The Footprints in the Snow

Every snowy morning, Kwame saw fresh footprints in his backyard. They crossed from one side of the yard to the other. He never saw anyone make them. The footprints always appeared before he woke up.

每个下雪的早晨，夸梅都会在后院里看到新的脚印。脚印从院子的一侧延伸到另一侧。他从没见过是谁留下的。脚印总是在他醒来之前就出现了。

One snowy Saturday, Kwame decided to find out who made them. He woke up very early and looked out his window. It was still dark outside. He waited by the window and watched the yard.

在一个下雪的星期六，夸梅决定弄清楚是谁留下的。他起得很早，从窗户往外看。外面还是黑的。他守在窗边，盯着院子。

After a while, a man walked across the yard. He carried a bag over his shoulder. Kwame recognized him as Amos, a neighbor from two houses down. Kwame opened his back door and stepped outside.

过了一会儿，一个男人穿过院子。他肩上背着一个袋子。夸梅认出他是阿莫斯，是隔着两户人家的邻居。夸梅打开后门，走了出去。

"Excuse me!" he called. "Can I ask you something?" Amos stopped and turned around, surprised.

“打扰一下！”他喊道，“我能问你点事吗？”阿莫斯停下脚步，惊讶地转过身来。

"I'm sorry," Amos said. "I didn't mean to wake you." "It's okay," Kwame said. "I just want to know why you cross my yard every morning."

“对不起，”阿莫斯说，“我不是故意吵醒你的。”“没关系，”夸梅说，“我只是想知道，你为什么每天早上都穿过我的院子。”

Amos smiled. "I deliver the newspapers on this street," he said. "My usual street is closed for repairs right now. Your yard is a quick way to reach the next block."

阿莫斯笑了。“我给这条街送报纸，”他说，“我平时送的那条街现在在修路，封了。穿过你的院子，去下一个街区最快。”

"That makes sense," Kwame said. "I thought it was a mystery." Amos laughed. "No, just an old man with a heavy bag," he said.

“原来是这样，”夸梅说，“我还以为是个谜呢。”阿莫斯笑了起来。“不是谜，只是一个背着沉重袋子的老头子，”他说。

Kwame thought for a moment. "I can leave the side gate open for you," he said. "It will be a simple path for you."

夸梅想了一会儿。“我可以给你把侧门开着，”他说，“这样你走起来就方便了。”

"That's very kind of you," Amos said. "Thank you, Kwame."

“你真是太好心了，”阿莫斯说，“谢谢你，夸梅。”

The next morning, Kwame watched for Amos again. When he saw Amos cross the yard, he opened the door. He waved, and Amos waved back and continued down the street.

第二天早上，夸梅又等着阿莫斯。看到阿莫斯穿过院子时，他打开了门。他挥了挥手，阿莫斯也挥手回应，然后继续沿着街道走去。