The Long Nap悠長午覺

Ella never liked to take naps. Whenshe was a baby， she would stay outside herbedroom all afternoon and play with toys.Her mother told her that Ella could onlysleep when it was dark outside， no matterhow dark and thick2 the curtains3 were inher room.

埃拉從不喜歡午睡。當她還是個嬰兒時，她會整個下午呆在臥室外面玩玩具。她的母親告訴她，無論她房間的窗簾有多暗多厚，埃拉都只在外面天黑的時候才會睡覺。

By the time Ella was in second grade atan elementary4 school， she couldn’t rememberthe last time she had taken a nap.Ella slept very well at night， but she thoughtthat naps were for babies and sick5 people.

在埃拉小學二年級的時候，她已經不記得上次午睡是什么時候了。埃拉晚上睡得很好，但她認為午睡是嬰兒和病人才會做的事。

But even when Ella was sick， shedidn’t sleep but read a book in bed.

但即使埃拉生病了，她也不睡午覺，而是躺在床上看書。

One day， Ella came home from schoolfeeling quite odd6. Her legs were heavy， andher back ached7. Her hands felt cold， buther face felt very hot. She felt like she hadjust run a long race， even though8 all shedid was spending ten minutes walking homefrom school， just as she did every afternoon.

一天，埃拉放學回家后感到很不舒服。她的雙腿沉重，后背疼痛。她感覺手很冷，但又覺得她的臉很熱。她覺得自己好像剛剛跑完一場長跑，盡管她所做的只是花十分鐘從學校走回家，正如她每天下午做的那樣。

Ella put down her schoolbagand yawned9 loudly. Her motherlooked up from the newspaper.“Ella， are you OK？ You don’tlook well.” She put a hand onElla’s forehead10. “You might becoming down with something.”

埃拉放下書包，大聲打了個哈欠。正在看報紙的母親抬起頭來?！鞍＠?，你沒事吧？你看起來不太好?！彼咽址旁诎＠念~頭上，“你可能生病了?！?/p>

“I don’t think I’m sick，”said Ella.

“ 我覺得我沒病?！卑＠f。

“Well， I think youshould stay in bed thisafternoon. Be sure to wear ablanket11 to stay warm，”Ella’s mother said.

“嗯，我認為你今天下午應該待在床上。一定要蓋上毯子保暖?！卑＠哪赣H說。

Ella didn’t think sheneeded a nap. But she did asshe was told and slowlywalked upstairs12 to her bedroom.

埃拉覺得自己不需要午睡。但她還是照做了，慢慢走上樓進了她的臥室。

Ella sat on her bed and pickedup a picture book. She thought shewould read until it was time fordinner， but when she opened thebook， she couldn’t focus13 on thewords. All the colors in the picturesseemed to swirl14. She thought she didtoo much reading.

埃拉坐在床上，拿起一本繪本。她以為她會一直讀到吃晚飯的時候，但當她打開書時，她無法把注意力集中在文字上。圖畫中所有的顏色似乎都在旋轉。她覺得自己看書看太久了。

“Maybe I should rest my eyes for abit，”Ella thought. She closed her eyes.

“也許我應該讓眼睛休息一下。”埃拉想，于是她閉上了眼睛。

When Ella opened her eyes again，her bedroom was dark. She opened thedoor and looked out into the hall.“Mom？” she called. But no one answered.The whole house was quiet， andall the lights were off.

當埃拉再次睜開眼睛時，她的臥室一片漆黑。她打開房門，向走廊望去?！皨寢?？”她喊道。但是沒有人回答。整個房子很安靜，所有的燈都關了。

Ella carefully walked downstairs15and turned on the kitchen light. Shelooked at the clock on the wall. It was11：30 at night！ “I must have been tiredafter all，”thought Ella. She found thatshe had slept all afternoon. She hadmissed dinner， and now her mother mustbe in bed sleeping.

埃拉小心翼翼地走下樓，打開廚房的燈。她看了看墻上的鐘。晚上11 點半了！“我一定是累了。”埃拉想。她發現自己睡了一下午。她錯過了晚餐，現在媽媽一定上床睡覺了。

“I guess I needed a nap after all，”thought Ella as she made her way backupstairs to bed.

“我想我之前還是需要午睡一會兒的?！卑＠贿呄胍贿吷蠘撬X了。

（英語原文選自院readingvine.com）