双语 ● The Child’s Guardian Angel 孩子的守护天使
The Child’s Guardian Angel 孩子的守护天使
◎ Erma Bombeck
Once upon a time there was a child ready to be born. So one day he asked God, “They tell me you are sending me to earth tomorrow but how am I going to live there being so small and helpless?”
从前，有个孩子就要出生了。有一天，他问上帝：“他们对我说，你明天就要把我送到人间了。可是，我这么弱小和无助，怎么在那儿生活呢？”
God replied, “Among the many angels, I chose one for you. She will be waiting for you and will take care of you.”
上帝回答道：“我从众多天使中为你挑选了一位，她会守在你身边、照顾你。”
But the child wasn’t sure he really wanted to go. “But tell me, here in Heaven, I don’t do anything else but sing and smile, that’s enough for me to be happy.”
可小孩不敢确定自己是不是真的想去。“可是在天堂里，就算我什么事情都不做，只是唱唱笑笑，我就很开心了。”
“Your angel will sing for you and will also smile for you every day. And you will feel your angel’s love and be happy.”
“你的天使每天都会为你唱歌，为你微笑。你能感受到天使对你的爱。你会很幸福的。”
“And how am I going to be able to understand when people talk to me,” the child continued, “if I don’t know the language that men talk?”
“那我怎样才能听懂人类对我说的话呢？”孩子继续问道，“万一我听不懂人类的语言怎么办？”
God patted him on the head and said, “Your angel will tell you the most beautiful and sweet words you will ever hear, and with much patience and care, your angel will teach you how to speak.”
上帝拍了拍孩子的头，说道：“你的天使会用你从未听过的、最美丽、最动听的语言跟你说话。她还会耐心地教你说话。”
“And what am I going to do when I want to talk to you?”
“如果我想和你说话怎么办？”
But God had an answer for that question too. “Your angel will place your hands together and will teach you how to pray.”
对于这个问题，上帝心中早已有了答案：“你的天使会将你的双手合拢，教你如何祷告。”
“I’ve heard that on earth there are bad men, who will protect me?”
“我听说人间有坏人，那谁来保护我呢？”
“Your angel will defend you even if it means risking her life!”
“你的天使会保护你，哪怕献出她的生命。”
“But I will always be sad because I will not see you anymore,” the child continued warily.
“可我再也见不到你了，那样我会难过。”孩子小心翼翼地说道。
God smiled on the young one. “Your angel will always talk to you about me and will teach you the way for you to come back to me, even though I will always be next to you.”
上帝朝小孩笑了笑，说道：“尽管你我近在咫尺，你的天使还会经常提起我，并教你如何回到我的身边。”
At that moment there was much peace in Heaven, but voices from earth could already be heard. The child knew he had to start on his journey very soon. He asked God one more question, softly, “Oh God, if I am about to leave now, please tell me my angel’s name.”
这时，平静的天堂传来了人间的声音。小孩知道自己该启程了。于是，他又轻轻地问了一个问题：“噢，上帝！我就要走了，请你告诉我，我的天使叫什么名字。”
God touched the child on the shoulder and answered, “Your angel’s name is not hard to remember. You will simply call her Mommy.”
上帝拍了拍孩子的肩膀，答道：“你的天使有个很好记的名字。你就叫她——妈妈。”
