Article #46 Home Alone
第46篇 一个人在家
I remember the first time that my parents left me home alone.
我记得我父母第一次把我一个人留在家里。
I was very grown up, and I thought that I would be just fine.
我已经长大了，我想我会过得很好的。
I was fine for a while.
有一阵子我还好。
I watched television and had something to eat.
我看了电视，吃了点东西。
I called my friend on the phone, and we talked for a while.
我给我的朋友打电话，我们聊了一会儿。
Then, I sat down to read a book.
然后，我坐下来看书。
The house was quiet, very quiet.
房子里很安静，非常安静。
I found myself listening very carefully.
我发现自己听觉变得敏锐起来。
I heard a tap, tap tapping noise.
我听到了嗒嗒，嗒嗒的声音。
I wondered where it was coming from.
我想知道声音是从哪里来的。
It seemed to be coming from the window.
好像是从窗户里传出来的。
I turned out the lights so that nobody would see me, and I peeked out the window carefully.
我把灯关了，这样没有人会看见我，我小心地向窗外偷看。
I was expecting to see a robber tapping at my window.
我以为会看到一个强盗在敲我的窗户。
There was nobody there.
结果一个人也没有。
It was just a tree branch swaying in the breeze and tapping at my window.
那只是一根树枝在微风中摇曳，敲打着我的窗户。
I felt silly.
我觉得自己很愚蠢。
I turned on the lights and sat back down to read my book.
我打开灯，坐下来读我的书。
A few minutes later, I heard some creaking noises.
几分钟后，我听到吱吱嘎嘎的声音。
I listened carefully.
我侧耳倾听。
Then, I heard a clunking noise.
然后，我听到一种沉闷的声音。
I think it might have been the furnace.
我想可能是炉子。
Then there was a whirring noise.
然后是一阵呼噜呼噜的声音。
My imagination began to play tricks on me.
我的想象力开始作怪。
I was imagining that there were all kinds of creatures in the house.
我想象着房子里有各种各样的怪物。
I told myself to grow up.
我告诉自己要长大。
I wouldn't let my imagination run away with me.
我不会被想象力牵着鼻子走的。
I was glad when my parents got home.
我很开心父母这时回家了。
I told them about all the noises that I had heard.
我告诉他们我听到的所有噪音。
My parents laughed and said that all houses make noises.
我的父母笑着说所有的房子都会发出噪音。
We're usually just so busy that we don't hear all the noises that go on.
我们平常太忙了，所以听不到外面的噪音。
I have stayed home alone many times now.
现在我已经多次独自呆在家里了。
I just ignore all the little creaks and noises that I hear.
我忽略了所有滴滴答答的小动静。
I am still alert and listen for anything suspicious, but I know that there are lots of noises that are harmless.
我仍然保持警惕，留意任何可疑的东西，但我知道有很多响声是无害的。
That tree that taps on my window still frightens me sometimes, but I'm a lot braver now than I was the first time that I stayed home alone.
那棵敲在我窗户上的树有时仍然让我害怕，但我现在比第一次独自呆在家里时勇敢多了。