Sing Softer, Maggie 輕點唱，瑪吉

張恒選譯

Maggie loved to sing. She sang when she got on the bus. All the passengers would smile. But her mather Mrs. Ellis would sigh1. She worked all night at a café. Then Maggies mother would say， “Sing softer， Maggie.”

瑪吉喜歡唱歌。她坐公共汽車時唱歌，所有的乘客都會微笑，但是她的媽媽埃利斯夫人會嘆氣，她在一家咖啡館通宵工作。然后，瑪吉的媽媽會說：“輕點唱，瑪吉?！?/p>

Maggie sang in the supermarket. All the shoppers would smile， except Ned the shop keeper. He would just roll2 his eyes. Then Maggies mother would say， “Sing softer， Maggie.” Maggie sang in the library. All the readers would smile， but not Mr. Baldwin， the librarian3. He would shush4 her. Then Maggies mother would say， “Sing softer， Maggie.”

瑪吉在超市里唱歌，除了店主內(nèi)德，所有購物者都會微笑，他只會翻白眼。然后，瑪吉的媽媽會說：“輕點唱，瑪吉?！爆敿趫D書館里唱歌，所有讀者都會微笑，但圖書館員鮑德溫先生不會，他會讓她保持安靜。然后，瑪吉的媽媽會說：“輕點唱，瑪吉。”

One day， Mother brought Maggie to the nursing home to visit Great-Grandma. They walked into a big， bright room with other great-grandmas and great-grandpas. Maggie looked for her great-grandma. When she saw her， she ran across the room and hugged5 her.

一天，母親帶瑪吉去養(yǎng)老院看望曾祖母。她們和其他人的曾祖父和曾祖父一起走進一個明亮的大房間?，敿教幷宜脑婺?。當看到她時，瑪吉跑過房間去擁抱她。

After Maggies mother hugged Great-Grandma， Maggie asked， “May I sing her a song？” Maggies mother nodded. Softly， very softly， Maggie sang a song. Great-Grandma leaned6 forward. She frowned7， shook8 her head， and tapped9 Maggie on the shoulder.

瑪吉媽媽擁抱了曾祖母后，瑪吉問：“我可以給她唱首歌嗎？”瑪吉的媽媽點點頭?，敿浅］p柔地唱了一首歌。曾祖母俯身向前，皺起眉頭搖了搖頭，輕輕拍了拍瑪吉的肩膀。

Maggie stopped singing. Great-Grandma said something， but Maggie couldnt hear her. Maggie leaned in closer， so Great-Grandma could say in her ear. Then Maggie stood tall， took a deep breath， and opened her mouth. Her song broke out. And when the song ended， everyone clapped10 and cheered11. Mother and Great-Grandma clapped the loudest. Maggie smiled and took a bow.

瑪吉停止唱歌，曾祖母說了幾句話，但她沒聽清?，敿康酶@樣曾祖母可以在她耳邊說。然后，瑪吉昂首站起身，深呼吸，一張開嘴歌聲就爆發(fā)出來了。當歌曲結(jié)束時，所有人都在鼓掌歡呼，母親和曾祖母的鼓掌聲最大?，敿⑿χ狭艘还?。

【Notes】

1. sigh v. 嘆氣;嘆著氣說

2. roll v. （眼睛）轉(zhuǎn)動

3. librarian n. 圖書館員;圖書管理員

4. shush v. （要某人安靜）噓;告訴（或示意）保持安靜

5. hug v. 擁抱;緊抱

6. lean v. 傾斜身體;傾斜;倚靠

7. frown vi. 皺眉;不同意

8. shake vt. 動搖;搖動;震動

9. tap v. 輕敲

10. clap vi. 鼓掌，拍手

11. cheer v. 歡呼，加油;安慰，鼓舞