Book 7 No Sense of Style

No Sense of Style, written by Karen Mokler, illustrated by Jackie Davis. Focus Question. What was Mike's plan, and how did it turn out?

《没品时尚》，作者：卡伦·莫克勒，绘图：杰基·戴维斯。 思考问题 迈克的计划是什么？最后结果怎么样？

Mike got $25 for Christmas. The day after Christmas, Mike walked to Derek's house and handed him the money. Derek handed him his spy kit. Nice doing business with you, Derek said. Likewise, said Mike.

迈克圣诞节收到了25美元。 圣诞节第二天，迈克走到德里克家，把钱递给了他。 德里克把间谍套装递给了他。 “很高兴和你做成这笔交易。”德里克说。 “彼此彼此。”迈克说。

Derek and his parents spent the rest of winter break in Hawaii. The first day back at school, he was glum from jet lag. Mike was glum, too. They slumped together, side by side, at the cafeteria table. How was Hawaii? Mike asked. Mosquitoes, Derek grumbled. "'Huh,' said Mike. "'How's the spy kit?' Derek asked."

德里克和爸妈整个寒假剩下的时间都在夏威夷度过。 返校第一天，他因为时差没倒过来，闷闷不乐的。 迈克也闷闷不乐。 他们并排耷拉着肩膀，一起坐在食堂的桌子旁。 夏威夷好玩吗？ 迈克问道。 “全是蚊子。”德里克抱怨道。 “唔。”迈克说。 “你的间谍套装好玩吗？” 德里克问道。

It had taken Mike about forty -eight hours to understand why Derek was willing to part with the spy kit. It was only as exciting as those it spied on. Sure, in a world of international intrigue it might be thrilling, but Mike didn't have that kind of material to work with. It turned out that the most fascinating person in his family was Pickles the cat, not a person at all. Now he was broke again, with nothing to show for it.

迈克花了整整四十八小时才搞懂，为什么德里克愿意把间谍套装转手给他。 这套装备有多好玩，全取决于你监视的对象够不够有趣。 确实，如果是监视国际阴谋肯定挺刺激的，可迈克根本没这种素材可以用呀。 结果呢，他家最有意思的对象是猫咪泡菜，根本就不是人。 现在他又没钱了，啥像样的收获都没捞着。

Mike conveyed all this with one eloquent sigh. Derek nodded sadly. Why didn't you warn me? asked Mike. It's one of those lessons you've got to learn for yourself, Derek said. Besides, I wanted your money. Just then an argument broke out nearby between Chloe and Violet. Chloe was the most fashionable girl in third grade. She wore trendy new clothes every day. Violet's clothes were never new, yet somehow she dressed with enough flair that Derek and Mike had a nickname for her, the funky fashionista. I would never wear somebody else's stuff, Chloe was saying. I mean, how do you know they didn't die in it?" Violet shrugged. "'You don't,' she said. "'But nowadays they have this nifty invention called a washing machine.' Mike and Derek laughed."

迈克长叹一口气，把这一切都讲清楚了。 德里克难过地点点头。 你为啥不提醒我？ 迈克问道。 “这种道理总得你自己亲身经历才懂。”德里克说。 再说了，我还想要你的钱呢。 就在这时，旁边克洛伊和维奥莱特吵起来了。 克洛伊是三年级最会打扮的女孩。 她每天都穿新款的时髦衣服。 维奥莱特的衣服从来都不是新的，可她穿得特别有范儿，所以迈克和德里克给她起了个外号，叫“怪趣时尚达人”。 “我才不会穿别人穿过的衣服呢，”克洛伊说， “我是说，你怎么知道会不会是死人穿过的呀？” 维奥莱特耸耸肩。 “你是不知道，”她说。 “不过现在有种厉害的发明叫洗衣机呀。” 迈克和德里克都笑了。

I guess you can't help it, Chloe sniffed. You can't afford new clothes. I prefer the challenge of shopping at thrift stores, Violet said. Plus, sometimes I buy stuff there and sell it at the second -hand store. It's almost like a business. Mike was already listening. He had a little crush on Violet, actually, but now he leaned forward. Business, you say? He prompted.

“我看你也是没办法，”克洛伊哼了哼鼻子说， “你买不起新衣服嘛。” “我就喜欢挑战逛二手店，”维奥莱特说。 而且呀，有时候我在那儿淘了衣服，再拿到二手店卖掉。 这差不多就是一门生意呢。 迈克一下子就认真听了起来。 其实他偷偷有点喜欢维奥莱特，这下更是往前探了探身子。 你说这是一门生意？ 他追问道。