Morty and the Walkathon

Morty and the Walkathon, written by Kathy Hogan, illustrated by David Opie. Focus question, what does Morty learn about teamwork?

《莫蒂和步行马拉松》，作者凯西·霍根，插画大卫·奥皮。 思考问题：莫蒂从团队合作中学到了什么？

A win is twice as great when it's shared, Principal Mouster announced at the morning assembly. The Mousetown Elementary Walkathon is only two weeks away. Are you ready? As the school erupted in applause, Morty turned to wink at Ben and Fred. He had been the Walkathon champion in first and second grades and planned to be the champion in third grade, too. Mousetown students had spent the last month asking their neighbors and family members to pledge money for the walkathon. For every lap they walked around the soccer field, the mice raised money to fund an exciting field trip. On the big day, everyone would receive a walkathon t -shirt and the mouse who walked the most would get a trophy.

分享胜利，快乐会加倍，穆斯特校长在早会上宣布。 老鼠镇小学的步行马拉松只剩两周就要开始了。 你们准备好了吗？ 全校响起掌声时，莫蒂转头对本和弗雷德眨了眨眼。 他一年级、二年级都是步行马拉松冠军，三年级也打算拿下冠军。 过去一个月，老鼠镇的学生都在邀请邻居和家人为步行马拉松认捐。 每绕足球场走一圈，就能为一场精彩的校外旅行筹得善款。 活动当天，每个人都能领到步行马拉松T恤，走圈最多的老鼠会赢得一座奖杯。

Our theme this year is working together, Principal Mauster said. All students will be matched up to walk in teams of two. The kindergartners will be partnered with fifth graders. The second graders will buddy with the third graders, and the first graders with the fourth graders. Your teacher will give you your partner's name this morning. Morty groaned. Drag a second -grader around? he complained. No thanks. Fred snickered. With your luck, you'll get the fastest second -grader who ever lived, he said.

今年我们的主题是合作，穆斯特校长说。 所有学生会两两配对，组队步行。 幼儿园小朋友会和五年级学生搭档。 二年级和三年级结对，一年级和四年级结对。 今天早上老师会把你搭档的名字告诉你。 莫蒂嘟囔起来。 还要拖着一个二年级小朋友走？ 他抱怨道。 不用了，谢谢。 弗雷德偷偷笑了。 他说：凭你的运气，说不定会碰到有史以来跑得最快的二年级小朋友呢。

That morning in class, Miss Snickerwhisker handed out the assignments. Morty opened the folded piece of paper. Working Together Walkathon Team. Morty Grade 3. Raffi Grade 2. I wonder if this Raffi kid is any good, he thought, as he studied the paper. Morty couldn't concentrate on his work after that. He stared at the clock, waiting for recess. He wanted to find Raffy so they could start practicing. The faster they walked, the more laps they'd do. No second grader could be as fast as I am, Morty thought. But with me as his coach, Raffy will be able to keep up in no time.

那天早上上课，斯尼克惠斯克老师分发了搭档任务。 莫蒂打开折好的纸条。 合作步行马拉松小队。 三年级 莫蒂 二年级 拉菲 他盯着纸条心想：这个叫拉菲的孩子不知道行不行啊。 从那之后，莫蒂根本没法专心听课。 他盯着时钟，等着下课休息。 他想快点找到拉菲，一起开始练习。 走得越快，就能完成越多圈。 莫蒂心想：没有哪个二年级小朋友能比我更快。 不过有我当教练，拉菲很快就能跟上了。

When the recess bell rang, Morty ran to the playground and found a group of second graders near the water fountain. Do any of you know Raffy? he asked. A cheerful voice piped up in the crowd. That's me, the voice said. Morty turned to face a small mouse in a wheelchair. Are you Morty, my walkathon buddy? the mouse asked. Uh, yes, Morty admitted. A second grader in a wheelchair was not what he expected. How could he win the Walkathon if he was pushing Raffy?

下课铃一响，莫蒂就跑向操场，在饮水机旁找到了一群二年级学生。 你们谁认识拉菲吗？ 他问道。 人群里传出一个欢快的声音。 那个声音说：我就是。 莫蒂转过身，看到一只坐轮椅的小老鼠。 你是我的步行马拉松搭档莫蒂吗？ 这只老鼠问。 莫蒂承认：呃，是我。 一个坐轮椅的二年级学生，完全出乎他的预料。 要是得推着拉菲走，他怎么能赢下步行马拉松呢？

"'Great!' Raffy exclaimed. "'I heard you were the champion last year. What do you say to a couple of practice laps?' he asked. Before Morty could reply, Raffy began wheeling toward the soccer field. Morty scrambled after him. As it turned out, Raffy had mega -mouse -sized muscles in his tiny upper arms. Morty wouldn't be pushing a wheelchair after all. In fact, he was struggling to keep up with Raffy's pace.

‘太棒了！’拉菲喊道。 ‘我听说你去年就是冠军。 我们一起练个两三圈怎么样？’ 他问道。 莫蒂还没回答，拉菲就转动轮椅朝足球场去了。 莫蒂连忙跟了上去。 原来拉菲细小的上臂有着超强的老鼠肌肉。 莫蒂根本不用推轮椅。 实际上，他都快跟不上拉菲的速度了。