The Best Worst Thanksgiving

The Best Worst Thanksgiving. Written by Betty Yee. Illustrated by Lisa Betta. Focus Question. What is the turning point for Zara in this story? Why?

《最糟糕也最棒的感恩节》 贝蒂·于 撰文 莉萨·贝塔 绘图 思考问题 故事里扎拉的转折点是什么？ 为什么？

It was Thanksgiving morning. This year, the Lee family was traveling from their home in Virginia to Grandma and Grandpa Lee's house in Florida. Nine -year -old Zara Lee had been excited about the trip. Then she found out that their beloved dog, Tucker, had to stay at a kennel. Her family was almost at the airport when Zara spotted Tucker's dog toy on the floor of the taxi. They must have forgotten it when they dropped him off. It had been an emotional goodbye. Dad basically had to tear Zara away from Tucker. Now Zara found herself blinking back tears as she picked up the ragged dog toy and cradled it in her lap. Tucker was her best friend in the entire world, and she missed him already.

这是感恩节的早晨。 今年，李家一家人要从弗吉尼亚的家出发，去佛罗里达的爷爷奶奶家。 九岁的 扎拉·李本来对这次出行满心期待。 后来她才知道，他们心爱的小狗塔克，只能留在宠物寄养中心。 一家人快到机场的时候，扎拉在出租车的地板上看到了塔克的玩具。 肯定是送塔克的时候落下的。 刚才的告别就已经够让人难受了。 爸爸几乎是硬把扎拉从塔克身边拉开的。 现在扎拉拿起这个磨旧的玩具，把它抱在腿上，强忍着不让眼泪掉下来。 塔克是全世界她最好的朋友，她已经开始想他了。

In the car seat next to her, Zara's little sister, Piper, kicked her feet and sang the alphabet song. Suddenly, Piper reached over and snatched the dog toy off Zara's lap. Quit it, Piper, Zara cried. She tried to yank it back, but Piper held on tight. All of a sudden, a horrible ripping sound filled the taxi. Then clouds of white stuffing flew in the air. Zara stared at the destroyed dog toy in her hands. You're such a baby, she screamed, causing Piper to burst into tears. Zara, mom sighed, Piper didn't ruin Tucker's toy on purpose. She's only three years old, and you're the big sister, so be nice.

在她旁边的安全座椅上，扎拉的小妹妹派珀晃着小脚，哼着字母歌。 突然，派珀伸出手，一把把玩具从扎拉腿上抢走了。 “别闹，派珀！”扎拉喊道。 她想把玩具抢回来，可派珀抓得紧紧的。 突然，出租车里响起一声吓人的撕裂声。 紧接着一团团白色的棉絮飞得到处都是。 扎拉盯着手里被扯坏的玩具，愣住了。 “你真讨厌！”她尖叫道，吓得派珀哇的一声哭了出来。 “扎拉，”妈妈叹了口气，“派珀不是故意弄坏塔克的玩具的。” 她才三岁，你是姐姐，要乖一点呀。

Zara bit her lip and stared out the window. She was always getting into trouble for not being nice enough to Piper, no matter what happened. Her parents didn't get that Piper was wrong some of the time. Sometimes, Zara pretended that she didn't have a sister at all. No little sister to mess up her room, no little sister wrecking her stuff, no little sister to look after. Zara closed her eyes and imagined snuggling Tucker's warm, soft fur against her cheek. The next thing she knew, Mom was shaking her. Wake up, we're here, Mom repeated over and over. Zara thought Mom's voice sounded a million light years away.

扎拉咬着嘴唇，盯着窗外。 不管发生什么，她总是因为对派珀不够好挨说。 爸爸妈妈根本不明白，有时候错的是派珀。 有时候，扎拉都假装自己根本没有妹妹。 没有小妹妹乱翻她的房间，没有小妹妹弄坏她的东西，也不用她照顾小妹妹。 扎拉闭上眼睛，想象着自己把脸贴在塔克温暖柔软的毛上蹭着。 等她反应过来，是妈妈在摇她。 “醒醒，我们到了。”妈妈一遍一遍地喊她。 扎拉觉得妈妈的声音听起来远得像在一百万光年之外。

Inside the airport, the Lee family joined the busy crush of holiday travelers. Oh no, Mom groaned. Our flight's been delayed because of the storm in Florida. How long do we have to wait? Zara asked. Mom sighed. The airline estimates three hours. What, Zara wailed, don't worry kiddo, dad assured her. You can watch cartoons on the tablet. Zara perked up, but then, unfortunately, the tablet was nowhere to be found. Dad thought mom had it, and mom thought dad had it. Finally, they realized they'd left it at home. This Thanksgiving sure got off to a bad start, thought Zara.

进了机场，李家一家人挤进了熙熙攘攘的节日旅客人群里。 “哦，糟了。”妈妈叹着气说。 “我们的航班因为佛罗里达的暴雨延误了。” “我们要等多久呀？” 扎拉问道。 妈妈叹了口气。 “航空公司说大概要等三个小时。” “什么？”扎拉哀嚎起来，“别担心，宝贝。”爸爸安慰她。 你可以用平板看动画片呀。 扎拉一下子开心起来，可不幸的是，他们到处都找不到平板。 爸爸以为平板在妈妈那儿，妈妈以为在爸爸那儿。 最后他们才发现，平板落在家里了。 这个感恩节开局可太糟糕了，扎拉心想。

they had to wait and wait and wait. Zara tried to work on her activity book, but Piper kept scribbling across the pages. Zara tried to read her comics, but Piper kept interrupting her to ask what was happening in them. Finally, Dad took Piper for a walk around the airport. When they came back, Piper was holding two ice cream cones. Just as she leaned over to give one to Zara, it fell right in the middle of a picture of Tucker that Zara had just finished drawing, completely ruining it. I hate you, Zara shrieked. Zara, Mom snapped as Piper burst into tears, apologize to your sister.

他们只能等啊等啊等。 扎拉本来想做活动本上的游戏，可派珀总在纸页上乱涂乱画。 扎拉又想读漫画，可派珀总打断她，问她漫画讲了什么。 最后，爸爸带着派珀去机场里走走。 他们回来的时候，派珀手里拿着两个冰淇淋甜筒。 就在她弯腰把冰淇淋递给扎拉的时候，冰淇淋正好掉在扎拉刚画好的塔克画像上，把画全毁了。 “我讨厌你！”扎拉尖叫道。 派珀哇的一声哭出来，妈妈厉声说：“扎拉，快给你妹妹道歉。”