Can I Help?

Tuesday evening Mum is busy in the kitchen. There are vegetables on the cutting board and a pot of rice on the stove. Lin Hao finishes two pages of homework and walks in. The kitchen is warm, and Mum's hands are wet.

星期二晚上，妈妈在厨房里忙着。 砧板上有蔬菜，炉子上有一锅米饭。 林浩写完两页作业，走进来。 厨房很暖和，妈妈的手是湿的。

"Can I help?" he asks. Mum looks surprised, then pleased. "Yes. Please wash the grapes and set the table," she says. Lin Hao washes the grapes twice, because they still look dusty the first time.

他问：“我能帮忙吗？” 妈妈先是一愣，接着高兴起来。 她说：“好。请把葡萄洗一下，再摆碗筷。” 葡萄他洗了两遍，因为第一遍看起来还有灰。

He puts three bowls and three pairs of chopsticks on the table. Dad comes home just then and says, "What a good helper." Lin Hao feels useful, not only like a child who waits for food. When dinner is ready, the grapes are cold and sweet.

他把三只碗和三双筷子放到桌上。 爸爸正好回来，说：“真是个好帮手。” 林浩觉得自己有用，而不只是等吃饭的小孩。 晚饭好了，葡萄又凉又甜。

After dinner he washes his own bowl. Mum says, "Thank you. Helping at home is also a kind of study." Lin Hao does not quite understand that sentence, but he likes the sound of it. Tomorrow he can help again, even if the job is small.

晚饭后，他自己洗了自己的碗。 妈妈说：“谢谢。在家帮忙，也是一种学习。” 那句话林浩还不太懂，可他喜欢这话的声音。 明天他还可以再帮，哪怕只是小事。