Our Good Day

Our Good Day

     If you give me five dollars I will be your friend forever. That's what the little one tells me.
　　Five dollars is cheap since I don't have any friends except Cathy who is only my friend tillTuesday.
　　Five dollars, five dollars.
　　She is trying to get some body to chip in so they can buy a bicycle form this kid namedTito. They already have ten dollars and all they need is five more.
　　Don't talk to them, says Cathy. Can't you see they smell like a broom.
　　But I like them. Their clothes are crooked and old. They are wearing shiny Sunday shoeswithout socks. It makes their bald ankles all red, but I like them. Especially the big one wholaughs with all her teeth. I like her even though she lets the little one do all the talking.
　　Five dollars, the little one says, only five.

        Cathy is tugging my arm and I know whatever I do next will make her mad forever.

　　Wait a minute, I say, and run inside to get the five dollars I have three dollars saved and I take two of Nenny's. She's not home, but I'm sure she'll be glad when she finds out we own a bike. When I get back, Cathy is gone like I knew she would be , but I don't care. I have two new friends and a bike too.

　　My name is Lucy, the big one says. This here is Rachel my sister.

　　I'm her sister, says Rachel. Who are you?

　　And I wish my name was Cassandra or Alexis or Maritza—anything but Esperanza—but when I tell them my name they don't laugh.

        We come from Texas, Lucy says and grins. Her was born here, but me I'm Texas.

　　You mean she, I says.

　　No, I'm from Texas, and doesn't get it.

　　This bike is three ways ours, says Rachel who is thinking ahead already. Mine today, Lucy's tomorrow and yours day after.

　　But everybody wants to ride it today because the bike is new, so we decide to take turns after tomorrow. Today is belongs to all of us.

        But everybody wants to ride it today because the bike is new, so we decide to take turns after tomorrow. Today it belongs to all of us.

　　I don't tell them about Nenny just yet. It's too complicated. Especially since Rachel almost put out Lucy's eye about who was going to get to ride it first. But finally we agree to ride it together. Why not?

　　Because Lucy has long legs she pedals. I sit on the back seat and Rachel is skinny enough to get up on the handlebars which makes the bike all wobble as if the wheels are spaghetti, but after a bit you get used to it.　　

         We ride fast and faster. Past my house, sad and red and crumbly in places, past Mr. Benny's grocery on the corner, and down the avenue which is dangerous. Laundoromat, junk store, drugstore, windows and cars and more cars , and around the block back to Mango.

　　People on the bus wave. A very fat lady crossing the street says. You sure got quite a load there.

　　Rachel shouts. You got quite a load there too. She is very sassy.

　　Down, down Mango Street we go. Rachel, Lucy, me. Our new bicycle. Laughing the crooked ride back.　　　　

我们的好日子

        凯茜在拽我的胳膊，我知道，接下来我不管做什么，都会让她永远生我的气的。

　　等等。我说着跑到屋里拿了5块钱。我自己存有三块，又拿了蕾妮2块。她不在家，可我肯定，她发现我们有辆自行车会很高兴的。我回来的时候，凯茜走了，我知道她会这么做，可我不在乎。我有了两个新朋友和一辆自行车。

　　我叫露西，大的说。这是我妹妹瑞秋。

　　我是她妹妹。瑞秋说。你是谁？

　　我希望我的名字是卡桑德拉，或者阿勒克西斯，或者玛芮查——只要不是埃斯佩朗莎，什么名字都可以。可我告诉她们我的名字的时候，她们没有笑。

我从得克萨斯来，露西说着咧嘴一笑。她是在这里出生的，而我在得克萨斯。

　　你是说她吧。我说。

　　不，我是从得克萨斯来。她没听明白我的意思。

　　这辆车我们三个这么分配吧，拉切尔已经想在前面了。今天是我的，明天是露西的，后天是你的。

　　但是每个人都想今天骑车，因为这辆自行车是新的，所以我们决定在后天轮着骑。今天自行车属于我们所有人。

　    可每个人都想今天骑，因为车是新的。于是我们决定从明天开始轮流。今天它属于我们大家。

　　我还没有告诉他们蕾妮的事。事情太复杂了。尤其是，为了谁第一个骑的问题，瑞秋差点把露西的眼睛挖出来。最后我们同意一块骑，为什么不呢?

　　露西腿长，她来踩踏板。我坐在后座上，瑞秋足够苗条，她坐到了前杠上，弄得车子一个劲摇晃，好像轮子是实心意粉做的。不过一会儿我们就习惯了。