56 谈条件的富兰克林 Franklin'S BARGAIN

　　Franklin's Bargain

　　Franklin could count by twos and tie his shoes. He liked helping his parent and being given extra responsibilities. But one day, Franklin learned that the important responsibility is keeping his end of a bargain.

　　Bear?... What are you doing?

　　Hi, Franklin. I'm using my new Detective Kit.

　　Detective Kit?

　　I'm examining this footprint.

　　Thank you.

　　What for?

　　I think whoever left it might have also thrown this pop can on the ground.

　　Now what are you doing?

　　Dusting for fingerprints. That'll tell me who dropped it here.

　　Here. hold this open.

　　Gee, Bear, where'd you get all this neat stuff?

　　At Mr. Mole's store.

　　Does he have any more?

　　Sorry, Franklin. This was the last one.

　　Oh.

　　But he did have a Super Snooper Spy Kit. It has a real periscope and a Sound Magnifier so you can listen through doors.

　　Listen through doors?! Wow! How much is it?

　　Ten dollars, the same as the Detective Kit.

　　Hmmmmm...

　　If you want it, you'd better hurry up and buy it before someone else get it first.

　　They only had one left.

　　Only one?

　　Six dollars and twenty-one cents... Six dollars and twenty-two cents... By the time I can afford to buy the Super Snooper Spy Kit, it'll be gone for sure, Sam.

　　You're looking rather glum, Franklin.

　　There's really neat Super Snooper Spy Kit at Mr. Mole's store.

　　A Super Snooper Spy Kit? That does sound pretty neat.

　　But I don't have enough money to buy it, I need almost four more dollars.

　　Well that doesn't sound so bad. If you save your allowance for the next few weeks, you should have enough to buy it.

　　A few weeks is too long...

　　It might seem like that now, but the time will be gone before you know it.

　　So will the Super Snooper Spy Kit...there's one left in the store. Hmmm... why don't we make a bargain, Dad? If I do some extra chores, you could give me my allowance for the next few weeks now.

　　Your mother and I never make advances on your allowance Franklin, you know that.

　　I know, but...just this once?

　　Well, with your Mom busy taking care of taking care of Harriet's cold, I HAVE been a little swamped with extra work...

　　I could help you get unswamped.

　　It would be nice to get that pile of dish out of the way.

　　Dishes? Gee... I don't like doing dishes. There are something else I could do?

　　I need to get those dishes done so I can get started on the garden this weekend. I've been so busy with everything else I haven't had a chance to even dig it up yet, let alone get it planted.

　　I love digging! I'll dig up the garden!

　　Okay, Franklin.

　　You've got a bargain.

　　Here's your advance.

　　Thanks Dad!

　　If you get started on the garden now, you should be finished by dinner time.

　　Um... Is it okay if I do that later? First I have to get ot the store before it closes.

　　Wow! Is this ever neat! This must be the Sound Magnifier.

　　Ah-choo! I want drink, mama.

　　I'll get you apple juice in a minute, Harriet, after you take your medicine.

　　It works!

　　Franklin? How's it going in the garden?

　　I haven't started yet, Dad. But I'll get right to it just as soon as I make sure my Super Snooper Spy Kit works okay... Okay? I see a dragon, Sam. a fire- breathing dragon! And there's a shark up ahead! It look like a Great Orange, the most dangerous shark in all the ocean. Gee, ah... It's late. I guess I'll have to dig the garden tomorrow.

　　Don't forget, Franklin. I wanna plant the garden tomorrow. It's already late in the season, and I can't put it off any longer.

　　I know, Dad. I'll dig it up right after breakfast.

　　I'll get it.

　　Hi! Franklin. Are you ready?

　　Ready?

　　We're going to play with your Super Snooper Spy Kit. Remember?

　　Wooops...I guess I forgot. Bear hasn't had a chance to play with the Spy Kit yet, so I'll dig the garden up this afternoon...okay, Dad?

　　You know, Franklin. The longer I wait to get started on these dishes, the taller the pile grows. A garden's a lot like a pile of dishes, don't you think? Franklin? Franklin?

　　I see it!

　　Are there any eggs?

　　Yes...four of them!

　　What color?

　　White...with little brown speckles.

　　What are they saying?

　　I can't hear them.

　　Here, let me try.

　　Well?

　　I can't hear anything either. Are you sure it works?

　　AAAH!

　　I told you it worked, Bear!

　　See you later, Franklin.

　　Whew! Whew! This is going to be harder than I thought. Maybe doing the dishes wouldn't be so bad after all.

　　Dad, I was thinking... if you want, I can do the...dishes instead.

　　Oh, dear. These library books were due to yesterday.

　　I'll take them back, Mom!

　　Bye, Mom.

　　Goodbye, Franklin.

　　Franklin?

　　And the fearless knight rode his horse across the river and...

　　My goodness, Franklin! Are you still here? The library's closing in five minutes.

　　Closing?

　　Gee, Dad. Why did you do that? It was my job.

　　I know, Franklin. But did you think you'd have enough time to do it before supper?

　　Uh...well...

　　Supper's ready!

　　No.

　　I didn't think so.

　　The garden has to be planted tomorrow, Franklin. If I keep putting it off, we won't have any vegetables this year. After all, there's no bargaining with the weatherman.

　　I guess I've been doing too much bargaining lately, haven't I?

　　It's easy to make a bargain, Franklin. The tough part is holding up your end of it.

　　I sure didn't hold up my end. And now you've done the garden work and the dishes.

　　Well, one thing about dirty dishes is that you never seem to run out of them.

　　I know... I'll do the dishes for a whole week! No wait...How about for two weeks?

　　I think one is plenty.

　　Thanks Day.

　　Are you finished, Son, or are you going to eat the plate, too?

　　Dad...

　　Uh...Down...uh...get down...want down... uh.

　　Franklin, could you play with Harriet for a while?

　　I have to get this load of laundry done.

　　Can we make a bargain, Dad?

　　Hmmm...

　　How about you play Super Spy with Harriet, while I do the dishes?!

　　Now that IS a bargain!

　　Hey!