Mục Lục
A Balloon on the Tall (Một quả bóng bay buộc vào cái đuôi)
Today is New Year’s Day. In the moming, Kerry, a little mouse and her mother are going to grandmother’s. She is very happy because she is wearing nice clothes. “Good moming, Kerry,” a little rabbit sees them, “you look pretty today.” ‘Thank you.” “But, look at your beautiíul tail.” says the rabbit, ‘’It is touching the ground.” “Oh, my god.” says Kerry and she carries her long tail with hands. Then there comes a dog with a big balloon. you cany your tail, Kerry?” asks the dog. “Because
it touches the ground. It will be dirty.” “Oh, don’t worry. I can help you.” Then the dog ties a big balloon on Keny’s taỉl. “That’s OK.” says the dog, “Your tail won’t touch the ground again.”
Tóm Tắt nội dung
Vào buổi sáng năm mới, cô chuột nhỏ Kerry mặc quần áo mới cùng mẹ sang nhà bà ngoại. Cái đuôi quá dài, cô chuột nhỏ đành giữ đuôi trong tay. May nhờ có chú chó giúp cô buộc một quả bóng bay vào đuôi, như vậy đuôi sẽ không chạm mặt đất nữa. Bạn có thấy chú chuột nhỏ nào buộc quả bóng bay vào đuôi chưa?
Who’s Broken a Window? (Ai đã làm bể kính cửa sổ?)
Billy and Bobby were small boys. They were brothers, and they often fight with each other. Last Saturday theừ mother said to them, ‘Tm going to cook our luttch now. Go out and play in the garden… and be good.”
“Yes, Mummy,” the two boys answered and they went out. They played for half an hour, and then Billy ran into the kitchen. “Mummy,” he said, “Bobby’s broken a window in Mrs Allen’s house.” Mrs Allen was one of their neighbors.
“He’s a bad boy,” his mother said, “How did he break it?”
“I threw a stone at him,” Billy answered, “and he quickly moved
down.!
Tóm tắt truyện
Billy và Bobby đang chơi trong vườn, không may làm bể kính của sổ. Billy mách mẹ: “Mẹ ơi, Bobby làm bể kính cửa sổ!” Mẹ hỏi “Nó đã làm sao mà kính bể?” Billy nói: “Con đã ném đá vào nó mà nó tránh đi.” Bạn nghĩ xem, câu trả lời của Billy có buồn cười không?
A Nice Young Man (Một chàng trai tốt bụng)
An old lady opens her window and Iooks out of it. The sun shines brỉghtly. There is a young man in the garden in front of her house. The old lady looks at him and says, “He is cutting grass for me!”
She goes out into the garden and says to the young man, “Why are you cutting grass for me, young man?”
The young man says, “Today’s my holiday. YouTe old and live alone. I want to do something for you.”
“It’s so kind of you, my boy,” says the old lady. “Come into my house and have a cup of tea.”
“OK ” answers the young man, “but I must ftnish the work first.” When the old lady goes out into the garden an hour later, the young man is not there. The garden looks clean and tidy.
“What a nice young man!” says the old lady.
Tóm tắt cốt truyện
Trong khu vườn, một anh thanh niên tốt bụng đang giúp một bà i lịral cỏ. Sau khi làm xong, đến cả một tách trà anh ấy cũng không uống mà lặng lẽ ra về. Quả là một chàng ữai tốt bụng!
Is It Time for Supper? (Đã đến giờ ăn tối phải không?)
Last week I went out to have lunch with my friend, George. George is very fat. He likes good food and eats a lot of it. We sat at a big table in the restaurant. After a big meal we had some cakes and drank a few cups of coffee. “We must go now, George.” I said. “We have been here for more than three hours. It’s four thirty.”
“What do you meanT asked George in surprise, “We can’t leave now. It’s nearly time for supper.”
Tóm tắt cốt truyện
Tuần trước tôi đã cùng bạn của tôi George, đến nhà hàng ăn trưa, sức ăn của anh ấy thật đáng nể. Trong vài giờ anh ấy đã ăn hết rất nhiều thứ. Khi tôi ngỏ ý ra về, George nói: “Bây giờ chúng ta chua thể về được, sắp đến giờ ăn tối rồi.”
Honest (Thành thật)
One afternoon, I went to a shop to buy some ink. There was only one young shop assìstant in it. He was reading a book. “I want to buy a bottle of ink,” I said. There was no answer. He was still going on reading his book. Theh I asked again.
He stood up and gave me a bottle of ink. When I was out of the shop, I found the change he gave me was too much. So I went back to the shop. The man pulled a long face when he saw me again.
“Now, what do you want to buy?” he said angrily. “Nothing,” I said, “you gave me too much change just now. I want to give you back the money.” “Ah, ah, thank you,” the man said wtíh a redface.
Tóm tắt cốt truyện
Một buổi chiều nọ, tôi đến một cửa hàng để mua mực viết. Thái độ của người nhân viên phục vụ trẻ không vui. Nhưng sau đó, khi thấy tôi chủ động ưả lại số tiền anh ta đã thối thừa, anh ta đỏ mặt.
Boys or Girls
Con trai hay con gái
A lot of boys and girls in western countries are wearing the same kind of clothes, and many of them have long haữ, so it is often difficult to tell whether they are boys or girls.
One day an old man went for a walk in a park. When he was tired, he sat on a chaừ near the river. A child was standing on the other side of the river. “Oh!” The old man said to the person next to him on the chair, “Do you see that child with long hair? Is it a boy or a girl?”
“A girl,” said the person, “she is my daughter.”
“Oh, I am sorry. I didn’t know that you were her mother.”
“I am not her mother,” said the person, “I am her íather.”
Tóm tắt cốt truyện
Bây giờ con trai và con gái đều mặc cùng một kiểu quần áo, và để tóc dài. Vì vậy, chẳng trách người già thường nhầm lẫn giới Ưnh của họ.
Late for Work
Đi làm muộn
I got home at six in the evening, “Are you tired, Ted?” my wife asked. “No,” I answered, “but I’m hungry.” “Dinner will be ready in haự an hour.” she said. “Did you catch your train this moming?” she asked again. “No, I didn’t. I ran all the way to the station and got there at four minutes past nine.” “Which train did you catch?” she asked. ‘The nine fifteen.” “What time did you get to the office?” “At ten o’clock.” “At ten o’clock?” my wife shouted, “Wasn’t the boss angry?” “No, he wasn’t at the office.” I said, “He got there at ten thirty. He dìdn’t catch the train, eỉther.”
Tóm tắt cốt truyện
Ted không đón kịp chuyến xe lửa sáng nay, do đó anh ta đi làm muộn. May thay, ông chủ của anh ta cũng không đón kịp chuyên xe lửa, mà còn đến muộn hơn anh ta nhiều.
Doing as Mum Told
Làm theo lời mẹ
Tom was seven years old, and he was going to school soon. He was a good boy, but he didn’t like to get up early. He slept until nine or ten o’clock in the moming.
His mother didn’t want Tom to be late for school. So she bought him an alarm clock. She said to Tom, “You must get up when you hear the clock ring.” After that, Tom got up when he heard the clock ring at six thirty every moming.
One day, the clock didn’t work. Tom didn’t get up at six thirty. It was time for breakfu™™Uher went to wake him up. Tom said to his mother, “I woke up very early.” “Then why didn’t you get up?” Mother was angry. “You told me that I must get up when I heard the clock ring. So I’m stilỉ waiting for the bell
Tóm tắt cốt truyện
Mẹ Tom mua cho cậu một cái đồng hồ báo thức và bảo cậu phải thức dậy khi nào nghe tiếng đồng hồ reng, và cậu nghe theo. Nhưng có một hôm đã đến giờ ăn sáng rồi mà Tom còn chua thức dậy. Mẹ hỏi cậu tại sao không thức dậy thì cậu nói: “Tại vì chuông đồng hồ không reng!”
Truyện ngắn song ngữ dành cho thiếu nhi
Never tell a lie
| Never tell a lie | Không bao giờ được nói dối |
| On his deathbed, a father advised his son to always speak truth. The son promised that he would never tell a lie. One day, while going to the city through a forest, he got surrounded by some robbers. One of them asked, “What do you have?” The boy answered, “I have fifty rupees.” They searched him but couldn’t find anything. When they were about to go, the boy called out, “I am not telling a lie. See this fifty rupee note which I had hidden in my shirt.” The leader of the robbers felt pleased at the truthfulness of the boy, gave him hundred rupees as reward and went away. | Trong giờ phút cuối đời của mình, người cha đã khuyên con trai ông ấy phải luôn nói thật. Người con hứa rằng anh ấy sẽ không bao giờ nói dối. Một ngày nọ, trong khi đi đến thành phố thông qua khu rừng, cậu bé bị bao quanh bởi những tên cướp. Một trong số chúng hỏi “mày có cái gì?” Anh ta trả lời: “Tôi có 50 đồng ru-pi” Họ lục soát người anh ta nhưng không tìm thấy bất kỳ thứ gì. Khi họ chuẩn bị bỏ đi, cậu bé gọi họ lại: ” Tôi không nói dối. Nhìn này 50 đồng rupi tôi giấu trong áo này”. Thủ lĩnh băng cướp cảm thấy hài lòng về tính thật thà của cậu bé, ông ta cho cậu bé 100 đồng rupi như một phần thưởng và bỏ đi. |
The Bear and the Bees
| The Bear and the Bees | Con gấu và bầy ong |
| A Bear came across a log where a Swarm of Bees had nested to make their honey. As he snooped around, a single little Bee flew out of the log to protect the swarm. Knowing that the Bear would eat all the honey, the little bee stung him sharply on the nose and flew back into the log.This flew the Bear into an angry rage. He swatted at the log with his big claws, determined to destroy the nest of bees inside. This only alerted the bees and quick as a wink, the entire swarm of bees flew out of the log and began to sting the bear from head to heel. The Bear saved himself by running to and diving into the nearest pond. | Ngày nọ, một con Gấu đi qua chỗ có khúc gỗ nơi Bầy Ong xây tổ làm mật. Chú tò mò nhìn ngó xung quanh thì một con ong bay ra để bảo vệ đàn. Biết Gấu sẽ ăn hết mật, Con Ong bé nhỏ đốt thật mạnh vào mũi chú rồi bay vào trong khúc gỗ.Gấu tức giận như điên vì bị đốt đau. Chú nhất định phải tiêu diệt tổ ong bên trong, nên dùng những móng vuốt to của mình đập mạnh vào khúc gỗ. Bầy Ong bị động và bay ra rất nhanh, chỉ trong nháy mắt, chúng bắt đầu đốt Gấu khắp từ đầu tới chân. Gấu ta chỉ còn cách co giò chạy thoát thân rồi nhảy “ùm” xuống cái ao gần nhất. |
The crow and the pitcher
| The crow and the pitcher | Con quạ và cái bình |
| In a spell of dry weather, when the Birds could find very little to drink, a thirsty Crow found a pitcher with a little water in it. But the pitcher was high and had a narrow neck, and no matter how he tried, the Crow could not reach the water. The poor thing felt as if he must die of thirst. Then an idea came to him. Picking up some small pebbles, he dropped them into the pitcher one by one. With each pebble the water rose a little higher until at last it was near enough so he could drink. “In a pinch a good use of our wits may help us out.” | Vào một đợt khô hạn, khi các loài chim chỉ có thể tìm thấy rất ít nước để uống, một con quạ khát nước đã tìm thấy một cái bình trong đó có một ít nước. Nhưng cái bình thì cao và có cái cổ hẹp, và dù cho quạ ta có cố gắng sao đi chăng nữa thì nó cũng không thể chạm được tới nước trong bình. Nó cảm nhận một điều tệ hại nếu nó phải chết vì khát. Sau đó, một ý tưởng thoáng lên trong nó. Nó nhặt lên vài viên sỏi nhỏ và thả từng viên một vài cáu bình chứa nước. Cứ mỗi viên sỏi thì nước lại dâng lên cao hơn cho đến cuối cùng đã gần đủ để nên nó có thể uống. “Trong một trường hợp cấp thiết thì sự bình tĩnh sẽ giúp chúng ta vượt qua những sự cố.” |
Give me a second
| Give me a second | Chờ ta một giây thôi! |
| A man was wandering in the woods, pondering all the mysteries of life and his own personal problems. The man didn’t find the answers, so he sought help from God.“God? You there, God?” he asked.“Yes. What is it, my son?” God answered.“Mind if I ask a few questions?” the man asked.“Go ahead, my son, anything”.“God, what is a million years to you?”God answered, “A million years to me is only a second.”The man asked, “God, what is a million dollars worth to you?”God replied, “A million dollars to me is worth only a penny.”The man lifted his eyebrows and asked his final question.“God, can I have a penny?”God answered, “Sure, give me a second.” | Một người đi lang thang trong rừng, suy nghĩ về những điều thần bí của cuộc sống và những vấn đề riêng tư của anh ta. Người đó không thể tìm ra câu trả lời, do đó anh ta đi tìm Chúa.“Chúa thân mến, Chúa có đây không?” anh ta hỏi.“Ta đây. Con cần gì hả con trai?” Chúa trả lời.“Con có thể hỏi Chúa vài điều được không?” anh ta hỏi tiếp.“Cứ hỏi đi, con trai của ta”.Anh ta hỏi: “Chúa thân mến, một triệu năm với Người là bao nhiêu?”Chúa trả lời: “Một triệu năm với ta chỉ là một giây”.Anh ta hỏi tiếp: “Chúa thân mến, một triệu đô la đối với Người là bao nhiêu?”Chúa đáp: “Một triệu đô la với ta chỉ là một xu”.Người đàn ông nhướng mày lên và hỏi câu hỏi cuối cùng.“Chúa có thể cho con một xu được không?”Chúa đáp: “Được chứ, chờ ta một giây thôi.” |
Friendship is a strong weapon
| Friendship is a strong weapon | Tình bạn là vũ khí mạnh mẽ nhất |
| It was hot summer. A lion went to a pool to drink water. Just then a pig also came there to quench his thirst. Both of them wanted to drink first. They looked at each other with blood-shot eyes and attacked each other with so much anger that soon they started bleeding. Feeling tired, both stopped for a while to be fresh. Suddenly, they heard the screams of vultures. They saw that a large number of vultures were looking at them with longing eyes. In no time, both the beasts understood that the vultures were waiting for one of them to be killed by the other so that they might feed on his dead body. So both of them became friends, quenched their thirst and went away. Thus, their friendship saved their lives. | Đó là vào mùa hè nóng nực.Một con sư tử đi đến hồ nước để uống nước.Vừa lúc đó, một con heo cũng đến để làm dịu cơn khát của mình. Cả hai đều muốn uống đầu tiên. Chúng nhìn nhau với ánh mắt hình viên đạn và tấn công đối phương rất dữ dội chẳng mấy chốc cả hai đều đổ máu. Cảm thấy mệt mỏi, cả hai ngừng lại một lúc để nghỉ.Đột nhiên , chúng nghe thấy tiếng la hét của kền kền,Chúng nhìn thấy một bầy lớn kền kền đang nhìn chúng với đôi mắt thèm khát. Ngay khoảnh khắc đó,hai con thú đã hiểu ra rằng bọn kền kền đang chờ một trong hai bị giết chết bởi con còn lại để chúng có thể ăn thịt con đã chết. Vì vậy cả hai con thú đã trở thành bạn,dập tắt cơn thèm khát của chúng và bay đi Cuối cùng, tình bạn của cả hai đã cứu sống họ. |
The Lion and The Gnat
| The Lion and The Gnat | Sư tử và con muỗi |
| “Away with you, vile insect!” said a Lion angrily to a Gnat that was buzzing around his head. But the Gnat was not in the least disturbed. “Do you think,” he said spitefully to the Lion, “that I am afraid of you because they call you king?” The next instant he flew at the Lion and stung him sharply on the nose. Mad with rage, the Lion struck fiercely at the Gnat, but only succeeded in tearing himself with his claws. Again and again the Gnat stung the Lion, who now was roaring terribly. At last, worn out with rage and covered with wounds that his own teeth and claws had made, the Lion gave up the fight. The Gnat buzzed away to tell the whole world about his victory, but instead he flew straight into a spider’s web. And there, he who had defeated the King of beasts came to a miserable end, the prey of a little spider. The least of our enemies is often the most to be feared. Pride over a success should not throw us off our guard. | “Hãy cút khỏi đây đi, đồ côn trùng thấp hèn kia!” Con sư tử giận dữ nói với con muỗi đang bay vo ve quanh đầu nó nhưng muỗi ta không hề cảm thấy nao núng trước lời nói miệt thị ấy của con sư tử. Chú muỗi hằn học đáp lại: “Ông nghĩ là tôi sợ ông vì ông được người ta tôn vinh là vua à?” Sau đó, con côn trùng đậu trên con sư tử và cắn ngày vào mũi của nó. Con sư tử nổi trận lôi đình, dập một cái thật mạnh vào con muỗi nhưng lại trúng ngay mặt mình. Cứ thế, con muỗi cắn con sư tử nhiều lần trong khi con sư tử đang gầm rú lên một cách thảm thiết. Cuối cùng, con sư tử kiệt sức với đầy vết thương trên mặt mà nó tự gây ra cho mình, nó đành phải chịu thua. Con muỗi bay đi định khoe với mọi người về chiến thắng của mình nhưng sau đó nó lại bay ngay vào ổ nhện. Và ở đó, kẻ vừa mới đánh bại chúa tể sơn lâm đã gặp một kết cục thảm hại đó là trở thành con mồi của một con nhện nhỏ xíu Kẻ thù của chúng ta chưa hẳn là những kẻ đáng sợ nhất. Đừng bao giờ ngủ quên trên hào quang của chiến thắng mà đánh mất sự cảnh giác của mình. |
A Cat and a Dog
The black cat jumped up onto the chair. It looked down at the white dog. The dog was chewing on a bone. The cat jumped onto the dog. The dog kept chewing the bone. The cat played with the dog’s tail. The dog kept chewing the bone. The cat jumped back onto the chair. It started licking its paws. The dog stood up. It looked at the cat. It licked the cat’s fur. The cat licked the dog’s nose. The dog went back to its bone. A boy ran through the room. He was wearing a yellow shirt. He almost ran into the chair. The cat jumped off the chair. The cat jumped onto the sofa. The chair fell onto the floor next to the dog. The dog stopped chewing the bone. The dog chased the boy. The boy ran out to the street. He threw a stick. The dog chased the stick. The dog lay down. It chewed on the stick.
The Baby Bear
The baby bear followed his mama. Mama bear walked through the woods. She was looking for berries to eat. She found some black berries. She started eating them. The baby started eating them, too. They ate all the berries. Baby bear was full. Mama bear was still hungry. She started walking again. She wanted to find more berries to eat. Baby bear lay down. He was full. He wanted to take a nap. But mama bear came back. She growled at baby bear. He understood mama’s growl. When mama growled, he obeyed. He got up and followed his mama. Someday he would take a nap after a meal. A squirrel ran up a tree with a nut. It dropped the nut and ran back down to the ground. It picked up the nut and looked at baby bear. Then it ran back up the tree. Baby bear did not like nuts. They were too hard to open.
Late for Work
I got home at six in the evening, “Are you tired, Ted?” my wife asked. “No,” I answered, “but I’m hungry.” “Dinner will be ready in haự an hour.” she said. “Did you catch your train this morning?” she asked again. “No, I didn’t. I ran all the way to the station and got there at four minutes past nine.” “Which train did you catch?” she asked. ‘The nine fifteen.” “What time did you get to the office?” “At ten o’clock.” “At ten o’clock?” my wife shouted, “Wasn’t the boss angry?” “No, he wasn’t at the office.” I said, “He got there at ten thirty. He didn’t catch the train, either.”
An Apple Pie
The tree was full of red apples. The farmer was riding his brown horse. He stopped under the tree. He reached out and picked an apple off a branch. He bit into the raw apple. He enjoyed the apple. His horse turned its head to look at him. The farmer picked another apple off the tree. He gave it to the horse. The horse ate the raw apple. The horse enjoyed the apple. The farmer put a dozen apples into a bag. He rode the horse back home. He put the horse in the barn. He walked into his house. The cat rubbed up against his leg. He gave the cat a bowl of warm milk. He sat down on the sofa. He opened a book to read. His wife came home. She cooked the raw apples. She made an apple pie. They ate bread and hot soup for dinner. They enjoyed the bread and soup. They had hot apple pie for dessert. They both enjoyed the apple pie.
The Top Bunk
He and his brother slept in a bunk bed. He had the bottom bunk. His brother had the top bunk. The top bunk had a guard rail. The rail kept the sleeper safe. His brother didn’t like the rail. He always left it down. One time his brother fell out of the top bunk. He hit the carpet and woke up. He said, “Ouch!” Then he climbed back into the top bunk. When he woke up the next day, his back was sore. Mom took him to see the doctor. The doctor examined him. The doctor said he was okay. He said to keep the guard rail up. His brother said he would do that. That night his brother climbed into the top bunk again. He left the guard rail down. He said the guard rail was like jail. He didn’t want to feel like he was in jail. He fell asleep. Then he fell out of the top bunk again.
Ask Santa
It is December. That means it is Christmas time. Christmas time means Santa Claus is coming. Sara and Billy love Christmas. They love Santa Claus. They love the gifts from Santa. Last year they got nice gifts. Sara got a teddy bear and a rubber duck. Billy got a green boat and a rubber duck. The rubber ducks float. When Sara takes a bath, her pink duck floats in the water. When Billy takes a bath, his blue duck floats in the water. One time Billy put a goldfish into the tub. It swam for a while. Then it died. He buried it in the backyard. He was sad. This year Sara and Billy want bicycles. Sara wants a red bike. Billy wants a blue bike. Mama said she would talk to daddy. Sara asked mama, “Why don’t you talk to Santa?” Mama said, “That’s a good idea. When daddy comes home, he and I will talk to Santa.”
A Birthday Bike
January 7 is Benny’s birthday. He will be eight years old. He is in the third grade. He goes to Park Elementary School. An elementary school is for kids. It is only one mile away. He walks to school. It only takes 20 minutes. When it rains, he wears a raincoat. He used to take an umbrella. But he lost the umbrella. His mother gave him another umbrella. He broke that one. His mom said, “You and umbrellas don’t get along.” For his eighth birthday, Benny wants a bicycle. He can ride the bike to school. After school he can ride with his friends. He can ride the bike to the swimming pool. He can ride the bike to the library. His mom and dad took him to the bike store. They asked him to look at the bikes. He looked at all the bikes. He chose a red bike. He showed his parents. Dad said it cost too much. He told Benny to choose another bike. Benny chose a blue bike. Dad said the blue bike was the right price.
In the Garden
Mama was in the garden. “What are you doing?” Johnny asked. She said she was planting roses. Roses are flowers. They are very pretty. They are usually red. Roses have thorns. His mama said, “Thorns will stick you. Be careful around thorns.” Johnny went to the front yard. His dog Rex was waiting for him. Johnny picked up a stick and threw it. Rex chased the stick. He brought the stick back. Johnny ran around the house. Rex chased him. Johnny ran through the garden. Rex ran through the garden. Mom yelled at Johnny and Rex. She told them to play somewhere else. She told them to stay out of the garden. Johnny apologized to his mom. He went to the garage and got his bike. He went for a bike ride. Rex ran next to the bike.
Today’s Mail
The mailman put the mail in the mailbox. Dad went outside. He said hello to the mailman. The mailman said hello. Dad opened the mailbox and took out a magazine and two letters. One letter was from his sister. The other letter was from his brother. The magazine was for his wife. It was a garden magazine. His wife liked to work in the garden. She grew flowers and vegetables in the garden. Dad went back into the house. He opened both letters. His sister invited him to a birthday party. His brother invited him to a wedding. Dad enjoyed reading the letters. He enjoyed getting the invitations. He picked up the phone. He left a message for his sister. He would come to the birthday party. He also called his brother. He said he would come to the wedding.
Boys Will Be Boys
The two brothers loved each other. But sometimes they argued with each other. Sometimes they yelled at each other. Sometimes they pushed each other. Sometimes they hit each other. Sometimes they got into a fight with each other. Bobby was the older brother. Billy was the younger brother. Bobby was older than Billy. Billy was younger than Bobby. Bobby climbed into a tree. His kite was in the tree. He could not reach his kite. He fell out of the tree. Billy laughed. He laughed when he saw Bobby fall to the ground. Bobby was not hurt. But he was angry. “Why are you laughing?” he asked Billy. “That was funny!” Billy said. Bobby said it wasn’t funny. Billy said it was funny. Bobby pushed Billy. Billy pushed Bobby. Bobby punched Billy in the stomach. Billy punched Bobby in the stomach. They put their arms around each other. They wrestled on the ground. They rolled around and around. Their mom came outside. “What are you two doing?” she asked. She separated them. She said, “You shouldn’t hit each other. That’s not nice. Wait till your father gets home.” She sent them to their rooms.
A Good Meal
The children were hungry. They looked out the window. Where was their mother? She walked into the house. The children ran over to her. “Mama, we’re so hungry,” they both said. She said lunch was coming. She walked into the kitchen. She opened a can of chicken soup. She poured the soup into a pot. She added water. She put the pot on the stove. She made two peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. She sliced an apple. The soup was hot. She poured it into two bowls. She put the sandwiches on two plates. She put apple slices on each plate. She put the bowls and plates on the table. The children ran to the table. “Thank you, mommy!” they said. Then they started eating. The cat and the dog watched them eat.
No Food, No Job
I am an adult. I’m not a kid. I’m a grown-up. I need some money. I have no food. I am hungry. I am not thirsty, because water is everywhere. But water has no taste. I want to drink a soda. I want to drink milk. I want to drink coffee. I want to work. Nobody will hire me. Nobody is hiring anybody. Companies are firing people. Companies are laying off people. Everyone is looking for a job. I cannot pay my rent. I will have to live in my car. I don’t want to live in my car. My car has no bed. Everyone should live in a house or an apartment. Many people don’t have a car. They live on the street. A street has no bed. Nobody should live on the street. I don’t know what to do. I don’t know where to go. Maybe I will go to church. Maybe I will find help there.
New Shoes
She is young. Her shoes are old. She wears them to work. She goes to work five days a week. She loves her work. She is a waitress. She works at a restaurant. The restaurant is near her home. She walks to the restaurant. She stands up all day long. She is young and strong. But her shoes are not. They are old. She saw an ad in the paper. All shoes were on sale at the shoe store. She walked into the store. She looked around. She saw some black shoes. They looked good. She tried them on. They were very comfortable. They felt good. They were only $25. She paid cash. She wore them home. She felt good. She was ready for work the next day.
No Friends for Me
I am lonely. I am always by myself. I meet people every day. I smile at them. I say hello. I am nice to them. I want to have a friend. But I have no friends. What is wrong with me? I am polite. I am friendly. I am nice. I am kind. Why don’t people like me? All I want is one friend. Everyone has one friend. I always see people with their friends. They laugh with each other. They have fun with each other. They do things with each other. What about me? I am by myself. I watch TV by myself. I go to movies by myself. I go to restaurants by myself. I go to the park by myself. I told my mother that I am lonely. She said it is my fault. “Why?” I asked. She said, “Because you never ask anyone to be with you.” My mom is right. I never ask people to be with me. I am afraid they will say no.
Birds and Baby
The baby was lying on her back. A blue bird flew in through the window. The blue bird had blue eyes. It sat on the baby’s crib. The bird had a bell around its neck. The bell rang. The baby smiled. The baby reached for the bell. The bird shook its head. The bell fell off the bird’s neck. It fell next to the baby. The baby picked up the bell. The baby rang the bell. Another blue bird flew in through the window. This blue bird also had blue eyes. The baby had brown eyes. The birds looked at the baby. The baby looked at the birds. The baby rang the bell again. Both birds flew away. The baby started to cry. His mama came into the room. The baby smiled. Mama saw the bell. She asked the baby where the bell came from. The baby pointed at the window.
SLEEPING BEAUTY
Nội dung tiếng Anh:
In times past there lived a king and queen, who said to each other every day of their lives, “Would that we had a child!” and yet they had none. But it happened once that when the queen was bathing, there came a frog out of the water, and he squatted on the ground, and said to her: “Thy wish shall be fulfilled; before a year has gone by, thou shalt bring a daughter into the world.”
And as the frog foretold, so it happened; and the queen bore a daughter so beautiful that the king could not contain himself for joy, and he ordained a great feast. Not only did he bid to it his relations, friends, and acquaintances, but also the wise women, that they might be kind and favourable to the child. There were thirteen of them in his kingdom, but as he had only provided twelve golden plates for them to eat from, one of them had to be left out.
However, the feast was celebrated with all splendour; and as it drew to an end, the wise women stood forward to present to the child their wonderful gifts: one bestowed virtue, one beauty, a third riches, and so on, whatever there is in the world to wish for. And when eleven of them had said their say, in came the uninvited thirteenth, burning to revenge herself, and without greeting or respect, she cried with a loud voice: “In the fifteenth year of her age the princess shall prick herself with a spindle and shall fall down dead.” And without speaking one more word she turned away and left the hall. Everyone was terrified at her saying, when the twelfth came forward, for she had not yet bestowed her gift, and though she could not do away with the evil prophecy, yet she could soften it, so she said: “The princess shall not die, but fall into a deep sleep for a hundred years.”
Now the king, being desirous of saving his child even from this misfortune, gave commandment that all the spindles in his kingdom should be burnt up. The maiden grew up, adorned with all the gifts of the wise women; and she was so lovely, modest, sweet, and kind and clever, that no one who saw her could help loving her. It happened one day, she being already fifteen years old, that the king and queen rode abroad, and the maiden was left behind alone in the castle. She wandered about into all the nooks and corners, and into all the chambers and parlours, as the fancy took her, till at last she came to an old tower. She climbed the narrow winding stair which led to a little door, with a rusty key sticking out of the lock; she turned the key, and the door opened, and there in the little room sat an old woman with a spindle, diligently spinning her flax.
“Good day, mother,” said the princess, “what are you doing?” – “I am spinning,” answered the old woman, nodding her head. “What thing is that that twists round so briskly?” asked the maiden, and taking the spindle into her hand she began to spin; but no sooner had she touched it than the evil prophecy was fulfilled, and she pricked her finger with it. In that very moment she fell back upon the bed that stood there, and lay in a deep sleep.
And this sleep fell upon the whole castle; the king and queen, who had returned and were in the great hall, fell fast asleep, and with them the whole court. The horses in their stalls, the dogs in the yard, the pigeons on the roof, the flies on the wall, the very fire that flickered on the hearth, became still, and slept like the rest; and the meat on the spit ceased roasting, and the cook, who was going to pull the scullion’s hair for some mistake he had made, let him go, and went to sleep. And the wind ceased, and not a leaf fell from the trees about the castle. Then round about that place there grew a hedge of thorns thicker every year, until at last the whole castle was hidden from view, and nothing of it could be seen but the vane on the roof.
And a rumour went abroad in all that country of the beautiful sleeping Rosamond, for so was the princess called; and from time to time many kings’ sons came and tried to force their way through the hedge; but it was impossible for them to do so, for the thorns held fast together like strong hands, and the young men were caught by them, and not being able to get free, there died a lamentable death.
Many a long year afterwards there came a king’s son into that country, and heard an old man tell how there should be a castle standing behind the hedge of thorns, and that there a beautiful enchanted princess named Rosamond had slept for a hundred years, and with her the king and queen, and the whole court. The old man had been told by his grandfather that many king’s sons had sought to pass the thorn-hedge, but had been caught and pierced by the thorns, and had died a miserable death. Then said the young man: “Nevertheless, I do not fear to try; I shall win through and see the lovely Rosamond.” The good old man tried to dissuade him, but he would not listen to his words. For now the hundred years were at an end, and the day had come when Rosamond should be awakened. When the prince drew near the hedge of thorns, it was changed into a hedge of beautiful large flowers, which parted and bent aside to let him pass, and then closed behind him in a thick hedge. When he reached the castle-yard, he saw the horses and brindled hunting-dogs lying asleep, and on the roof the pigeons were sitting with their heads under their wings. And when he came indoors, the flies on the wall were asleep, the cook in the kitchen had his hand uplifted to strike the scullion, and the kitchen-maid had the black fowl on her lap ready to pluck.
Then he mounted higher, and saw in the hall the whole court lying asleep, and above them, on their thrones, slept the king and the queen. And still he went farther, and all was so quiet that he could hear his own breathing; and at last he came to the tower, and went up the winding stair, and opened the door of the little room where Rosamond lay. And when he saw her looking so lovely in her sleep, he could not turn away his eyes; and presently he stooped and kissed her.
And she awaked, and opened her eyes, and looked very kindly on him. And she rose, and they went forth together, and the king and the queen and whole court waked up, and gazed on each other with great eyes of wonderment. And the horses in the yard got up and shook themselves, the hounds sprang up and wagged their tails, the pigeons on the roof drew their heads from under their wings, looked round, and flew into the field, the flies on the wall crept on a little farther, the kitchen fire leapt up and blazed, and cooked the meat, the joint on the spit began to roast, the cook gave the scullion such a box on the ear that he roared out, and the maid went on plucking the fowl.
Then the wedding of the Prince and Rosamond was held with all splendour, and they lived very happily together until their lives’ end.
Nội dung tiếng Việt:
Ngày xưa, có một ông vua và một bà hoàng hậu ngày nào cũng mong: “Ước gì mình có một đứa con nhỉ?.” Nhưng ước hoài mà vua và hoàng hậu vẫn chưa có con.
Một hôm hoàng hậu đang tắm thì có một con ếch ở dưới nước nhảy lên bờ nói với bà:
– Điều bà mong ước bấy lâu sẽ thành sự thực. Hết năm nay bà sẽ sinh con gái.
Lời ếch tiên tri quả là đúng. Hoàng hậu sinh con gái đẹp tuyệt trần. Vua thích lắm, mở hội lớn ăn mừng. Vua mời tất cả bà con họ hàng, bạn bè thân thuộc, người quen và mời cả các bà mụ đến để họ tận tâm săn sóc, thương yêu con mình.
Trong nước bấy giờ có mười ba bà mụ. Nhưng vua chỉ có mười hai đĩa vàng, do đó một bà mẹ không được mời.
Hội hè linh đình. Lúc tiệc sắp tàn, các bà mụ đến niệm chú chúc mừng công chúa: Bà đầu chúc đức hạnh, bà thứ hai chúc sắc đẹp, bà thứ ba chúc giàu sang, phú quý… cứ như vậy các bà mụ chúc công chúa tất cả những điều tốt đẹp có thể mơ ước được ở trần gian. Bà thứ mười một vừa dứt lời chúc tụng thì bỗng bà mụ thứ mười ba xuất hiện. Bà muốn trả thù vì không được mời dự tiệc. Bà xăm xăm tiến tới chỗ công chúa chẳng thèm nhìn ai, chào ai. Bà hét lên:
– Đến năm mười lăm tuổi công chúa sẽ bị mũi quay sợi đâm phải rồi lăn ra chết!
Rồi chẳng thèm nói thêm nửa lời, bà đi ra khỏi phòng. Mọi người còn đang kinh hoàng thì bà mụ thứ mười hai bước ra. Bà tuy chưa niệm chú chúc tụng công chúa nhưng lời chú của bà cũng không giải được lời chú độc địa kia, mà chỉ làm giảm nhẹ được thôi. Bà nói:
– Công chúa sẽ không chết, mà chỉ ngủ một giấc dài trăm năm.
Nhà vua muốn tránh cho con khỏi bị nạn nên ra lệnh cấm kéo sợi trong cả nước. Tất cả những lời chúc của các bà mụ đều thành sự thực: công chúa xinh đẹp, đức hạnh, thùy mị, thông minh, ai thấy cũng phải yêu.
Chuyện xảy ra đúng lúc công chúa tròn mười lăm tuổi. Hôm ấy, vua và hoàng hậu đi vắng, công chúa ở nhà một mình, màng đi lang thang khắp cung điện, tạt vào xem tất cả các buồng và các phòng. Sau cùng nàng tới một chiếc cầu thang, nàng trèo lên từng bậc thang xoáy trôn ốc chật hẹp và dừng chân trước một chiếc cửa nhỏ. Ổ khóa có cắm một chiếc chùa đã rỉ, nàng cầm chìa quay thì cửa mở tung ra. Trong buồng có một bà già đang ngồi chăm chú kéo sợi. Nàng hỏi:
– Cháu xin chào bà, bà làm gì vậy?
Bà lão gật đầu đáp:
– Bà đang kéo sợi.
– Cái gì nhảy nhanh như cắt thế kia hở bà?
Nàng vừa mới sờ vào xa kéo sợi thì lời chú của bà mụ thứ mười ba hiệu nghiệm: nàng bị mũi quay đâm vào tay. Nàng ngã ngay xuống chiếc giường ở cạnh đó và thiếp đi. Cùng lúc, cả cung điện cũng rơi vào một giấc ngủ triền miên. Vua và hoàng hậu vừa về, mới bước chân vào buồng đã nhắm mắt ngủ luôn. Cả triều đình cũng lăn ra ngủ. Ngựa trong chuồng, chó ngoài sân, bồ câu trên mái nhà, ruồi đậu trên tường, tất cả đều ngủ. Cả ngọn lửa bếp đang chập chờn cũng đứng lặng. Thịt quay cũng ngừng xèo xèo. Bác đầu bếp thấy chú phụ bếp đãng trí, đang kéo tóc chú, bác cũng buông ra ngủ. Gió ngừng thổi. Cây trước lâu đài không một chiếc lá rụng.
Quanh lâu đài, bụi hồng gai mọc mỗi ngày một rậm, phủ kín cả lâu đài, chẳng còn nhìn thấy gì nữa, cả đến lá cờ trên mái cũng không thấy. Rồi ở trong miền ấy, nhân dân truyền tụng lại là có một bông hồng xinh đẹp đang ngủ triền miên. Người ta gọi công chúa là công chúa Hồng Hoa. Thỉnh thoảng cũng có một vài hoàng tử nghe kể về câu chuyện truyền thuyết ấy đã chui vào bụi hồng gai tìm cách vào lâu đài, nhưng bụi gai như có tay giữ chặt họ lại, khiến họ bị mắc nghẽn.
Cứ thế năm tháng trôi qua. Một ngày kia lại có một hoàng tử tới nước này. Chàng nghe một ông lão kể lại rằng sau bụi gai có một tòa lâu đài, ở đó có nàng công chúa Hồng Hoa ngủ triền miên đã được trăm năm. Vua, hoàng hậu và cả triều đình cũng đều ngủ cả. Ông lão còn bảo là theo lời tổ phụ kể lại thì đã có nhiều hoàng tử tìm cách chui qua bụi hồng gai nhưng đều bị mắc lại ở đó.
Nghe xong, hoàng tử nói:
– Con không sợ, con muốn tới đó để gặp nàng Hồng Hoa xinh đẹp.
Ông lão hết sức can ngăn, nhưng hoàng tử không nghe.
Hạn ngủ triền miên trăm năm đã qua, đã đến lúc công chúa Hồng Hoa tỉnh giấc. Hoàng tử đến gần bụi gai thì chỉ thấy toàn những bông hồng to tươi nở như đón chào và giãn lối để chàng đi khỏi bị xây xát. Chàng đi qua tới đâu bụi hồng gai khép kín lại đến đó. Vào tới sân lâu đài, chàng thấy ngựa và những con chó tam thể đang nằm ngủ. Trên mái nhà, chim bồ câu rúc đầu vào cánh lặng lẽ. Chàng vào cung thấy ruồi đậu im trên tường, bác đầu bếp ngủ trong tư thế giơ tay như định tóm đầu chú phụ bếp. Còn cô hầu gái thiếp đi khi đang ngồi làm dở lông con gà đen. Chàng đi vào điện chính thấy cả triều đình đều ngủ. Trên ngai vàng vua và hoàng hậu cũng đang ngủ. Cảnh vật im lặng như tờ. Có thể nghe thấy rõ hơi thở của chàng. Tiếp tục đi, chàng tới trước một căn phòng, đó chính là căn phòng nơi công chúa Hồng Hoa ngủ. Chàng mở cửa bước vào thấy nàng đang nằm, dáng đẹp lộng lẫy. Chàng ngắm nhìn không rời mắt, rồi cúi xuống hôn nàng. Chàng vừa đụng môi thì công chúa Hồng Hoa bừng tỉnh. Nàng mở mắt nhìn chàng trìu mến. Hai người dắt tay nhau đi xuống lầu. Vua, rồi hoàng hậu và cả triều đình đều đã tỉnh dậy. Ngựa ngoài sân đứng lên quẫy mình, chó săn nhảy lên ngoe ngoẩy đuôi, bồ câu trên mái nhà vươn cổ, ngóc đầu nhìn quanh rồi bay ra cánh đồng, ruồi bậu trên tường lại tiếp tục bò, lửa trong bếp lại bùng lên, chập chờn và đun thức ăn, thịt quay lại xèo xèo, bác đầu bếp cho chú phụ bếp một bạt tai làm hắn kêu toáng lên, cô hầu bếp làm nốt lông gà.
Lễ cưỡi của hoàng tử và công chúa Hồng Hoa được tổ chức linh đình. Hai vợ chồng sống trọn đời hạnh phúc
PENCIL AND ERASER
– Pencil: I’m sorry
– Eraser: For what? You didn’t do anything wrong.
– Pencil: I’m sorry because you get hurt because of me. Whenever I made a mistake, you’re always there to erase it. But as you make my mistakes vanish, you lose a part of yourself. You get smaller and smaller each time.
– Eraser: That’s true. But I don’t really mind. You see, I was made to do this. I was made to help you whenever you do something wrong. Even though one day, I know I’ll be gone and you’ll replace me with a new one, I’m actually happy with my job. So please, stop worrying. I hate seeing you sad.
I found this conversation between the pencil and the eraser very inspirational. Parents are like the eraser whereas their children are the pencil. They’re always there for their children, cleaning up their mistakes. Sometimes along the way, they get hurt, and become smaller / older, and eventually pass on. Though their children will eventually find someone new (spouse), but parents are still happy with what they do for their children, and will always hate seeing their precious ones worrying, or sad. All my life, I’ve been the pencil. And it pains me to see the eraser that is my parents getting smaller and smaller each day. For I know that one day, all that I’m left with would be eraser shavings and memories of what I used to have.
“We never know the love of our parents for us till we have become parents.”
Lời dịch:
– Bút chì: Mình xin lỗi
– Cục tẩy: Vì cái gì chứ? Cậu có làm gì sai đâu.
– Bút chì: Mình xin lỗi vì cậu phải chịu đau đớn vì mình. Bất cứ khi nào mình gây ra lỗi, cậu luôn ở đó để sửa sai giúp mình. Nhưng khi cậu làm biến mất những lỗi của mình, cậu cũng mất đi một phần của chính cậu. Cậu nhỏ dần đi sau mỗi lần như thế.
– Cục tẩy: Đúng vậy. Nhưng mình thực sự chẳng lấy làm phiền. Cậu thấy đấy, mình được tạo ra để làm công việc đó mà. Mình được tạo ra để giúp cậu bất cứ khi nào cậu làm sai điều gì. Mặc dù một ngày nào đó, mình biết mình sẽ biến mất và cậu sẽ thay thế mình bằng một cục tẩy mới, mình thực sự hạnh phúc với nhiệm vụ của mình. Vì thế, làm ơn đừng lo cho mình. Mình không thích thấy cậu buồn.
Tôi đã tìm thấy cuộc hội thoại đầy cảm xúc trên đây giữa bút chì và cục tẩy. Những người làm cha mẹ cũng giống như cục tẩy trong khi con cái chính là bút chì. Cha mẹ luôn có mặt để sửa chữa những sai lầm của con cái. Đôi khi trên chặng đường đó, cha mẹ phải chịu đau đơn và nhỏ đi/ già đi, và thậm chí qua đời. Và dù con cái họ cuối cùng tìm được một ai đó mới (vợ hoặc chồng), nhưng cha mẹ vẫn luôn hạnh phúc với những gì họ làm cho con mình, và không khi nào muốn thấy những đứa con thân yêu của mình phải lo lắng hay bồn phiền. Suốt cuộc đời mình, tôi đa luôn là một cây bút chì và thật đau lòng khi thấy cục tẩy là cha mẹ mình hàng ngày cứ hao mòn dần đi. Tôi biết rằng một ngày nào đó, tất cả những gì còn lại với tôi sẽ chỉ là những vụn tẩy và những kỷ niệm đã từng có.
“Chúng ta không bao giờ biết hết tình yêu thương cha mẹ dành cho chúng ta cho đến khi chúng ta trở thành người cha, người mẹ”.
MƯU KẾ CỦA CHIM
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