12 CLOWNING AROUND

CHAPTER 12 CLOWNING AROUND I've got terrible news," said Alexander's dad. "I can't get this bouncy castle all the way aired up." He pointed to a poster on a nearby tree. "But here's something even better: Pin the Tail on the Donkey!" He held up a cardboard tail attached to a long, sharp pin. "That looks dangerous!" said the clown, taking a step back. Alexander's dad removed his tie. "Nope!" he said. "Here. Blindfold me I'll show you!" The nervous clown tied the blindfold. Then Alexander's dad spun around three times. He smiled and began marching in a straight line away from the donkey.

“我有一个可怕的消息，”亚历山大的爸爸说。 “我没法让这个充气城堡一直充气。” 他指着附近一棵树上的海报。 “不过还有更好的办法：把尾巴钉在驴身上！”他举起一条硬纸板尾巴，上面系着一根又长又尖的别针。 “那看起来很危险！”小丑说着向后退了一步。 亚历山大的爸爸摘下了领带。 “不！”他说。“在这里。蒙上我的眼睛，我让你看看！”紧张的小丑系上眼罩。 然后亚历山大的爸爸转了三圈。 他笑了笑，开始沿着一条直线离开驴。

"Dad—" Alexander said. "I can do this!" his dad said. "Watch the master." Alexander, Rip, and the clown all watched Alexander's dad walk across the backyard and around the corner of the garage. The clown tugged nervously on his suspenders. "Maybe we should practice more balloon animals until your dad comes back." Rip elbowed Alexander in the ribs. "Tell him, Salamander." "Um, Mr. Clown," said Alexander, "you know those balloons in my front yard?" "Yes?" he said. "I know this sounds crazy," Alexander said, "but Rip and I" he leaned in— "we think they're alive. They're monsters!"

“爸爸——”亚历山大说。“我能做到！”他爸爸说。 “看着主人。”亚历山大、瑞普和小丑都看着亚历山大的爸爸穿过后院，绕过车库的拐角处。 小丑紧张地拉着他的背带。 “也许在你爸爸回来之前，我们应该多练习一些气球动物。” 里普肘击亚历山大的肋骨。 “告诉他，火蜥蜴。”“嗯，小丑先生，”亚历山大说，“你知道我家前院的那些气球吗？”“什么事？”他说。 “我知道这听起来很疯狂，”亚历山大说，“但是里普和我，”他凑过去，“我们认为他们还活着。 他们是怪物!”

"I believe you, Alexander. I'm the one who wrote on your napkin." "Huh?" said Alexander. "Wait, you were at the cafeteria?" The clown looked straight at the boys. "And even if I didn't believe you before," he whispered, "Ummm... Turn. Around. Slowly." Alexander and Rip turned. A white balloon goon was dragging itself along the ground. It was floppier than the others. The clown's makeup turned two shades paler. "Their secret is in these woods, behind your house." The clown was backing away. "They'll do anything to protect it. RUN FOR YOURLIVES!" Alexander watched as the clown jumped out of his shoes and ran, faster than any clown has ever run from a balloon.

“我相信你，亚历山大。 是我在你的餐巾纸上写字的。” “嗯？”亚历山大说。“等等，你在自助餐厅？”小丑直视着男孩们。 “即使我之前不相信你，”他低声说，“嗯…… 转弯。周围。慢慢地。”亚历山大和瑞普转过身来。 一个白色的气球在地面上拖着。 它比其他的都要松软。 小丑的妆白了两层。 “他们的秘密就在你房子后面的树林里。” 小丑正往后退。 “他们会做任何事情来保护它。 快逃命吧！”亚历山大看着小丑从鞋子里跳出来，跑得比任何小丑从气球上跑得都快。