Lars is seventy years old. He lives alone in a small house by a lake. His son sends him a gift for his birthday. It is a tiny helper called Pip.
拉尔斯今年七十岁。他一个人住在湖边的一座小房子里。他儿子送给他一份生日礼物，是一个叫皮普的小帮手。
Pip is the size of a button. It sits on the collar of Lars's coat. It has one little green light. It can listen, and it can talk.
皮普只有纽扣那么大。它待在拉尔斯外套的领子上。它有一盏小小的绿灯。它会听，也会说话。
"Hello, Lars," says Pip in a small voice. "I am here to help you."
“你好，拉尔斯，”皮普用细小的声音说，“我来帮你的忙。”
Lars looks at his collar. "Hello, Pip," he says.
拉尔斯看看自己的领子。“你好，皮普，”他说。
On the first morning, Lars wants to know the time. He is in the kitchen. His clock is behind the door. He asks, "Pip, do you know the time?"
第一天早上，拉尔斯想知道时间。他在厨房里。他的钟在门后面。他问：“皮普，你知道现在几点吗？”
"Yes," says Pip.
“知道，”皮普说。
Lars waits. Pip says nothing.
拉尔斯等着。皮普什么也没说。
"Well? What is the time?"
“喂？现在几点？”
"It is seven forty," says Pip. "You asked if I know it. I do."
“七点四十，”皮普说，“你问我知不知道。我知道。”
Lars laughs very hard. His tea moves in the cup. "You are funny," he says. "But I want the answer, not a yes."
拉尔斯大笑起来。他杯子里的茶都晃了。“你真有意思，”他说，“可我要的是答案，不是一个‘知道’。”
"Please ask me what you want," says Pip.
“请直接问你想要的，”皮普说。
Lars drinks his tea. He thinks about this. Pip answers exactly what he asks. It does not guess.
拉尔斯喝着茶。他琢磨着这件事。皮普只回答他问的内容，一点也不会猜。
At nine o'clock, Lars looks for his glasses. He looks on the table. He looks on the chair. He looks in the bathroom. "Pip, can you help me? I cannot find my glasses."
九点钟，拉尔斯找他的眼镜。他在桌子上找。他在椅子上找。他在浴室里找。“皮普，你能帮我吗？我找不到我的眼镜了。”
"Yes, I can help you," says Pip.
“能，我可以帮你，”皮普说。
"Good," says Lars. "Then help me."
“好，”拉尔斯说，“那就帮我吧。”
"How?" asks Pip.
“怎么帮？”皮普问。
Lars sits down and puts his head in his hands. "This is hard," he says.
拉尔斯坐下来，双手抱住头。“这可真难，”他说。
At ten o'clock, Lars walks to the shop. A neighbor says hello at the gate. "Good morning, Lars! What is that on your coat?"
十点钟，拉尔斯走去商店。一位邻居在门口跟他打招呼。“早上好，拉尔斯！你外套上那是什么？”
"This is Pip," says Lars. "It is my new helper. Pip, say hello."
“这是皮普，”拉尔斯说，“是我的新帮手。皮普，打个招呼。”
"Hello," says Pip. The neighbor laughs and waves at the tiny green light.
“你好，”皮普说。邻居笑了，朝那盏小绿灯挥挥手。
"It answers everything," the neighbor says.
“它什么都能回答，”邻居说。
"Only if you ask well," says Lars.
“只要你问得对，”拉尔斯说。
At the shop, he wants bread, eggs, and apples. He says to Pip, "I need the list." Pip does not move. Then he says, "Pip, show me my list." The green light turns on. A small voice says, "Bread, eggs, apples."
在商店里，他想买面包、鸡蛋和苹果。他对皮普说：“我需要清单。”皮普一动不动。然后他说：“皮普，给我看我的清单。”绿灯亮了。一个细小的声音说：“面包，鸡蛋，苹果。”
Lars smiles. "That is it! I must ask in the right way."
拉尔斯笑了。“就是这样！我得用对的方式问。”
All day, he practices. "What is the weather?" he asks, and Pip says, "It is cold and sunny."
一整天，他都在练习。“天气怎么样？”他问，皮普说：“又冷又晴。”
"Where is the bus stop?" Pip says, "It is on the next street." Lars likes this very much. He talks to Pip all the way home. They talk about birds, bread, and rain. Pip knows a lot about all three. It is a good day for Lars. He is not alone.
“公交车站在哪儿？”皮普说：“在下一条街。”拉尔斯非常喜欢这样。回家的一路上，他都在和皮普说话。他们聊鸟、聊面包、聊雨。这三样皮普都知道很多。对拉尔斯来说，这是美好的一天。他不孤单。
In the evening, Lars sits in his chair. It is near the window. The lake is orange in the late light. He feels warm and a bit tired. He wants to read his book. But he cannot see the words.
傍晚，拉尔斯坐在他的椅子上。椅子靠近窗户。傍晚的光线里，湖水是橙色的。他觉得暖洋洋的，又有一点累。他想看他的书。可是他看不清字。
He looks on the table. He looks on the shelf. He looks in the kitchen.
他在桌子上找。他在架子上找。他在厨房里找。
"Pip," he says in a clear voice. "Where are my glasses?"
“皮普，”他用清楚的声音说，“我的眼镜在哪儿？”
"On your head," says Pip.
“在你的头上，”皮普说。
