School was over, but Marvin Redpost stayed in class. He needed to ask Mrs. North a question.
放学了，但马文·雷德波斯特留在教室里。他需要问诺斯太太一个问题。
She was going through some papers. Marvin walked to her desk, then stared at her until she noticed him.
她正在翻一些文件。马文走到她桌前，然后盯着她，直到她注意到他。
She turned to him and smiled. “Yes, Marvin?”
她转向他，笑了笑。「什么事，马文？」
“Excuse me, Mrs. North,” said Marvin. “When’s the book report due?”
「打扰一下，诺斯太太，」马文说，「读书报告什么时候交？」
“I told you Tuesday,” said Mrs. North.
「我星期二告诉过你，」诺斯太太说。
Marvin nodded.
马文点点头。
Mrs. North returned to her papers.
诺斯太太又回去看她的文件。
He still didn’t know when the report was due. Did Mrs. North mean that it was due Tuesday? Or did she mean that she told him on Tuesday when it was due?
他还是不知道报告什么时候交。诺斯太太是说星期二交吗？还是说她在星期二告诉过他什么时候交？
Mrs. North looked at Marvin again. She seemed surprised he was still there. “Do you have another question?” she asked.
诺斯太太又看了马文一眼。她似乎很惊讶他还站在那儿。「你还有别的问题吗？」她问。
He shook his head. He didn’t have another question. He had the same question. He took his book and walked out of the classroom, then out of the building.
他摇摇头。他没有别的问题。他有的是同一个问题。他拿起书，走出教室，再走出教学楼。
There was a great commotion out on the playground. A large group of kids had gathered near the swing set. Marvin could hear a lot of yelling. He heard someone shout, “Fight!”
操场上很吵闹。一大群孩子聚在秋千架旁。马文能听见很多叫喊声。他听见有人喊：「打架了！」
He ran to see what was happening. When he reached the crowd, he could see two boys fighting on the sand, next to the swings. One of the fighters was Stuart Albright.
他跑过去看发生了什么。他到人群边上时，能看见两个男孩在秋千旁的沙地上打架。其中一个打架的是斯图尔特·奥尔布赖特。
Stuart was Marvin’s best friend.
斯图尔特是马文最好的朋友。
Marvin pushed his way through the crowd to get a better look. The other fighter was Nick Tuffle.
马文从人群里挤过去想看得更清楚。另一个打架的是尼克·塔弗。
Nick was also Marvin’s best friend.
尼克也是马文最好的朋友。
Marvin had two best friends. And they were rolling around on the ground, clawing and hitting each other.
马文有两个最好的朋友。而他们正在地上滚来滚去，又抓又打。
“Get’m, Nick!” shouted Clarence.
「打他，尼克！」克拉伦斯喊。
“Kill him, Stuart!” yelled Travis.
「干掉他，斯图尔特！」特拉维斯喊。
“Rip his guts out!” screamed Heather.
「把他的肠子扯出来！」希瑟尖叫。
“Tear his head off!” cried Gina.
「把他的头拧下来！」吉娜喊。
Suddenly everyone stopped shouting as Mr. McCabe made his way through the crowd. Mr. McCabe was the principal.
麦凯布先生从人群中挤过来时，大家突然都不喊了。麦凯布先生是校长。
Mr. McCabe didn’t have to say anything. Nick and Stuart stopped fighting. They untangled themselves from each other and stood up.
麦凯布先生什么也没说。尼克和斯图尔特就停了手。他们互相松开，站了起来。
“I’m surprised at you, Stuart,” said Mr. McCabe. “You too, Nick.”
「我对你很失望，斯图尔特，」麦凯布先生说，「你也是，尼克。」
“Stuart started it!” said Nick. His face was red with anger.
「是斯图尔特先动手的！」尼克说。他的脸气得通红。
“I did not,” said Stuart. “You did!” The pocket on Stuart’s shirt was torn. His glasses hung crooked on his face.
「我没有，」斯图尔特说，「是你！」斯图尔特衬衫上的口袋撕破了。他的眼镜歪歪斜斜地挂在脸上。
“You said I liked Casey Happleton!” said Nick.
「你说我喜欢凯西·哈普尔顿！」尼克说。
Everybody laughed.
大家都笑了。
Except for Casey Happleton.
除了凯西·哈普尔顿。
“That’s because you said I liked Casey Happleton!” Stuart replied.
「那是因为你说我喜欢凯西·哈普尔顿！」斯图尔特回嘴。
Everybody, except Casey, laughed again.
除了凯西，大家又笑了。
“You do!” said Nick.
「你就是！」尼克说。
“I do not!” said Stuart. “You do!”
「我不是！」斯图尔特说，「你才是！」
“I hate her,” said Nick.
「我讨厌她，」尼克说。
“I hate her more than you!” said Stuart.
「我比你更讨厌她！」斯图尔特说。
“No way!” said Nick.
「不可能！」尼克说。
“That’s enough,” said Mr. McCabe. “Now I want both of you to tell Casey you’re sorry.”
「够了，」麦凯布先生说，「现在我要你们俩都跟凯西道歉。」
“What for?” asked Nick.
「为什么？」尼克问。
Mr. McCabe stared at him.
麦凯布先生瞪着他。
Nick looked down at the ground. “I’m sorry I hate you, Casey,” he muttered.
尼克低头看着地面。「对不起我讨厌你，凯西，」他嘟囔。
“I don’t care,” said Casey. She had a ponytail that stuck out of the side of her head.
「我不在乎，」凯西说。她扎着马尾辫，从脑袋侧面翘出来。
“I’m sorry I hate you, too,” said Stuart.
「我也对不起我讨厌你，」斯图尔特说。
“Whatever,” said Casey.
「随便吧，」凯西说。
Judy Jasper whispered something to Casey. Then the two girls laughed.
朱迪·贾斯珀对凯西耳语了些什么。然后两个女孩笑了。
Mr. McCabe took Nick and Stuart to his office. Everyone else started to leave, too.
麦凯布先生把尼克和斯图尔特带到他的办公室。其他人也开始散了。
Marvin didn’t know what to do. He was supposed to go to Stuart’s house after school today. But he knew Stuart wouldn’t be going home for a very long time.
马文不知道该怎么做。他本来今天放学后要去斯图尔特家。但他知道斯图尔特好久都回不了家。
Someone tapped him on the shoulder. He turned around.
有人拍了拍他的肩膀。他转过身。
It was Casey Happleton.
是凯西·哈普尔顿。
“Do you want to come to my house, Marvin?” asked Casey.
「你想来我家吗，马文？」凯西问。
“Okay.”
「好啊。」