Mortyangelo and the Mystery Art

Mordy Angelo and the Mystery Art, written by Kathy Hogan, illustrated by David Opie. Focus question, what did Morty learn about himself?

《莫迪·安杰罗与神秘画作》，凯西·霍根 著，大卫·奥皮 绘。 思考问题：莫迪对自己有了什么新认识？

Chapter 1. Morty stood in the school hallway with his friends, staring up at a drawing that hung on the wall in front of the art room. Under it, Miss Mikasso, the art teacher, had posted a sign reading, Who is the mystery artist? Please remember to sign your work. Rumors about the creator's identity spread through the school like wildfire. The illustration was a triumphant action shot of soccer superstar Messy Mouse powerfully shooting the ball to score. His tail swung through the air and the ball soared between the goalposts at incredible speed.

第一章 莫迪和朋友们站在学校走廊里，抬头盯着美术室门前墙上挂的一幅画。 画的下方，美术老师米卡索小姐贴了一张告示，上面写着：谁是神秘艺术家？ 请记得给自己的作品署名哦。 关于创作者身份的流言像野火一样传遍了全校。 这幅画画的是足坛巨星梅西鼠发力射门得分的飒爽英姿。 他的尾巴甩在空中，足球以惊人的速度飞进球门。

That's amazing! Ben exclaimed. Look at the droplets of sweat on Messy's face! Seriously! Fred agreed. Even the grass on the field looks realistic. Morty gazed up at the art in silence. Part of him wanted to explain that he had used dark green foreshadowing on the lighter grass blades, but he kept quiet. Morty loved to dribble and doodle. When he was outside, he was dribbling his official mouse champion soccer ball. When he was inside, Morty was doodling with his deluxe set of magnificent markers, and he mostly liked to draw soccer players in action. Morty never thought about being an artist. Instead, he dreamed of becoming a famous athlete who young mice would want to sketch.

太厉害了！ 本惊呼道。 快看梅西脸上的汗珠！ 真的耶！ 弗雷德附和道。 连球场上的草都画得栩栩如生。 莫迪静静地抬头看着这幅画。 他差点脱口说出，自己画浅草叶的时候用深绿做了明暗层次，但他最终还是没出声。 莫迪既爱颠球，也爱随手画画。 出门在外的时候，他总在颠他那只官方冠军足球。 待在屋里的时候，他就用自己那套豪华顶级彩笔随手涂画，他最喜欢画动感十足的足球运动员。 莫迪从来没想过要当艺术家。 相反，他梦想成为出名的运动员，让小老鼠们都想画他。

Discovering his soccer illustration hanging in the hallway, Morty reflected on yesterday's art class. As he'd been rinsing paintbrushes, the bell had rung, signaling the end of the period. "'Please remember to put your assignments in the box as you leave,' Miss Mikasso had called after the babbling mice as they shuffled out the door. Morty had sighed, plunging his hand into his backpack to fish for his sloppy drawing. He didn't like to be told what to draw. When Miss Maccasso assigned art homework, he spent mere minutes on it. Morty had felt his hand curl around a wrinkled paper, hurriedly pulled it from his bag and had flung it in the homework box. Later that afternoon, he had been puzzled to find his assignment crumpled in the bottom of his backpack.

看到自己画的足球图挂在走廊里，莫迪想起了昨天的美术课。 他当时正在洗画笔，下课铃就响了。 "大家走的时候记得把作业放进箱子里哦，"米卡索小姐对着闹哄哄挤着出门的小老鼠们喊道。 莫迪叹了口气，把手伸进背包，摸索他那幅潦草的画。 他不喜欢别人指定他画什么。 米卡索小姐布置美术作业的时候，他只花几分钟随便应付。 莫迪的手碰到了一张皱纸，他赶紧抽出来扔进了作业箱。 那天傍晚，他才惊讶地发现，真正的作业还揉成一团躺在他的背包底部。

Morty shook his head, bringing himself back to the present. More students were gathering around the painting. Morty heard one whisper, Wilbur's the best artist. He's the only one who draws that well. Indignant, Morty almost squeaked up to claim his work, but he quickly changed his mind. If I could draw like that, Ben was saying, I'd put my name all over it. Well, if I could draw like that, Fred added, I'd sell my art and get rich. Morty mumbled, if I could play soccer like that, I wouldn't bother coming to school. His friends laughed in agreement as the bell rang, then hustled to class.

莫迪摇了摇头，拉回了飘远的思绪。 越来越多的学生围过来欣赏这幅画。 莫迪听见有人小声说：威尔伯是最棒的画家。 只有他能画得这么好。 莫迪又气又急，差点叫出来承认这是自己的画，但他很快改了主意。 "要是我能画这么好，"本说，"我肯定把名字写得到处都是。" "哼，要是我能画这么好，"弗雷德接话道，"我就卖画赚大钱啦。" 莫迪嘟囔道："要是我足球能踢那么好，我才懒得再来上学呢。" 上课铃响了，朋友们笑着应声附和，之后匆匆赶去上课了。

Chapter 2 The next day, Morty hovered in the doorway of the art room, not admitting to being the mystery artist felt dishonest. On the other hand, he preferred to be known as the school's top soccer player, not its most accomplished artist. Oh, hello, Morty, Miss Mikasso said as she glanced up from her grading. Did you bring your art assignment? It's overdue and you usually get homework in on time. Miss Mikasso, Morty said as he closed the door behind him. I have a problem.

第二章 第二天，莫迪在美术室门口徘徊，不承认自己是神秘艺术家，让他觉得像在撒谎。 但另一方面，他更想让大家认他是学校顶尖足球运动员，而不是顶尖画家。 "哦，你好呀莫迪，"米卡索小姐改作业时抬头打招呼。 "你是来交美术作业的吗？" "作业已经逾期啦，你往常都按时交作业的。" "米卡索老师，"莫迪关上门说道。 "我遇到一个麻烦。"