芒果街上的小屋第40篇

　　Edna's Ruthie

　　There were many things Ruthie could have been if she wanted to. Not only is she a good whistler, but she can sing and dance too. She had lots of job offers when she was young, but she never took them. She got married instead and moved away to a pretty house outside the city. Only thing I can't understand is why Ruthie is living on Mango Street if she doesn't have to, why is she sleeping on a couch in her mother's living room when she has a real house all her own, but she says she's just visiting and next weekend her husband's going to take her home. But the weekends come and go and Ruthie stays. No matter. We are glad because she is our friend.

　　I like showing Ruthie the books I take out of the library. Books are wonderful, Ruthie says, and then she runs her hand over them as if she could read them in Braille. They're wonderful, wonderful, but I can't read anymore. I get headaches. I need to go to the eye doctor next week. I used to write children's books once, did I tell you?

　　如果她想的话，鹭鸶儿本来可以成为很多种人的。这不仅是因为她口哨吹的好，她还很会唱歌和跳舞。她年轻的时候有很多工作机会，，可她从来没做过。她结婚了，搬进了城外一所漂亮的大房子里。我弄不明白的一件事情就是，为什么鹭鸶儿住在芒果街上，她本来可以不住的；为什么她有自己的真正的大房子却要睡在她妈妈的客厅沙发上？她说她只是来看看，下周末她丈夫会来接她回家。可是周末来了又去，鹭鸶儿还在这里。这没什么。我们很高兴，因为她是我们的朋友。

　　我喜欢给她看我从图书馆带来的书。书很棒，鹭鸶儿说，然后就用手抚摸起来，似乎她可以像读布莱叶盲文一样地去读它们。很棒，很棒，可我再也不能读书了。我头痛。我下星期得去看眼科医生。我过去写过童书的，我告诉过你吗？