2 Invention Intention

CHAPTER 2 INVENTION INTENTION What will I invent? When I get home, I put on my thinking cap. The wheel's been done. It's been around for years. And someone's had the bright idea to make the lightbulb. It's not fair. All the good inventions have been invented already.

第二章发明意图我要发明什么？ 当我回到家，我戴上我的思考帽。 轮子已经做好了。它已经存在很多年了。 有人想出了制造灯泡的好主意。 这不公平。所有好的发明都已经被发明出来了。

Eric calls while I'm trying to fig- ure it all out. He says he's going to make a Frankenstein monster. He wants to know whether I want to collect body parts with him. I ask him where he's going to get them. He says that he's going to a body shop or a parts department. I tell him that I've got problems of my own, but I hope someone gives him a leg up, lends him a hand, or helps him get ahead!

埃里克打电话来的时候我正在想办法弄清楚。 他说他要做一个弗兰肯斯坦怪物。 他想知道我是否想和他一起收集身体部位。 我问他到哪里去买。 他说他要去修车店或者零件店。 我告诉他我自己也有问题，但我希望有人能帮他一把，帮他一把，或者帮助他取得成功！

When I hang up, I'm still scratching my head. Then Derek calls. He says that he's going to make himself invisible. "Outta sight!" I say. "Yeah, I'll be able to get into the movies for free, steal lots of bases in Little League, and hang out in the teachers' lounge." I tell him that I'll see him later. Is SOMEBODY OUT THERE?

当我挂电话的时候，我还在挠头。 然后德里克打来电话。他说他要让自己隐形。 “好吃!”我说。“是的，我可以免费看电影，在少年棒球联盟中偷很多垒，还可以在教师休息室里闲逛。” 我告诉他我晚些时候见他。 有人在那里吗？

HAVE YOU SEEN DEREK TODAY, MR. CORNWELL? NO, MRS. ADAMS, HAVE YOU?

你今天看到德里克了吗？ 康威尔?没有，亚当斯太太，是吗？

I still don't have a clue what to do. Soon Doris calls and announces that she's going to win first prize with her invention. She tells me there have been oodles of great women scientists. "Name one," I say. "Madame Curious," she answers. "What did she do?" I ask. "She discovered radiators," Doris replies. Then I ask Doris what her project is, and she asks me if I have security clearance. "I don't think so," I say. So she hangs up.

我还是不知道该怎么做。 不久，多丽丝打电话来，宣布她的发明将赢得一等奖。 她告诉我有很多伟大的女科学家。 “举一个例子，”我说。“好奇夫人，”她回答。 “她做了什么？”我问。“她发现了暖气片，”多丽丝回答。 然后我问多丽丝她的项目是什么，她问我是否有安全许可。 “我不这么认为，”我说。 于是她挂断了电话。