看看会发生什么。

Maybe instead of worrying about whether people will like me, I should just be myself and see what happens.

就像你不会假装喜欢金枪鱼或猫粮一样。

Like how you don't pretend to like tuna or cat food.

你就是知道自己想要什么，然后坚持到底。

You just know what you want and you stick with it.

她合上速写本，伸手去挠玛格丽塔的耳后。

She closed her sketchbook and reached over to scratch behind Margherita's ears.

而且，就算交新朋友需要时间，我已经有了最好的朋友，谁也比不上。

Plus, even if making new friends takes a while, I already have the best friend anyone could ask for.

你听我倾诉所有烦恼。

You listen to all my problems.

我难过的时候你逗我笑，还搞些搞笑的装置艺术来哄我开心。

You make me laugh when I'm sad, and you create ridiculous art installations just to cheer me up.

玛格丽塔发出咕噜声，用头蹭了蹭莉比的手。

Margherita purred and bumped her head against Libby's hand.

谢谢你，傻乎乎的橘猫。

Thanks, silly orange cat.

莉比关掉床头灯，钻进被窝里。

Libby turned off her bedside lamp and settled under the covers.

玛格丽塔蜷缩在她最喜欢的地方，呼噜声在黑暗中平稳而令人安心。

Margherita curled up in her favorite spot, her purring a steady, comforting sound in the darkness.

利比渐渐入睡时，对班级情况的沮丧感减轻了不少。

As Libby drifted towards sleep, she felt much less glum about her homeroom situation.

这一切都要感谢她最好的朋友，玛格丽塔。

All thanks to her best friend, Margherita.

我们的故事就到这里结束了。

And that is the end of our story.

晚安。

Good night.

睡个好觉。

Sleep Tight.