Flying Kites

Flying Kites. Illustrated by David Cockcroft.

《放风筝》。大卫·科克罗夫特 绘。

The hoppers pressed their noses against the window. They watched the March wind blow outside. Remember, do not leave the house while we are gone, said Mother Hopper. She and Papa Hopper were going shopping. Snubby Nose cried, Can we sit on the doorstep? Do not set one paw outside, Mother Hopper said. She and Papa Hopper left for town.

小跳鼠们把鼻子贴在窗户上， 看着外面三月的风呼呼吹过。 “记住，我们出门的时候绝对不能离开家哦。”跳鼠妈妈说道。 她和跳鼠爸爸要去采购东西。 塌鼻子大叫：“我们可以坐在门阶上吗？” “连一只爪子都不准伸到门外去。”跳鼠妈妈说。 之后她就和跳鼠爸爸出发去镇上了。

The hoppers swept the floor, made their beds, and made lunch. All the while, Snubby -Nose said, I want to fly my kite. Let's fly our kites.

小跳鼠们扫了地，整理好床铺，还做好了午饭。 这期间，塌鼻子一直念叨着： 我好想放我的风筝呀。 我们去放风筝吧。

After lunch, the hoppers took out their kites just to look at them. They sat by the window. The March wind blew around the house. Let's just fly our kites in the yard, said Snubby Nose. Mother said we must not leave the house, said Fluffy Tail.

午饭过后，小跳鼠们把风筝拿出来，就只是看一看。 他们坐在窗边，三月的风绕着房子呼呼地吹。 “我们就在院子里放风筝好不好？”塌鼻子说。 “妈妈说过我们绝对不能出门的。”毛茸茸尾巴说道。

The March wind blew some leaves against the window. Snubby Nose couldn't stand it anymore. He stepped outside with his kite, and the other hoppers followed. Fluffy Tail was the last one out. They ran around the house with their kites, but soon they got tired of their yard. We can go down the path, said Snubby Nose.

三月的风把几片叶子吹得撞在了窗户上。 塌鼻子再也忍不住了。 他拿着风筝踏出了房门， 其他小跳鼠也跟着走了出去。 毛茸茸尾巴是最后一个出门的。 他们拽着风筝围着房子跑呀跑， 可没过多久，他们就觉得院子里玩着没意思了。 “我们可以沿着小路往前去呀。”塌鼻子提议道。

The hoppers flew their kites down the path into the woods. Floppy ears cried, oh no, I let go of my string. Her kite sailed away. Then Speedy Legs cried, a branch tore my kite. We should have listened to Mother, said Fluffy Tail. Just then, Snubby Nose howled, my kite is caught in a tree.

小跳鼠们沿着小路放风筝，一路走进了树林里。 软耳朵大叫：“哎呀糟了，我松开风筝线了！” 她的风筝飘走了。 这时候飞毛腿也哭了：“树枝把我的风筝刮破了！” “我们要是听妈妈的话就好了。”毛茸茸尾巴说道。 就在这时，塌鼻子嚎了起来：“我的风筝卡在树上了！”