3. Mature and Responsible

Chapter 3 Mature and Responsible Marvin woke up early, got dressed, brushed his teeth, and made his bed. He had a job to do. The key was in his pocket. He was already downstairs, eating breakfast, when his mother knocked on his bedroom door and said, "Marvin, time to get up." His father smiled at him across the kitchen table. "I'm very proud of you, Marvin," he said. "You seem to be taking your job very seriously." Marvin nodded. But he knew it was not yet time to feel proud. Wait seven days. If he didn't lose the key. If Mrs. North's house didn't burn down. If Waldo wasn't dead. Then he'd be proud. He finished eating, rinsed his dishes, and put them in the dishwasher.

马文起得很早，穿好衣服，刷牙，整理床铺。 他有工作要做。钥匙在他的口袋里。 他已经下楼吃早饭了，这时他妈妈敲了敲他卧室的门，说:“马文，该起床了。” 父亲隔着厨房的桌子对他微笑。 “我为你感到骄傲，马文，”他说。 “你似乎很认真地对待自己的工作。” 马文点点头。但他知道现在还不是骄傲的时候。 等上七天。如果他没有丢钥匙的话。 如果诺斯夫人的房子没被烧毁的话。 如果沃尔多没死。这样他就会感到骄傲。 他吃完饭，把盘子洗干净，放进洗碗机。

"Oh, here you are," said his mother, coming into the kitchen. "What would you like for breakfast?" The whole family stood by the door as Marvin left for work. Marvin had one brother and one sister. Jacob was eleven. Linzy was four. "Twenty-five bucks! All right, Mar!" said Jacob. Marvin slapped his big brother's hand. It was odd. Marvin had always looked up to Jacob. He wanted to be just like him.

“哦，给你，”他妈妈走进厨房说。 “你早餐想吃什么?”马文去上班时，全家人都站在门边。 马文有一个哥哥和一个妹妹。 雅各布十一岁。林兹四岁。 “25美元!好吧，妈妈!”雅各布说。 马文打了他哥哥的手。 这很奇怪。马文一直很尊敬雅各布。 他想成为他那样的人。

But Jacob never had a job. "I'm going to miss you, Marvin," said Linzy. "I'm not moving away," Marvin told her. "I'll be home

但是雅各布从来没有工作。 “我会想你的，马文，”林兹说。 “我不会搬走的，”马文告诉她。 “我会回家的

after school, just like every other day." "I'll still miss you," said Linzy. "I miss you every day." "I'll miss you too," said Marvin. He walked out the door. There was a fence around the Redpost house. The fence was all white except for one red post. Marvin tapped the family post—for luck—then rode his bike to Mrs. North's. He could hear Waldo whining—or singing—as he took the key out of his pocket. "Hi, Waldo," he said through the door. He unlocked the door, then carefully opened it so the dog couldn't run out. Waldo was sitting on the other side of the door. His big tail swept back and forth. "How ya doin', Whisker-face?" said Marvin. He petted the old dog. Waldo didn't want Marvin to stop petting him. Every time Marvin stopped, Waldo whined and nuzzled Marvin for more. jmkfho. "Oh, Waldo," said Marvin. He rubbed Waldo's head

放学后，就像隔天一样。” “我还是会想你的，”琳姿说。 “我每天都在想你。”“我也会想你的。”马文说。 他走出了门。红柱家的房子周围有一道篱笆。 除了一根红柱子外，篱笆全是白色的。 马文轻敲家里的邮杆以求好运，然后骑着自行车去了诺斯夫人家。 当他从口袋里掏出钥匙时，他能听到沃尔多在抱怨——或者唱歌。 “嗨，沃尔多，”他隔着门说。 他打开门，然后小心翼翼地打开，这样狗就跑不出去了。 沃尔多坐在门的另一边。 它的大尾巴前后摆动。 “你好吗，胡子脸?”马文问。 他抚摸着那只老狗。沃尔多不想让马文停止抚摸他。 每次马文停下来，沃尔多就呜咽着，用鼻子蹭马文，想要更多。 “哦，沃尔多，”马文说。他揉了揉沃尔多的头

and scratched him behind the ears. "You want to go for a walk?" He got Waldo's leash and the pooper-scooper. They walked around the block. It was only a little gross using the pooper-scooper. Marvin didn't let it bother him. It was his job. He was mature and responsible. When they got back, he checked Waldo's bowls. Waldo still had plenty of food and water. Before leaving, Marvin made sure the key was in his pocket. Waldo whined. Marvin petted him. "I've got to go now, Waldo," he said. Waldo nuzzled him. Marvin petted him some more. "I'll be back right after school," he promised. Waldo lifted his big paw and put it on Marvin's arm. "Okay, just a little longer," said Marvin. Waldo rolled over and Marvin rubbed his tummy.

搔搔他的耳后。 “你想去散步吗?”他拿到了沃尔多的皮带和铲屎器。 他们绕着街区走。 用粪铲只是有点恶心。 马文没有为此烦恼。 这是他的工作。他成熟而负责。 他们回来后，他检查了沃尔多的碗。 沃尔多仍然有充足的食物和水。 离开之前，马文确认钥匙在口袋里。 Waldo嘟哝道。马文抚摸着他。 “沃尔多，我得走了，”他说。 沃尔多用鼻子蹭他。马文又摸了摸他。 “我一放学就回来，”他保证说。 沃尔多抬起他的大爪子，放在马文的胳膊上。 “好吧，再等一会儿。”马文说。 沃尔多翻了个身，马文揉了揉肚子。