16. The Cold and Flu Season

CHAPTER 16 THE COLD AND FLU SEASON Soon it was autumn, and the new season brought with it many changes: crisp, chilly air; early morning frost; and bright, colorful leaves. But with the beauty of autumn came another change that wasn't quite so welcome: the cold and flu season. All through Jerome Horwitz Elementary School, people were getting sick. The hallways were filled with runny noses, sneezing mouths, and aching bodies.

第十六章感冒和流感季节很快就到了秋天，新的季节带来了许多变化：清冷的空气；清晨霜；还有鲜艳多彩的树叶。 但是随着秋天的美景而来的是另一个不太受欢迎的变化：感冒和流感季节。 整个杰罗姆·霍维茨小学，人们都生病了。 走廊上到处都是流鼻涕、打喷嚏和疼痛的人。

And unfortunately, one of those noses, mouths, and bodies belonged to Melvin Sneedly. Every time Melvin sneezed, thousands of tiny driblets shot out of his mouth,

不幸的是，其中一个鼻子、嘴和身体属于梅尔文·斯尼利。 每次梅尔文打喷嚏，成千上万的小水滴都会从他嘴里喷出来，

spattering the chalkboard with a thin layer of foamy, glistening, gunky-green, tapioca-like mucus. "Don't forget to cover your mouth, Melvin, dear," said Ms. Ribble.

在黑板上溅起一层薄薄的泡沫，闪闪发光，粘稠的绿色，像木薯粉一样的粘液。 “别忘了捂住嘴，梅尔文，亲爱的。” 博尔。

"Oh, sorry," said Melvin. "Sorry." He put his hand over his mouth and sneezed again. This time, the explosion of air from his stifled sneeze blew off large, wet globs of his body, which sprayed over the entire classroom.

“哦，对不起，”梅尔文说。“对不起。” 他用手捂住嘴，又打了个喷嚏。 这一次，他憋住的喷嚏喷出的空气把他身上又大又湿的汗珠吹走了，溅到了整个教室。

It was as if somebody set off a giant firecracker inside a bucket of green paint. The warm, smelly goo smacked into people's hair, splattered onto their clothes, and seemed to drench every square inch of the room.

就好像有人在一桶绿色的油漆里放了一个巨大的爆竹。 这股温暖而又难闻的黏糊糊的东西溅到人们的头发上，溅到他们的衣服上，似乎把房间里的每一寸地方都湿透了。

"On second thought, Melvin," said Ms. Ribble, "don't cover your mouth next time. Now, who wants a cookie?"

“再想想，梅尔文。” 里布尔，下次别捂着嘴。 现在，谁想要一块饼干？”