Morty and the Oatmeal Babysitter

Morty and the Oatmeal Babysitter, written by Kathy Hogan. Illustrated by Joel Snyder.

《莫蒂和燕麦保姆》，作者：凯西·霍根 插画：乔尔·斯奈德

Morty is a very mischievous mouse who always does very mischievous things. Morty's day started off badly at breakfast. Morty poured cheesy -o's into his bowl. All three cheesy -o's, that is. Someone had eaten the rest and left the empty box in the pantry. He may have done it. He wasn't sure. Now his options for breakfast were bleak.

莫蒂是一只特别调皮的小老鼠，总爱干调皮捣蛋的事儿。 莫蒂这一天从早餐开始就糟透了。 莫蒂往自己碗里倒了奇多脆麦片。 哦，一共就倒出来三颗奇多脆而已。 不知道谁吃光了剩下的，还把空盒子留在食品柜里。 搞不好就是他自己干的。 他也记不清楚了。 这下他能吃的早餐可少得可怜了。

Mother placed a bowl of hot oatmeal in front of Morty. He didn't look up. He was staring at where in the attic is Marvin Mouse, on the back of the Cheesy -O's box, trying to decode the clues. When Morty finally stuck his spoon into the bowl, the oatmeal was cold and thick. He didn't dare eat it. It could get stuck in his throat. I'll skip breakfast, he thought. Besides, his favorite television show was about to start.

鼠妈妈把一碗热燕麦放在了莫蒂面前。 莫蒂头都没抬。 他正盯着奇多脆盒子背面，解“老鼠马文藏在阁楼哪儿”的谜题呢。 等莫蒂终于把勺子插进碗里，燕麦早就凉透结块了。 他可不敢吃。 万一卡在喉咙里可就糟了。 我不吃早餐了，他心想。 再说，他最喜欢的电视节目马上就要开始了。

Mordy, I have a special favor to ask you," Mother said, turning down Megamouse at the most exciting part. I need to go help Aunt Edna for a bit. Would you please mouse -sit your brothers and sisters?" Uh -huh, Morty answered without taking his eyes from the TV.

"莫蒂，妈妈有件事要拜托你哦，"鼠妈妈说着，把《超级老鼠》最精彩的部分调低了音量。 我要去帮埃德娜阿姨一点忙。 能不能帮我照看一下你的弟弟妹妹呀？" 嗯哼，莫蒂眼睛都没离开电视，随口答应道。

I don't want you to have any friends in the house. Don't let your brothers or sisters leave the yard either. I should be home in just a few hours." Mother paused and added, "'If all goes well while I'm gone, I'll take you, Ben, and Fred to the circus tomorrow.'" At this Morty looked up. Really? The circus? That sounds great. What could be better than going to the circus with his two best friends? Morty could already smell the cheese popcorn and feel the excitement of the big tents, arcade games, and daring tricks. Mother planted a kiss on Morty's ear and made one final request. Please be good. After she left, Morty cranked up the volume on Megamouse. His six brothers and sisters were outside playing. Maybe I'll just stay on the sofa and watch TV until Mom gets home, he thought. But it sure would be great if there were some cheesy o's to munch on. A little while later, Morty heard the doorbell ringing. He scampered to the door. When he opened it, Ben and Fred began squeaking at once.

我不在家的时候，不许带朋友进房子哦。 也别让你的弟弟妹妹跑出院子。 我应该几个小时就回来了。" 鼠妈妈顿了顿，补充道："要是我走之后一切顺利，我明天就带你、本和弗雷德去马戏团。" 听到这话，莫蒂终于抬起了头。 真的吗？ 去马戏团？ 这也太棒了吧。 还有什么比和两个好兄弟一起去马戏团更开心的事儿呢？ 莫蒂都已经闻到芝士爆米花的香味，感受到大帐篷、游戏机和惊险特技的刺激了。 鼠妈妈亲了亲莫蒂的耳朵，又说了最后一个要求。 一定要乖乖听话哦。 妈妈走后，莫蒂把《超级老鼠》的音量开得大大的。 他的六个弟弟妹妹正在外面玩耍。 我就在沙发上看电视等妈妈回来好了，他心想。 不过要是能有几块奇多脆啃啃就更完美了。 过了一会儿，莫蒂听到门铃响了。 他蹦蹦跳跳跑到门口。 开门之后，本和弗雷德立刻叽叽喳喳说个不停。

The circus, it's here, Ben said. You have to come now. They're setting up. We can sneak under the back fence to see everything. Yeah, everything. Elephants, tigers, the sword swallower, and the fire breathing mouse, Fred added. Come on, right now. We can see the stuff that most mice never get to see, Ben said. Morty thought, I'll go for only a few minutes. But who can watch the mice if I go? I'd have to be home before Mom comes back." Then Morty had a very mischievous idea.

马戏团来了，就在这儿，本说。 你现在就得跟我们走。 他们正在搭帐篷呢。 我们可以从后门围栏底下溜进去，所有东西都能看。 对呀，所有东西都能看。 有大象、老虎、吞剑人，还有会喷火的老鼠呢，弗雷德补充道。 快走吧，就现在。 我们能看到大多数老鼠一辈子都见不到的东西哦，本说。 莫蒂想，我就去几分钟好了。 可是我走了谁来看弟弟妹妹呢？ 我得赶在妈妈回来之前到家。" 紧接着莫蒂就想出了一个非常调皮的点子。