Hot Chocolate Weather热巧克力天气

Elizabeth Castro 高齐云

On Monday， snow made the front page of the newspaper. James and his sister， Ashley， helped Dad collect fallen branches for firewood. But a warm breeze blew dry leaves around the yard.

This isnt hot chocolate weather， thought James.

NO SNOW！

星期一，雪成了报纸的头版。詹姆斯和他的妹妹阿什莉帮爸爸收集散落的树枝做木柴。但是，温暖的微风吹走了院子里的干树叶。

詹姆斯想，这不是喝热巧克力的天气。

没下雪！

On Tuesday， the morning news predicted1 six to eight inches of snow before night. James filled up the bird feeder2 in his yard. A squirrel3 stopped by. A hungry bird got food. But the sky was blue.

This isnt hot chocolate weather， thought James.

NO SNOW！

周二，早间新闻预测到傍晚会降雪六到八英寸。詹姆斯给他院子里的喂鸟器装满了食物。一只松鼠停在一旁，饥饿的小鸟大吃一顿。但是天空还是蓝色的。

詹姆斯想，这不是喝热巧克力的天气。

没下雪！

On Wednesday， James listened to the weather report on the radio. “Snow by late afternoon.” James helped Mom find flashlights4， candles， batteries5， food， and bottled water in case6 the power went out.

James and Mom met Ashley at the bus stop after school. A cold wind blew Jamess face. He put his hands into his coat pockets.

This could be hot chocolate weather， thought James， smiling. Rain fell from the sky.

NO SNOW！

星期三，詹姆斯听了广播中的天气预报， “下午晚些时候下雪。”詹姆士帮妈妈找好手电筒、蜡烛、电池、食物和瓶装水，以防断电。

詹姆斯和妈妈放学后在公交车站遇到了阿什莉。詹姆斯的脸上吹着冷风，他把双手埋在外套的口袋里。

詹姆斯笑了，心想，这可能是个喝热巧克力的天气。雨珠从天上掉下来。

没下雪！

On Thursday， James looked at Moms phone. Snow danced on the screen. He ran to the window.

The swing set was missing！ The bushes were gone！ The yard was blanketed7 in white.

SNOW！ No school.

Hot chocolate weather， thought James. He and Ashley had a lot for their breakfast. Dad turned on the stove8. James and Ashley measured9， mixed， poured， and stirred10. Yum！ Hot chocolate.

星期四，詹姆斯看着妈妈的电话，雪花在手机屏上舞动。他冲到窗户那边。

秋千不见了！灌木丛不见了！院子里覆盖着白茫茫的一片。

下雪了！不用上学了。

詹姆斯想，喝热巧克力的天气来了。他和阿什莉早餐吃得很饱。爸爸打开炉子，詹姆斯和阿什莉测量、混合、倾倒并搅拌。热巧克力真好喝！

On Friday， James and Ashley wore warm coats and big hats and ran outside. They ran down the hill in the backyard and threw snowballs at the fence11.

When they went inside for lunch， Mom and Dad were still in pajamas12， sitting by the fire. Chicken soup filled the house with the smells of carrots， peas， and potatoes.

Still hot chocolate weather， thought James.

星期五，詹姆斯和阿什莉穿好暖和的外套和宽大的帽子，跑到了外面。他们从后院的山上跑下来，向篱笆扔雪球。

当他们进屋吃午饭时，爸爸妈妈仍然穿着睡衣坐在火炉旁。家里飘着鸡肉汤里的胡萝卜、豌豆和土豆的味道。

詹姆斯想，仍然是喝热巧克力的天氣。

On Saturday， James and Ashley took a walk. The snow inched13 further up Jamess boots with each step he took. He looked at the boot prints he and Ashley had made in the yard. The snow was dotted14 with tracks15. Teeny， tiny tracks. Cat tracks. Tracks that looked like handprints. Dog tracks. Claw marks！

Hot chocolate weather， thought James. Ashley and James went inside.They measured， mixed， poured， and stirred. Yum！ Hot chocolate.

星期六，詹姆斯和阿什莉去散步。每走一步，積雪就使詹姆斯的靴子陷得更深。他看着他和阿什莉在院子里踩出来的靴子印，雪地上布满了足迹。微小的足迹是猫的，看起来像手印的是狗的爪印！

詹姆斯想，喝热巧克力的天气到了。阿什莉和詹姆斯走进了屋里，测量、混合、倾倒并搅拌。热巧克力真好喝！

On Sunday， James and Ashley went out to play. Melting16 ice dripped17 off the trees. Water ran down the street. James tried to make a snowball. Wet snow dripped between his fingers. This isnt hot chocolate weather， thought James.

NO SNOW！

The big weekend newspaper landed at the door. James picked it up. There was a picture of snow on the front cover18.

“Snow next week，” read Ashley.

Hot chocolate weather is coming back， thought James happily.

周日，詹姆斯和阿什莉出去玩了。融化的冰从树上滴下来，水流进了街道。詹姆斯试图捏一个雪球。湿润的雪滴落在他的手指间。詹姆斯想，这不是喝热巧克力的天气。

没下雪！

大周末的报纸落在门口。詹姆斯捡起它，封面上是雪的照片。

“下周下雪，”阿什莉读道。

詹姆斯高兴地想，喝热巧克力的天气又回来了。

【Notes】

1. predict [     t] v. 预言，预知，预卜;做预报

2. feeder [     ] n. 支线;喂食器

3. squirrel [     ] n. 松鼠

4. flashlight [     ] n. 手电筒;闪光灯

5. battery [     ] n. [电] 电池，蓄电池

6. in case万一;假使

7. blanket [     ] vt. 覆盖，掩盖;用毯覆盖

8. stove [     ] n. 火炉

9. measure [     ] v. 测量;估量

10. stir [     ] v. 搅拌

11. fence [     ] n. 栅栏;围墙

12. pajama [     ] n. 睡衣;宽长裤

13. inch [     ] vt. 使缓慢地移动vi. 慢慢前进

14. dot [     ] vt. 遍布于

15. track [     ] n. 轨道;足迹，踪迹

16. melt [     ] vi. 熔化，溶解

17. drip [     ] v. 滴下，使滴下;（液体）滴下，漏下

18. cover [     ] n. 封面，封皮