16.【原声朗读】Chapter 2-2 Photos on the ofrenda

    CHAPTER2-2

    Miguel followed his abuelita to the ofrenda room with the pile ofgolden blooms. The room was bright and open, dominated by a wall lined withtables and shelves covered with pictures, candles, flowers, and food offeringsto the ancestors.

    米格捧着一大堆金灿灿的万寿菊，跟着奶奶走进放灵坛的房间。房间明亮而宽敞，桌子和架子靠着墙被摆成一排，上面放满了祭奠祖辈用的照片、蜡烛、鲜花和食物。

    Mamá Coco was already there. Miguel pouted as Abuelita arranged the flowers on theshrines.

    可可已经在房里了。米格噘着嘴，看着奶奶在神龛上摆放菊花。

    “Don't give me that look,” Abuelita said to Miguel. “It's the onenight of the year when our ancestors can visit us. We put their photos on theofrenda so their spirits can cross over. If we don't put them up, they can'tcome! We made all this food, m'ijo, and set out the things they loved in life. All this work to bring the family together. I don't want you sneaking off to who knows where.”

    “别这样看我。”奶奶对米格说，“我们的祖辈只能在今晚来看看我们，一年就这一回。我们把他们的照片摆到灵坛上，这样他们的灵魂才能穿越回来。如果不摆好，他们就回不来！孩子，我们做这些食物，摆好他们生前喜欢的东西。做这一切就是想让一家人过个团圆夜。我不希望你又溜去什么鬼地方。”

    She looked up from the altar just in time to catch Miguel slipping out of the room.

    说着她抬起头，正好看到米格蹑手蹑脚地准备离开房间。

    “Where are you going?” she huffed.

    “你要去哪儿？”她怒气冲冲地问。

    “I thought we were done,” Miguel said, turning around.

    “我以为我们做完了。”米格转过身说。

    “Ay, Dios mío,” she muttered. “Being part of this family means being HERE for this family. I don't want to see you end up like...” She gazed up at the photo of Mamá Imelda.

    “哎，上帝啊。”她咕哝道，“身为家庭的一员，就是要在这儿守护着这个家。我可不想看到你最后像……”她抬头盯着梅尔达的照片。

    “Like Mamá Coco's papá?”

    “像可可太奶奶的爸爸一样？”

    “Never mention that man!” Abuelita snapped, sliding a sideways glance toward Mamá Coco.“He's better off forgotten.”

    “不许提那个男人！”奶奶打断了他的话，斜着眼看了一下可可，厉声说道，“他被忘掉最好！”

    “But you're the one who—”

    “可是是你……”

    “Ta, ta, ta—tch!”

    “嗒，嗒，嗒！”

    “Papá?” Mamá Coco said suddenly. Abuelita and Miguel turned toward Mamá Coco. She was anxiously looking around the room. “Papá is home?”

    “爸爸？”可可突然叫道。奶奶和米格立马转向她。可可正焦急地环顾四周，问道：“爸爸回来了？”

    “Mamá, cálmese, cálmese,” Abuelita said, rushing to comfort her mom.

    “妈妈，冷静点，冷静点。”奶奶连忙跑过去安抚她的母亲。

    “Papá is coming home?” Mamá Coco asked again.

    “爸爸要回来了？”可可又问了一遍。

    “No, Mamá. It's okay, I'm here,” Abuelita said. Mamá Coco looked up with a blank stare.

    “没有，妈妈。好了，我在这儿呢。”奶奶说。可可茫然地望着她。

    “Who are you?” Mamá Coco asked.

    “你是谁？”可可问。

    Abuelita's face dropped, but she recovered with a gentle smile.“Rest, Mamá,” she said.

    奶奶的脸沉了下来，但她很快又恢复了温和的笑容。“休息一下吧，妈妈。”

    She returned to the altar and continued her lecture. “I'm hard on you because I care, Miguel.” She stopped and looked around the room. “Miguel?Miguel?” She let out a long sigh when she realized that he'd slipped out. “What are we going to do with that boy?”

    说完，她回到灵坛边，继续她的说教，“对你严厉是因为我在乎你，米格。”奶奶停了下来，环顾房间。“米格？米格？”她长长地叹了口气，米格已经溜走了。“这孩子，该拿他怎么办好呢？”