红头母鸡

高齐云

here was once a redhead hen who lived with her chicks on a farm. In late summer， she saw that the corn was ripe1， ready to harvest and to become a good food and had an idea， “What if I make a delicious corn cake？！Everyone will like it！”

从前，一只红头发母鸡和她的小鸡一起住在农场里。夏末的时候，她看到玉米已经成熟，准备收割作为一种很好的食物，她想出了一个主意：“如果我做一个美味的玉米蛋糕会怎么样呢？！大家都会喜欢的！”

It was hard work. She needed enough corn for the cake.

这是个辛苦活，她需要足够的玉米来做蛋糕。

Who could help harvest the corn cob2 in the foot？ Who could help thresh3 all the corn？ Who could help grind4 corn to make corn flour for the cake？

谁能帮忙把玉米棒子掰下来？谁能帮忙给那些玉米脱粒？谁能帮忙把玉米磨成做蛋糕用的玉米粉呢？

Now on the farm there lived other animals： dog， cat and pig. She came to them.

现在农场里还生活着其他动物：狗、猫和猪。她来找他们。

“Who can help me harvest the corn to make a delicious cake？”

“谁能帮我收玉米做美味的蛋糕？”

“I cannot！” said the cat， angrily. “You woke me up for this？”

“我帮不了！”猫生气地说：“你就为了这事把我吵醒？”

“I cannot！” said the dog. “I like ready dish.”

“我帮不了！”狗说。“我喜欢现成的菜。”

“I cannot！” said the pig. “I do not like to mess5 me.”

“我帮不了！”猪说。“我不喜欢把自己搞得脏兮兮的。”

So the redhead hen was preparing it alone： Harvested the corn， threshed the corn， ground corn flour， prepared the cake and put it in the oven.

所以红头母鸡就只能独自一人开始做准备：收割玉米、脱粒、磨粉，做成蛋糕，然后放进炉子里。

When the cake was ready…

当蛋糕做好的时候……

“That smell is wonderful！” said the pig. “It comes from the hen house. I also want to eat！”

“这个味道太香了！”猪说。“是从鸡舍那边过来的。我也想吃！”

It made everyones mouth water and they were all running over.

所有人都垂涎欲滴地跑了过来。

“I want to eat！I want to eat！I want to eat！” said the three at the same time.

“我想吃！我想吃！我想吃！”三个家伙异口同声道。

Then the redhead hen asked， “Who was it that helped me to harvest the corn and flour to make the cake？”

红头发母鸡就问道：“有谁帮我收过玉米、磨过粉、做过蛋糕？”

All were silent. （No one had helped.）

所有人都沉默了。（沒人帮过忙。）

“So who will eat the delicious corn cake are me and my chicks only. You can continue to rest.”

“所以能吃美味的玉米蛋糕的人，只有我和我的小鸡。你们继续休息吧。”

And so it was： The hen and her chicks enjoyed the dinner and none of the lazy invited.

因此事情就是这样的：母鸡和她的小鸡享用了这次大餐，懒惰的家伙没有一个受到邀请。

Notes

1. ripe  adj. 熟的，成熟的

2. cob  n. 雄天鹅;玉米穗轴

3. thresh  v. （给谷物）脱粒;打谷

4. grind  vt. 磨碎

5. mess  vt. 弄乱，弄脏;毁坏