Jerry’s Box 杰瑞的盒子

向红

Jerry woke up on Monday. He took a box that he was keeping under his bed. When he came down stairs， his parents asked him what was in it. “Something really fun，” he said， but nothing more.

星期一，杰瑞醒來后，拿起一个他放在床下的盒子。当他下楼时，父母问他里面是什么，他说：“很有趣的东西。”仅此而已。

Verry walked to the bus stop with the box in his hands. Everybody at the bus stop asked him what was in it. “Its very important，” he said， but nothing more.

杰瑞手里拿着盒子走到公共汽车站。公共汽车站的每个人都问他里面是什么。他说：“非常重要的东西。”但仅此而已。

When he got to school， the teacher asked him what was in his box.

当他到学校时，老师问他盒子里是什么。

“Its a secret1，” he said， but nothing more. At lunch， his friends all crowded2 around and asked him to open it. “I cant. Its a gift，” he said， but nothing more.

“这是一个秘密。”他说，但仅此而已。午饭时，他的朋友们都围了上来，叫他打开它。他说：“不行，这是一份礼物。”但仅此而已。

The box sat with him all day， and no one in class could know what it is. His teacher was curious3， too. She decided4 to send him to the principal5 for disturbing6 the class， hoping to get an answer. The principal asked Jerry what he was keeping in the box and if it was dangerous. “Its not for you，” he said， but nothing more.

盒子整天就放在他身边，班上没人知道这是什么东西，他的老师也很好奇。因为他扰乱课堂，她决定带他去见校长，希望能得到答案。校长问杰瑞，他盒子里放的是什么，有没有危险。他说：“这不是给你的。”但仅此而已。

Jerry went back to class and sat down. The class was watching as he handed the teacher a note from the principal. “Well， if its a gift， Jerry， I suggest you deliver7 it now.” Jerry turned around and faced the class. He walked down the aisle8 and stopped at the desk of Oscar.

杰瑞回到教室坐好。整个班级都在注视着他把校长给他的纸条交给老师。“好吧，如果这是礼物，杰瑞，我建议你现在就送出去。”杰瑞转过身，面对着全班。他沿着过道一直走，在奥斯卡的课桌前停了下来。

Oscars eyes lit up. Nobody paid attention9 to Oscar. Nobody talked to Oscar. And nobody had ever stopped at Oscars desk， until now. Jerry handed him the box， with a new note inside. Oscar read the note， “Dear Oscar， this is my box. Enjoy. P.S. It works better if you dont open it！”

奥斯卡的眼睛亮了。从没有人关注过奥斯卡，没有人和奥斯卡说过话。直到现在，从来没人在奥斯卡的课桌前停下来过。杰瑞把盒子递给他，里面放着一张新纸条。奥斯卡读了纸条上的内容：“亲爱的奥斯卡，这是我的盒子。好好享受吧。附言：如果不打开它会更好！”

On Tuesday， nobody had more people at his desk than Oscar.

周二，奥斯卡的桌子前面聚集了最多人。

（英语原文摘自：www.gutenberg.org）

【Notes】

1. secret  n. 秘密;秘诀

2. crowd  v. （一批人）（使）挤满;逼近（某人）;聚集

3. curious adj. 好奇的，有求知欲的

4. decide  v. 决定，下决心

5. principal  n. 校长

6. disturb   v. 打扰;使不安

7. deliver v. 交付;递送

8. aisle n. 走道;侧廊

9. attention  n. 注意力;关心