23 Franklin ANT THE GRUMP 富兰克林和坏脾气的人

富兰克林会数数和系鞋带，也很有礼貌的会说请、谢谢，但是有一天，他碰到一个坏脾气的人时，却不知道说啥了。

Franklin could count by twos and tie his shoes. He knew when to say please and when to say thank you. But one day, Franklin didn't know what to say when he met someone who was grumpy.

B: Okay, Franklin. Ready?

F: Not really. But let's give it a try anyway!

B: Okay. Here goes! Boy, am I out of practice! In summer we play baseball, in winter we play snowball!

F: Okay, Bear, Try again. Good one Bear. I've got it! Whoa!

Bv: Lose something, Franklin?

F: Thanks Beaver!

G: Aaaaaahhhhhhhhh….!

Bv: No one plays baseball in the middle of winter. You guys are crazy!

B: Crazy about baseball!

F: Besides, we want to be ready for spring. After all, it's just around the corner!

B: It is.

G: But I just got new skis!

Bv: Don't worry Goose. We're going to have lots more winter! See you guys later.

F: See ya………. Have fun before the snow melts! Okay, Bear, hit me a high one! Whoa. That's a giant pop fly. Ooops.

B: Sorry Franklin.

F: That's okay. I'll ask Mr. Groundhog if I can go into his backyard and get it. I don't hear anyone, Bear.

B: There's smoke coming out of the chimney. And look, footprints going to the mailbox and back.

F: Oh yeah.

G: GO AWAY. IT'S NOT EVEN FEBRUARY THE SECOND!

B: Gee, what's wrong with him?

F: I don't know. He's usually really friendly.

B: Let's come back and get your ball on February the second.

F: Wait. What if it snows again? I won't find it until spring.

B: Spring's just around the corner.. Right Franklin?

F: I don't know that for sure. Uh, Mr. Groundhog? It's me, Franklin.

G: I suppose you want to know when spring's coming, don't you?

F: Uh, no. I wanted to get my ball. It went into your backyard.

B: Uh, no. I don't think he wanted to hear that.

G: Uh, sorry about that mis-understanding lads. I thought you came here to find out when spring is coming.

B: Um… Franklin's telling everybody that spring in just around the corner. What do you think, Mr. Groundhog?

G: That is a matter I do not wish to discuss. You have my permission to get your ball. Now good day to you.

B: What'd I say?

F: Too much, I guess. Let's just get my ball.

B: Wait up, Franklin.

F: He was really grumpy, and all I wanted was to get my baseball from his yard.

M: That's odd. He's always very friendly.

F: Not today! He said, Go away! It's not even February the second! That's how he said it, just like that.

D: Ahhh, February the second…. Groundhog Day.

F: Groundhog Day?

D: Yes, that's this Saturday. Everyone will be gathering outside his house to find out if he sees his shadow.

F: There's a special day for that? I see my shadow all the time and no one calls it Franklin Day.

M: It's an old tradition that if Mr. Groundhog sees his shadow on that day, it means we're in for six more weeks of winter.

D: And if he DOESN'T see it, spring's coming soon. It's a big responsibility and maybe the pressure makes him edgy.

M: The thing to remember is, if someone is grumpy toward you, you don't have to be grumpy back.

F: The other thing to remember is, stay clear of Mr. Groundhog until after February the second.

M: Good morning, Mrs. Bear. Good morning, Franklin.

F: Hi, Mr. Mole!

M: How do the snowflakes taste today!

F: Cold, like they always do. Awww…..Aah!

G: Ooops! Excuse me.

F: Um, you look like you could use some help.

G: That's very kind of you, but no thank you.

F: Pardon?

G: I said that's very kind of you, but no thank you.

F: Mr. Groundhog!

Mr. Groundhog?!

Look over there, it's Mr. Groundhog!

It is him!

Well, look who's here!

M: Say there, Mr. Groundhog! How about a few more weeks of winter so I can sell the rest of my snow shovels.

More winter?! Oh! Great-scott, Mr. Groundhog! Let's have an early spring so I can get a jump on my gardening!

Oh now, don't you listen to her Mr. Groundhog! As soon as the spring weather comes, everyone's too busy outside to visit me at the library!

G: Oh! Here we go….. everyone leave me alone!

F: His cocoa. Mr. Groundhog!

G: Everybody leave me alone!

F: But…. Your cocoa! Awwww, why me? If someone is grumpy …. Don't be grumpy back. Okay, here goes.

G: I SAID GO AWAY!

F: I'll just leave your cocoa here on the porch Mr. Groundhog!

G: ……Ohhhh. Franklin.

F: Yes, Mr. Groundhog?

G: Thank you… That was really thoughtful.

F: You're welcome.

G: I was just going to make myself a cup of cocoa. I don't mind making an extra one if you don't mind talking to an old grump.

F: Okay…. And I won't talk about the weather. Gee, I like all the things you have here.

G: Oh, you find them interesting, do you?

F: Yeah. You must know a lot about the weather….Ooops. I'm don't supposed to talk about the "W" word. I forgot. Sorry.

G: Not at all. I love talking about the weather.

F: You do?

G: Oh yes. I've devoted a good deal of my life to the study of meteorology. It's fascinating.

F: Do you study bugs too?

G: I study how they predict the weather.

F: You're just kidding, right?

G: No, I'm not. I use a number of methods to forecast the weather. Some scientific, and some, not-so scientific. Like this little caterpillar. Its heavy fur coat predicted we'd have a severe winter.

F: Wow. Is that true?

G: Well, some say it's just folklore and folderol but we did have a tough winter. Cricket chirps, they say, vary with the rise and fall of barometric pressure. And these little blue beetles, burrow underground if we're in for a dry spell.

F: Gee, that's neat.

G: It is neat. Isn't it?

F: And Dad told me you know when spring is coming by looking at your shadow.

G: Yes, well, that's another matter. Uh, there's the kettle. Have a seat, Franklin. Let me tell you how I feel about Groundhog Day.

F: That's okay. You don't have to .

G: No, I want to. Maybe you'll understand why I'm not looking forward to Saturday. Every February the second, I step out my door to face all the neighbours who want to know how much longer winter is going to last…. The trouble is, everybody wants a different forecast.

F: Yeah,… some of them want more winter and some want an early spring.

G: Exactly! It's the same thing every year. I can't please everybody.

F: Gee, that is a problem.

G: Well, it won't be a problem this year…. There's not going to be a Groundhog Day.

F: No Groundhog Day?!

G: Nope. This year I'm not coming out.

G: There they are, standing around in the cold, waiting for the big weather forecast. Well they've got a long wait ahead of them… because I'm not budging from this chair. Groundhog Day has been officially canceled. Go away!

F: It's me Mr. Groundhog. Franklin.

G: Ohh…. Sorry Franklin, but I told you the other day, I'm not coming out.

F: That's okay. You don't have to come out, because we're coming in!

G: Oh, well….

Hello, Mr. Groundhog! Good morning!

Happy Groundhog Day!

Beautiful Morning, isn't it?

Good morning, neighbour!

Hi. Mr. G!

Happy Groundhog Day!

G; Yes, good morning. Thank you.

Good to see you again.

Great day for a celebration, isn't it?

G: Franklin? What on earth is going on?

F: Well. I told my Mom and Dad what you said, and then they told a couple of neighbours and pretty soon the whole village was talking about it.

G: But why are they here?

F: To show you that they don't care just about the spring forecast. They wanted to come and celebrate the day with you.

G: All these neighbours have come to see me…. And not my shadow…

F: Hey Mr. Groundhog look! A turtle shadow! What does that mean?

G: It means a good friend is at my door and I should welcome him inside to join the party.

Happy Groundhog Day!