The Big Mistake大错

Jeremy likes to help his family with thehousework. He spends time playing with his babysister while Mom cooks dinner. After dinner， he driesthe dishes for Dad. But Jeremy’s favorite job isfeeding Fletch. Fletch is the family cat.

杰里米喜欢帮助家人做家务。当妈妈做晚餐时，他会同他的小妹妹玩耍。晚饭后，他会帮爸爸擦干盘子。但杰里米最喜欢做的事是给弗莱彻喂食。弗莱彻是一只家猫。

One night after dinner， Mom asked Jeremy to findhis sister’s doll2. “I think she dropped it in the backyard this afternoon. She won’t be able to sleep withoutit. Can you take a look before it gets dark？”she said.Jeremy opened the kitchen door and ran outside. Thebright red doll was easy to find in the grass. Jeremytook it and ran inside.

一天晚饭后，妈妈让杰里米去寻找妹妹的洋娃娃，她说：“我想她今天下午把它掉在后院了。没有它她会睡不着的。你能在天黑前去找一下吗？”杰里米打开厨房门跑了出去。亮红色的洋娃娃在草丛中很容易找到。杰里米拿着它跑回屋里。

Later that night， Jeremy was ready for bed. Healways said goodnight to Fletch before turning out thelight， but the cat wasn’t in his room. Jeremy looked in the bathroom and hallway.Then he went downstairs3. Jeremy looked in the living room and dining room， butFletch was not there. When he got to the kitchen， Jeremy began to cry.

当天晚上晚些时候，杰里米准备睡觉了。他总是在熄灯前对弗莱彻说晚安，但小猫不在他的房间里。杰里米看了看浴室和走廊，然后下了楼。杰里米查看了客厅和餐厅，但弗莱彻不在那里。当杰里米来到厨房时，他哭了起来。

Mom looked up from her tea.“Jeremy， you should be in bed！ What’s wrong？”

妈妈放下茶抬起头来。“杰里米，你应该睡觉了！出什么事了吗？”

Jeremy cried and answered，“The back door is open！ And I can’t find Fletch anywhere！ ”

杰里米哭着回答道：“后门开着！而且我到处都找不到弗莱彻！”

“I think you’re right to be worried，”Mom said slowly. “Fletch may slipped4 out the door.”

“我想你这么担心是有道理的。”妈妈慢慢地说，“弗莱彻可能溜出了门。”

Jeremy said， “Fletch ran away and it’s all my fault5！ I left the door open！ ”Mom hugged6 Jeremy. She sat next to Jeremy until he stopped crying. “Cats arevery smart，”she said.“Fletch may come home for breakfast.”

杰里米说：“弗莱彻跑了，都是我的错！是我没关门！”妈妈给了杰里米一个拥抱。她坐到杰里米身边，直到他停止哭泣。“猫非常聪明。”她说，“弗莱彻可能会回家吃早餐。”

The next day morning， Jeremy ran downstairs and went straight to the backdoor. He opened it wide， and there was Fletch， licking7 his paw8 to wash his face.Fletch looked at Jeremy and meowed. Then he slipped inside the door and walkedstraight to his food bowl.

第二天早上，杰里米跑下楼，直奔后门。他敞开门一看，弗莱彻正在那儿舔爪子洗脸。弗莱彻看着杰里米，喵了一声。然后它溜进门，径直走向它的饭碗。

Jeremy was so glad that Fletch was safe. “Next time I’ll make sure I close thedoor nice and tight9，”Jeremy promised10.“Meow，”said Fletch.

杰里米非常高兴弗莱彻平安无事。杰里米承诺道：“下次我一定把门关好。”“喵。”弗莱彻回应道。

（英语原文选自：readingvine.com）

▏Notes

1. mistake 错误；过失

2. doll 洋娃娃；玩偶

3. downstairs 顺楼梯而下；往楼下

4. slip 溜走；悄悄地走

5. fault 责任；过错

6. hug 拥抱

7. lick 舔；舔吃

8. paw 动物的爪子

9. tight 紧紧地；牢固地

10. promise 承诺；保证