Arthur's Funny Money

Arthur's Funny Money by Lillian Hoban

《亚瑟的趣味赚钱故事》 作者：莉莲·霍本

It was Saturday morning. Violet was counting numbers on her fingers. Arthur was counting the money in his piggy bank. He counted three dollars and seventy -eight cents. Arthur said, Violet, do you know numbers? Yes, I do, said Arthur. I am working with numbers right now.

星期六的早上，维奥莉特正掰着手指头数数。 亚瑟正在数存钱罐里的钱，数出来一共有三美元七十八美分。 亚瑟问：“维奥莉特，你会算数吗？” “我当然会啦，”亚瑟说，“我现在正跟数字打交道呢。”

"'If I have five peas and you take three and give me back two, how many peas will I have?' "'All of them,' said Arthur. "'I don't like peas, so I wouldn't take any.'

“‘要是我有五颗豌豆，你拿走三颗再还给我两颗，我还剩几颗豌豆呀？’ “‘全都在呀，’亚瑟说。 “‘我不爱吃豌豆，所以一颗都不会拿的。’

I know you don't like peas said Violet, but I am trying to do a number problem. Will you help me? I have my own number problem said Arthur. He turned his piggy bank upside down and shook it, but no more money came out. I don't have five dollars to buy a t -shirt and matching cap said Arthur. Everyone on our frisbee team has to buy them. They have far out frisbees printed on them in blue and they light up in the dark.

“我知道你不爱吃豌豆，”维奥莉特说，“可我现在是在做算术题呀。” 你能不能帮帮我呀？ “我自己也有算术题要算呢。”亚瑟说。 他把存钱罐倒过来晃了又晃，再也没有钱掉出来了。 “我凑不够五美元买T恤和配套的帽子。”亚瑟说。 我们飞盘队的每个人都得买这两样东西。 衣服和帽子上印着超酷的蓝色飞盘图案，到了晚上还会发光呢。

Wilma's big sister is running errands to make money said Violet. She wants to buy a new catcher's mitt. I don't like running errands said Arthur. You could wash cars said Violet. The junior high kids always wash cars to raise money. That's what they are doing this afternoon. Well, if they are washing cars then I can't said Arthur. There would be too many of us in the car wash business.

“威尔玛的姐姐靠帮人跑腿赚钱，”维奥莉特说，“她想买个新的捕手手套。” “我可不喜欢跑腿。”亚瑟说。 “你可以洗车赚钱呀。”维奥莉特说。 初中的大孩子们总靠洗车筹钱，他们今天下午就打算去洗车呢。 “哦，要是他们都去洗车的话我就不能干这个了。”亚瑟说。 不然洗车这行的人也太多啦。

I know," said Violet. You could wash bikes. Lots of kids would pay to have their bikes washed. Great," said Arthur. I could get the rust off the wheels, and I could shine up the frames. I could make lots of money. That's no fair," said Violet. I told you about the bike wash, but you never told me about the peas. I will," said Arthur. But first, help me set up business.

“我有办法啦，”维奥莉特说。 你可以洗自行车呀。 好多小朋友都愿意花钱找人洗自己的自行车呢。 “太棒啦！”亚瑟说。 我可以把轮子上的锈擦掉，再把车架擦得亮闪闪的。 我肯定能赚好多钱。 “这不公平呀，”维奥莉特说。 我给你出了洗自行车的主意，可你还没告诉我豌豆那道题的答案呢。 “我会告诉你的，”亚瑟说。 不过你得先帮我把生意张罗起来呀。