Book 3 Seeds and Sunflowers

Seeds and Sunflowers. Written by Karen Mokler. Illustrated by Nicholas Jackson. Focus Question. Whose experience with the sunflowers was more valuable, mikes or asters? Why?

《种子和向日葵》 凯伦·莫克勒 著 尼古拉斯·杰克逊 绘 思考问题： 迈克和阿斯特，谁种向日葵的经历更有价值呢？ 为什么？

I've got another idea, Mike announced. He was sitting at the kitchen table, cracking the shells of sunflower seeds between his molars, spitting them out, then eating the seeds. Another idea for making money, asked Mr. McCarthy. Mike nodded and pulled another seed out of his bag.

“我想到一个新主意！”迈克大声说。 他坐在餐桌旁，用后牙磕开葵花籽壳，吐掉壳，吃掉籽仁。 “又一个赚钱的新点子吗？”麦卡锡先生问道。 迈克点点头，又从袋子里掏出一颗瓜子。

Since the end of second grade, Mike had been trying to pull together sufficient funds to buy a super spy kit. A retail kit was $75, but Mike's friend Derek had offered to sell his kit to Mike for $25. What a bargain! So far, Mike hadn't managed to get together even that amount, but he was not a quitter. He held up his favorite snack and narrowed his eyes speculatively. What if he grew his own giant sunflowers and harvested the seeds? He could save his allowance dollars and sell the extra seeds at the farmer's market. Then he might accrue enough to buy a super spy kit. I'll cut out the middleman, he explained to his family, because I'll be the farmer and the salesman. You'd have to sell an awful lot of seeds to clear $25, Mrs. McCarthy said.

从二年级期末开始，迈克就一直在攒钱，想买一套超级间谍装备。 全新的套装要卖75美元，而迈克的朋友德里克愿意把自己的套装以25美元卖给迈克。 这可太划算了！ 到现在迈克连这点钱还没攒够，但他可不是会轻易放弃的人。 他举着自己最爱的零食，若有所思地眯起了眼睛。 如果我自己种巨型向日葵，收瓜子卖怎么样？ 他一边攒零花钱，一边把多出来的瓜子拿到农贸市场卖。 这样就能攒够买超级间谍装备的钱了。 “我要省去中间商，”他跟家人解释，“因为我既是农夫又是卖家呀。” “你得卖好多好多瓜子才能赚够25美元哦。”麦卡锡太太说。

"'Not if I go organic,' Mike said." Organic crops didn't come cheap. Mike had learned that the hard way with his lemonade stand. If he grew organic seeds, he could charge an arm and a leg for them. Organic farmers had stuck it to him with their pricey organic sugar and lemons. Now it was his turn to stick it to the consumer. You probably need a license to sell at the farmer's market, Mr. McCarthy said. I'll look into it, Mike said. He was not the kind of guy to be intimidated by a little legal mumbo jumbo. Gardening takes patience, said his little sister, Astor. I can be patient, Mike said. After lunch, Mike carried his bag of sunflower seeds out to the backyard. Under the blazing summer sun, Mike could feel himself baking like a potato. He gravitated toward a shady patch of dirt in one corner of the yard, sat down in it, and started digging.

“我卖有机瓜子就不一样啦。”迈克说。 有机作物本来就卖得不便宜。 迈克之前摆柠檬水摊就吃过亏，对此深有体会。 如果他种有机瓜子，就能卖个好价钱。 之前有机农夫卖给他贵得离谱的有机糖和柠檬，坑了他一把。 现在轮到他赚买家的钱了。 “你去农贸市场卖东西，大概率需要执照哦。”麦卡锡先生说。 “我会去打听的。”迈克说。 他可不是那种会被一点法律繁文缛节吓住的人。 “种花需要耐心的。”他的妹妹阿斯特说。 “我可以很有耐心呀。”迈克说。 午饭后，迈克拎着瓜子袋走到了后院。 夏日烈日当头，迈克觉得自己都快被烤成烤土豆了。 他走到院子角落的一块阴凉地，坐下开始挖坑。

Soon, Astor popped her head out of her bedroom window. You don't want to plant there, she called. Why not? shouted Mike. Too shady, she called. It's too sunny in the sun, Mike shouted. Astor smiled. They're sunflowers, Mike, she said. Her head disappeared back inside. Mike sighed and relocated his garden.

很快，阿斯特从卧室窗户探出头来。 “你别种在那儿呀。”她喊道。 “为什么不能？”迈克大声问。 “太阴凉啦。”她喊道。 “太阳底下太晒啦。”迈克喊道。 阿斯特笑了。 “它们是向日葵呀，迈克。”她说。 说完她就把脑袋缩了回去。 迈克叹了口气，把菜园挪到了别的地方。

After a week of watering, Mike scratched his head. Do you think I should have removed the shells first? he asked his mom. I don't think so, Mrs. McCarthy said. Just out of curiosity, where did you get your seeds? You got them for me, Mike said, at the grocery store. Mrs. McCarthy's eyes widened. I bought them for you? When did I buy you seeds? A couple weeks ago, he said. Wait, she said. Was this a packet of gardening seeds or a bag of snacks? Mike shrugged. Both, he said. Mike, she said. Your snacks are roasted and salted. Is that what you planted? Right, Mike said. Roasted, salted, and organic.

浇了一周水后，迈克挠了挠脑袋。 “你觉得我是不是应该先把瓜子壳剥掉呀？” 他问妈妈。 “应该不用吧。”麦卡锡太太说。 “我就是好奇，你的种子是从哪儿来的？” “你帮我买的呀，”迈克说，“在杂货店买的。” 麦卡锡太太一下子睁大了眼睛。 “我给你买的？” “我什么时候给你买种子了？” “几周之前呀。”他说。 “等等，”她说。 “你种的是园艺种子包，还是零食瓜子袋呀？” 迈克耸耸肩。 “都是呀。”他说。 “迈克，”她说。 “你当零食吃的瓜子是烤过加盐的呀。” “你种的就是这种吗？” “对呀。”迈克说。 “烤过的、加盐的，还是有机的。”