雙語讀電影 《恐龍當家》第03章 :我才不是膽小鬼呢！

By the time they were ten years old, Libby and Buck both had their marks on the silo. Libby could plow nice, straight lines and made her mark when she plowed an entire field. Buck was super strong and was able to lift heavy things. He made his mark when he chopped down dozens of trees, making space for a new field of crops.

Arlo had yet to make his mark and the gaping hole where his print was supposed to be was a constant reminder. As he grew, instead of having less fear, he seemed to be weighed down by it more and more.

Everyone expected him to make his mark by successfully tackling his squawker-feeding chore. But he always ended up running scared. It seemed that where Libby and Buck were determined to succeed, Arlo was destined to fail. He felt terrible about it, and the knot in his stomach produced more anxiety and fear with each passing day.

Though hopeful and supportive, even Momma and Poppa started to grow a little concerned. “Don’t worry,” Poppa said one evening to Momma. “He’ll get there. He’s just not quite ready yet.”

One day, Arlo decided it was finally time for things to change. He was sick and tired of being the only family member without a mark. Arlo was determined to take on the squawkers and made a secret promise to himself that he would finish the job—by any means necessary.

I’m bigger than them, I’m bigger than them, he thought over and over, trying to fight off his fears with positive thinking. He took a deep breath and went into the coop, armed with corn kernels and ready to do something big!

Once inside, Arlo tried to intimidate the squawkers: “I hope you guys are ready to get fed! Because I’m going to scatter these kernels and you’re going to eat them and love them and be nourished! Nothing’s going to stop me!”

But just as Arlo started to scatter the feed, Buck jumped out and frightened Arlo! He nearly fainted and Buck howled with laughter. Once he could breathe again, Arlo’s whole body burned with an intense anger. He furiously launched toward Buck, attacking him. “Why you gotta always mess me up?” Arlo screamed.

“Me?” Buck asked. Then he effortlessly threw Arlo to the ground. “You mess up your jobs and make more work for everyone else! And you’re a coward.”

As they wrestled, Libby, Momma, and Poppa ran outside.

“Buck!” Momma yelled, causing Buck to back off.

Arlo sat up. “I ain’t a coward!” he yelled, holding back tears. “And I’m gonna make my mark, just like him and you and everybody!”

Poppa approached Arlo. “Makin’ your mark means you’ve done somethin’ big for somethin’ bigger than yourself,” he said.

“You need a little more time, Arlo,” said Momma, soothingly.

Arlo stared down at the ground, feeling low. “Forget it,” he said, walking off. “I didn’t even want that dumb mark anyway,”

Momma and Poppa shared a concerned look. “I have an idea,” Poppa said.

That night, while everyone was sleeping, Poppa gently woke Arlo. “Come on,” he whispered.

Arlo rubbed his eyes and groggily followed Poppa outside, where they stood in a field surrounded by darkness.

Even though he was with Poppa, he didn’t like being out there at night. He heard wild animals in the distance. And the dark, jagged edges of Clawtooth Mountain looked like they could chomp down on the whole farm at any moment. Arlo wanted to go back inside, but Poppa insisted he stay. “Take a walk out there,” he said.

Arlo went and stood in the middle of the big, open field. An ugly bug landed on his nose and he whimpered with fear. “Poppa!” he whispered urgently.

Suddenly Poppa was at Arlo’s side. He calmly and gently blew on the bug. It pulsed with light—it was a f?iref?ly! Relieved, Arlo smiled and stared at the glowing bug on his nose with wonder. Then it spread its wings and took f?light, f?lashing into the night.

Poppa faced Arlo. “Sometimes you have to work through your fear to see the beauty on the other side,” he said earnestly.

Then Poppa slowly brushed his tail across the grass, sweeping it this way and that. Like magic, hundreds of fireflies slowly rose up, out of the grass, flickering their beautiful yellow lights. It was incredible!

Arlo listened carefully, trying to set Poppa’s words permanently into his mind. He wanted to remember them, but more than that, he wanted to be able to do it. He wished that he could be less fearful; he wished he could be more like Poppa.

Then, wanting to try Poppa’s trick, Arlo ran through the field, forcing more fireflies to float up, flickering and flashing.

Arlo and Poppa continued and the two painted beautiful arcs and spirals of light against the big, dark sky. Arlo looked up at his big, strong Poppa and smiled.

In the stillness, Poppa turned to his son: “Arlo, I’ve got a job for you tomorrow. That is if you still want that mark.”

Arlo smiled with anticipation.