Want to Join Us?

School is over at four thirty, but many students stay on the playground. The sky is still bright, and the air feels cooler than at noon. Lin Hao puts his bag under a tree and watches a basketball game. The players run fast, and the ball makes a loud sound on the ground.

四点半放学了，可很多同学还留在操场上。 天还很亮，空气比中午凉快。 林浩把书包放在树下，看一场篮球赛。 球员跑得很快，球砸在地上声音很大。

A taller boy waves to him. "Want to join us? We need one more player," he shouts. Lin Hao is not the best at basketball, and for a second he wants to say no. Then he remembers Monday morning: I can try.

一个高一点的男生向他挥手。 他喊：“要不要一起来？我们还差一个人。” 林浩篮球打得不是最好，有一瞬间他想拒绝。 接着他想起星期一早上那句：我可以试试。

"Yes, I'd love to," he says, and he runs onto the court. He misses the first shot, but nobody laughs at him. Chen Yu passes the ball to him again. The second time, Lin Hao catches it and throws it more carefully.

他说：“好啊，我很愿意。”然后跑进场地。 第一个球没进，可没有人笑他。 陈宇又把球传给他。 第二次，林浩接住球，扔得更小心。

When the game ends, they are all tired and happy. The taller boy says, "See you tomorrow. Same place." Lin Hao picks up his bag. His shirt is dusty, but his smile is bright. Playing together makes a long school day feel lighter.

比赛结束时，大家又累又高兴。 高个子男生说：“明天见。还是这儿。” 林浩捡起书包。衣服上有灰，可笑容很亮。 一起玩，漫长的一天会轻松许多。