亚历克斯与蓝松鸦 🪺（重播故事）

给大人们的一条简短信息。家长们，我们都经历过全家各自盯着屏幕的时刻。如果能找到一项大家都喜欢的、积极又有趣的活动，那该多好？各地的许多家庭正在发现 NeXT Playground——一个用身体驱动的互动游戏系统。无需手柄或可穿戴设备，全靠自然动作，100% 趣味十足。

A short message for grown ups. Parents, we've all had those times when the whole family is off on their own screens. Wouldn't it be great to find something active and fun that everyone agrees on? Families everywhere are discovering NeXT Playground, an active game system where your body powers the play. No controllers or wearables, just natural 100% motion driven fun.

在客厅里，你就能和《驯龙高手》一起飞翔，和芭比一起跳舞，在《加比娃娃屋》里戳泡泡，或者跟功夫熊猫学招式。更棒的是，NEXT Playground 完全适合孩子：无广告、无内购、无成人内容，只有干净纯粹的快乐，陪伴漫长夏日。想了解更多？

Fly with How to Train Your Dragon, dance with Barbie, pop bubbles in Gabby's Dollhouse, or master moves with Kung Fu Panda, all from your living room. Even better, NEXT Playground is totally kid safe. No ads, no in app purchases, and no mature content. Just good, clean fun for long summer days. Want to learn more?

请访问 nexplayground.com，也就是 nexplayground.com，今天就探索适合全家一起动的游戏吧。朋友们，大家好，欢迎收听《Sleep Tight Stories》。亚历克斯住在蒙塔古郊外的一栋老房子里，他总觉得自己的家太偏僻。他记得以前和朋友们在后院玩耍、在树林里奔跑的情景，可此刻他们都不在身边。

Visit nexplayground.com. That's nexplayground.com to explore active family gaming today. Hello, friends, and welcome to Sleep Tight Stories. Alex lives in an old house just outside of Montague, and he feels like his house is too far away. He remembers all his friends playing in the backyard and running through the woods with him, but they're not here right now.

妈妈让他出去探险；就在他准备回屋吃晚饭时，眼角突然闪过一抹亮色。《亚历克斯与蓝松鸦》。小家伙，怎么了？你今天看起来闷闷不乐。学校出了什么事，还是作业让你头疼？

Alex's mom tells him to go out and explore, and just before he heads back in for dinner, he sees a flash of color out of the corner of his eye. Alex and the Blue Jay. What's wrong, little man? You're looking kind of down in the dumps today. Did something happen at school, or is your homework giving you trouble?

我数学可厉害了，需要帮忙尽管说。厨房里传来妈妈的喊声，老旧的地板在她来回走动时吱呀作响。亚历克斯坐在桌边收拾作业。“没，我的作业小菜一碟，没问题。”他嘟囔着。

I was a whiz at math if you need some help. Alex's mother called from the kitchen, the floor creaking beneath her feet as she moved from one side to the other. Alex sat at the table packing up his homework. No, my homework's easy peasy. No big deal, he mumbled.

“只是大家都太忙了。我的朋友们放学后都有一堆活动，没空过来玩。我就只有冰球，而且训练也不多。”他说着，一边揪着桌布磨毛的边缘。妈妈从水槽抬头，双手还泡在肥皂水里：“我知道这很难熬，亚历克斯，但这周末你不是能见到他们吗？”

It's just everyone's super busy. All my friends have tons of afternoon activities and can't come over to hang out. All I have is hockey, and I don't even have that many practices, he said, picking at the frayed edge of the tablecloth. His mom glanced up from the sink, her hands deep in soapy water. I know it's hard, Alex, but you'll see your friends this weekend, won't you?

“嗯，也许吧。”他点点头。可周末像这栋城外老屋一样遥远。“既然作业写完了，干嘛不出去转转？咱们这儿地方大着呢——树林、田野，任你探索。”

Yeah, I guess, he nodded. Though the weekend felt far away, like everything else in their old house outside of town. Well, since you finished your homework, why don't you go outside for a bit? We've got all this space for you to explore. The woods, the fields.

“就是别下小溪，好吗？我可不想你新牛仔裤沾满泥巴。”亚历克斯对此提不起劲，但还是走到后门，套上运动鞋、披上外套，迈步出去。阳光正好，却没能提振他的心情。去年夏天，后院还回荡着朋友们的笑声和奔跑声，大家玩得不亦乐乎。

Just stay out of the stream, okay? I don't want your new jeans all covered in mud. Alex wasn't too excited about the idea, but he went to the back door, pulled on his sneakers and jacket, and stepped outside. The sun was shining, but it didn't do much to lift his mood. Last summer, the backyard had been noisy with his friends laughing and running around, playing games.

亚历克斯仍记得他们穿梭在树间，假装在进行某种冒险。可如今，他走到院子边缘，耳边只有风吹树叶的沙沙声。感觉变了——安静、孤单。

Alex could still remember how they raced through the trees, pretending they were on some kind of adventure. But now, as he walked to the edge of the yard, the only sound was the wind rustling through the leaves. It felt different. Quiet. Lonely.

亚历克斯一家住在一片“荒无人烟”的地方——蒙塔古小镇外的一栋老农舍。搬来时他还太小，无力反对。此前他们住在城里，附近总有孩子，他可以在街旁人行道上玩耍，尽管并不被允许。父亲常讲自己在这里长大的美好：打冰球、穿树林。亚历克斯也喜欢冰球和树林，可当所有朋友都住得很远时，一切都不一样了。

Alex and his family lived in the middle of what felt like nowhere, an old farmhouse outside a tiny town called Montague. They had moved here when Alex was too young to argue. Before that, they'd lived in the city where there were always kids around, where he could play on the streets and sidewalks, though he wasn't really supposed to. His father would tell stories about how great it was growing up here, playing hockey and running through the woods. Alex liked hockey and the woods too, but things felt different when all your friends were far away.

他连一只狗或猫都没有陪伴他。冬天最糟糕，因为没人愿意因为路况开车带他出门。那些路又没对我们做过什么坏事，他想。他叹了口气，弯腰捡起一根树枝，感受着粗糙的树皮在指尖。他在院子里闲逛，挥着棍子打落叶，懒洋洋地拍打着地上的叶子，就像在打高尔夫——那是他爸爸最爱的活动，除了开车送他去打冰球之外。

He didn't even have a dog or a cat to keep him company. Winter was the worst since no one wanted to drive him anywhere because of the roads. Like the roads ever did anything bad to us, he thought. He sighed and bent down to pick up a stick, feeling the rough bark under his fingers. Wandering through the yard, he swung the stick at fallen leaves, lazily swatting at the fallen leaves as if he were playing golf, his father's favorite activity, aside from driving him to hockey.

叶子在他脚下发出脆响，干燥清脆的声音填满了寂静。他能听到远处林子里传来鸟叫声，但这只让他更觉得孤单。它们也离得很远。当他走近树林时，眼角余光好像瞥见有什么东西在动。他猛地转头，却什么也没看到，只有树在风中轻轻摇晃。

The leaves crunched under his shoes, the dry, crisp sound filling the quiet. He could hear the distant call of birds somewhere in the woods, but it only made him feel more alone. They were far away, too. As he wandered closer to the trees, he thought he saw something move out of the corner of his eye. He looked quickly, but there was nothing there, just the trees swaying gently in the wind.

他站着不动，眯眼望向树林边缘的阴影，但不管那是什么，已经消失了。他们这地方什么动物都有。有一次一只浣熊晃过来，Alex觉得它可能能当个好宠物，结果他妈拿扫帚把它赶跑了。臭鼬也常来，不过它们有点味道问题。还有狐狸、野兔，有时甚至有大蛇在灌木丛里滑行。

He stood still squinting at the shadows near the edge of the woods, but whatever it was had disappeared. Their place had all kinds of animals. Once a raccoon had wandered by, and Alex thought it might make a good pet until his mom chased it off with a broom. Skunks came around too, but they had a bit of a smell problem. There were foxes, hares, and sometimes even large snakes that slithered through the underbrush.

你永远不知道院子里可能潜伏着什么。但刚才那个东西在他真正看清之前就消失了。正当他准备回屋时，他听到一声尖锐的叫声，像鸟叫，但比别的鸟更高更快。Alex僵住了，仔细听着。但那声音来得快去得也快。

You never knew what might be lurking in the yard. But whatever had moved just now was gone before he could catch a real glimpse. Just as he was about to head back to the house, he heard a sharp sound, like a bird's call, but higher and faster than the other. Alex froze, listening carefully. But the sound disappeared as quickly as it had come.

他站了一会儿，想着是不是自己想象出来的。或者也许林子里真的有什么新东西等着被发现。它就在那儿。就在树林边缘外，一根树枝上，停着Alex见过最亮的蓝色鸟。真酷，他一边想一边慢慢靠近。

He stood there for a moment, wondering if he'd imagined it. Or maybe there really was something new out there in the woods, to be found. There it was. Just beyond the tree line, perched on a branch, was the brightest blue bird Alex had ever seen. That's kind of cool, he thought to himself as he slowly approached.

当他走近时，那只鸟开始唱歌，但不像他听过的任何鸟。声音又响又刺耳。Alex捂住耳朵，紧闭双眼。哇，你可真是只吵人的鸟，他嘟囔着。当他睁开眼，那只鸟已经不见了，就像突然出现一样突然消失。

As he got closer, the bird began to sing, but not like any bird he'd heard before. The sound was loud and piercing. Alex covered his ears and squeezed his eyes shut. Wow, you are one loud bird, he muttered. When he opened his eyes, the bird had vanished, disappearing as suddenly as it had appeared.

Alex在树间转悠，希望能再看到那只蓝鸟。但他只找到了旧水枪玩具，他以为几周前就丢了。除了风吹叶子的沙沙声，林子又安静了。他想着再往森林深处探探，但他妈妈喊他吃晚饭的声音打断了计划。今晚他爸爸有会议，所以他们吃得早。

Alex wandered around the trees, hoping to catch another glimpse of the bluebird. But the only thing he found was his old water squirt toy, the one he thought he'd lost weeks ago. Aside from the rustling leaves in the wind, the woods were silent again. He thought about exploring deeper into the forest, but his mother's voice calling him for dinner interrupted his plans. His dad had a meeting tonight, so they were eating early.

从后门进屋时，Alex被一股温暖的蒜香和番茄酱味迎接。一定是意大利面之夜。妈妈，我在后院看到个很酷的东西，Alex兴奋地说。哦，晚饭吃什么？闻起来太香了。

Walking in through the back door, Alex was greeted by the warm smell of garlic and tomato sauce. It must be a spaghetti night. Mom, I saw something cool in the backyard, Alex said excitedly. Oh, and what's for dinner? It smells amazing.

我做了些意大利面和肉丸，他妈妈回答。你爸今晚时间不多，所以我们改天再吃他的黄油鸡。Alex一点也不介意。他反正更喜欢意大利面而不是黄油鸡。边洗手边告诉我你看到了什么，妈妈建议道。

I whipped up some spaghetti and meatballs, his mother replied. Your dad doesn't have much time tonight, so we'll have to save his butter chicken for another day. Alex didn't mind at all. He liked spaghetti better than butter chicken anyway. Tell me about what you saw while you wash your hands, his mom suggested.

嗯，有只超级吵的鸟。一开始我不知道那是鸟，因为我们住在这荒野里。有那么一秒，我还以为是熊。但我还是去看了。它是非常亮的蓝色，当我试图靠近时，它就飞走了。

Well, there was this super loud bird. At first, I didn't know it was a bird because we live out here in the wilderness. And for a second, I thought it might be a bear. But I went to check it out anyway. It was this really bright blue color, and when I tried to get closer, it flew away.

“Alex，林子里没有熊。”妈妈回答，想起Alex无数次声称看见熊的情景，“黑熊、灰熊、北极熊，任何一种熊都没有。你大概看到的是一只冠蓝鸦。我觉得它们很漂亮。”Alex擦着手问：“可鸟儿不是应该飞到南方过冬吗？”

Alex, there are no bears. Black bears, grizzlies, polar bears, or any other kind of bear in our woods, his mother replied, remembering all the times Alex had claimed to see bears. What you probably saw was a blue jay. I think they're beautiful. Drying his hands, Alex asked, but don't birds fly south for the winter?

“他迷路了吗？要是迷路了，我可以帮他。也许爸爸能开车送他去和朋友们会合。”妈妈笑了，“我不确定你爸爸会同意这个计划，不过也不是所有冠蓝鸦都会迁徙。”

Is he lost? If he's lost, I could help him. Maybe dad could drive himself to join his friends. His mother laughed. I'm not sure your dad would agree to that plan, but not all blue jays migrate.

“有些就留在这座岛上过冬。我也不清楚为什么，但它们确实留下。你觉得我们能做朋友吗？”Alex满怀希望地问。“这我可说不准，不过你可以把些种子放在篮子里，挂在你见到它的那棵树上。”

Some stay here on the island during the winter. I'm not sure why, but they do. Do you think we could be friends? Alex asked, hopeful. I don't know about that, but you could put some seeds in a basket and hang it from the tree where you saw him.

“也许冠蓝鸦会回来吃点心。”“嗯，我有个篮子可以用。也许我能用树枝什么的装饰一下，让鸟儿待得更舒服。”“这主意不错，小家伙。”

Maybe the blue jay will come back and have a snack. Yeah. I have a basket I could use. Maybe I could decorate it with branches and stuff so it's more comfortable for the bird. That's not a bad idea, little man.

“后院肯定能找到树枝。妈妈，你知道冠蓝鸦为什么那么吵吗？”Alex揉了揉耳朵。“冠蓝鸦本来就以吵闹闻名。它们用响亮的叫声警告同伴危险，或者告诉大家找到了食物。”

I'm sure you could find some branches in the backyard. Do you know why the blue jay was so loud, mom? Alex asked, rubbing his ears a little. Well, blue jays are known for being noisy. They use their loud calls to warn other birds if they sense danger or to let everyone know they've found food.

“有时它们甚至模仿鹰的叫声吓跑别的鸟，想想还挺聪明的。”“哇。”Alex睁大眼睛，“它们真聪明。你爸爸刚把车停好，来帮我摆餐具，准备吃饭。”

Sometimes, they even mimic the calls of hawks to scare off other birds. It's pretty clever if you think about it. Wow, Alex said wide eyed. They're smart. Your father just pulled in.

第二天放学，Alex匆匆写完作业，去找能当鸟食器的篮子。他找到一个小篮子，两边有把手，正好可以绑绳子。Alex从厨房抽屉里拿出麻绳，小心穿过把手，确保篮子能挂稳。他兴奋地出了门。

Help me set the table so we can eat. The next day after school, Alex hurried through his homework and went to grab a basket he could use as a bird feeder. He found a small basket with handles on either side, perfect for tying string. Alex grabbed some twine from the kitchen drawer and carefully looped it through the handles, making sure the basket could hang securely. He headed outside feeling excited.

他希望冠蓝鸦能回来。在后院，Alex捡起小树枝，折成合适长度围在篮子边缘。“也许这样更好看。”他想。一边把树枝编进篮侧，他一边想象鸟儿俯冲下来查看。装饰完后，Alex走到小谷仓，妈妈把鸟食存放在那儿。

He wanted the blue jay to come back. In the backyard, Alex picked up small twigs and branches, snapping some to make them fit around the edges of the basket. Maybe this will make it look nicer, he thought. As he weaved the branches into the basket's sides, he imagined the bird swooping down to check it out. After decorating the basket, Alex went over to the small barn where his mom kept birdseed.

他舀起一把种子，感受它们从指缝滑落，轻轻倒进篮子。种子落底发出轻柔的哗啦声。一切就绪。他走到第一次看见冠蓝鸦的地方。树枝低得够得着，为保险起见，Alex跳起来抓住一根，把绳子仔细系好。

He scooped up a handful of seeds, feeling them slip between his fingers, and gently poured them into the basket. The seeds made a soft rattling sound as they settled at the bottom. Everything was ready. He walked over to the spot where he had first seen the blue jay. The tree branches were low enough for him to reach, but just to be sure, Alex jumped up and grabbed hold of one, tying the string carefully around it.

他拉紧绳子，确保篮子不会掉。Alex让篮子轻轻垂下，小心别把种子洒出。看着它在微风中轻晃，他退后一步，欣赏自己的作品，心里满是自豪。为了不吓跑鸟，他站到远处，从那里静静观察喂食器。

He pulled it tight, making sure the basket wouldn't fall. Alex let the basket hang down gently, careful not to spill the seeds. He watched as it swayed slightly in the breeze. Standing back, he admired his work for a moment, proud of how it had turned out. Stepping away so he wouldn't scare the bird, Alex found a spot where he could watch the feeder from a distance.

他坐在地上，膝盖抵着下巴，等着。等啊等。树林里静悄悄的，蓝松鸦没有来。亚历克斯又等了一会儿，希望蓝松鸦会出现。

He sat down on the ground, knees tucked under his chin, and waited. And waited. And waited. The woods were quiet, and the blue jay didn't come. Alex waited a while longer, hoping the blue jay would show up.

但当天空开始变暗时，他知道该进屋吃晚饭了。从后门走进来，亚历克斯感到非常失望。踢掉运动鞋、挂好外套后，他走进厨房，妈妈像往常一样在做沙拉，胡萝卜放得太多。妈妈，没成功。蓝松鸦没来吃种子，他说着，瘫坐在椅子上。

But when the sky started to dim, he knew it was time to go in for dinner. Walking through the back door, Alex felt very disappointed. After kicking off his sneakers and hanging up his coat, he headed into the kitchen where his mother was making a salad with way too many carrots, as usual. It didn't work, mom. The blue jay didn't come to eat the seeds, he said, slumping down in a chair.

“你得有耐心，亲爱的。也许蓝松鸦还没回到这边来。你需要给它时间。”亚历克斯咕哝着，用手托着下巴。“但你知道我没耐心，”他说，声音里满是失望。

You have to be patient, sweetheart. Maybe the blue jay hasn't come back this way yet. You need to give it time. Alex groaned, resting his chin on his hand. But you know I'm not good at patience, he said, his disappointment clear in his voice.

妈妈笑着放下沙拉碗。“明天去看看你的喂鸟器，看看鸟来了没有？现在，洗手准备吃晚饭。今晚吃鸡肉。”亚历克斯重重地叹了口气，但还是点点头，起身去洗手。

His mom smiled, setting down the salad bowl. Why don't you check on your bird feeder tomorrow and see if the bird has come? Now, wash up for dinner. We're having chicken tonight. Alex sighed heavily, but nodded and got up to wash his hands.

耐心从来不是他的强项，但他希望明天会不一样。第二天，亚历克斯有曲棍球训练，等他回家时，天已经太黑，没法查看喂鸟器。但再下一天，他一放学下车，就飞速写完那一点点作业，然后冲出后门，想看看蓝松鸦有没有来过。走到篮子前，他小心地把它拉下来往里看，心跳漏了一拍。

Patience was never his thing, but he hoped tomorrow would be different. The next day, Alex had hockey practice, and by the time he got home, it was already too dark to check on his bird feeder. But the next day, as soon as he got off the school bus, Alex raced through his one small bit of homework in record time and dashed out the back door to see if the blue jay had been by. Reaching the basket, he pulled it down carefully and peered inside. His heart skipped a beat.

一些种子不见了。难道蓝松鸦在他上学时来过？亚历克斯兴奋极了，从院子边缘跑到他们的小谷仓。他从妈妈放在那里的麻袋里抓了一把鸟食，种子从他指缝间滑落，他迅速把掌心装满。回到喂鸟器旁，他小心地把新鲜种子倒进篮子，确保给他的新羽毛朋友准备得刚刚好。

Some of the seed was gone. Had the blue jay visited while he was at school? Excited, Alex ran from the edge of the yard to their small barn. He grabbed a handful of birdseed from the sack his mother kept there, the seeds slipping through his fingers as he quickly filled his palm. Back at the feeder, he carefully poured the fresh seed into the basket, making sure it was just right for his new feathered friend.

篮子重新装满后，亚历克斯在几英尺外的老地方坐下。他坐在凉爽的地面上，抱着膝盖，眼睛盯着喂鸟器，希望在树间能看到一抹蓝色。他等啊等。天空由明亮的蓝色变成柔和的黄昏色，示意晚饭快好了。他正准备放弃时，眼角瞥见一抹蓝色掠过树梢。

With the basket refilled, Alex found his usual spot a few feet away. He sat down on the cool ground, hugging his knees, and kept his eyes on the feeder, hoping for a glimpse of blue among the trees. He waited, and waited, and waited. The sky began to change from bright blue to the soft shades of dusk, signalling that dinner was almost ready. He was just about to give up when, out of the corner of his eye, he saw a flash of blue dart across the treetops.

亚历克斯屏住呼吸，看着那只鸟落在篮子上，明亮的蓝色羽毛在渐暗的天空下闪闪发光。蓝松鸦来了。它啄食亚历克斯留下的种子，一边吃一边抬头张望。亚历克斯一动不动地坐了一会儿，看着鸟儿享用他放的食物。然后，蓝松鸦像来时一样突然飞走了，消失在树林里。

Alex held his breath as the bird landed on the basket, its bright blue feathers glowing against the dimming sky. The blue jay had come. It pecked at the seeds Alex had left, its head bobbing as it looked around between bites. For a few moments, Alex sat perfectly still, watching as the bird feasted on the food he had put out. Then, as suddenly as it had arrived, the blue jay flew off, disappearing back into the trees.

亚历克斯咧嘴笑着，跳起来跑进屋，急着告诉妈妈这个消息。他冲过后门，大声喊道：“妈妈，蓝松鸦吃了种子，而且是我看着的时候来的。是不是很酷？”“当然很酷，亲爱的，”妈妈说着，一边笑着搅动炉子上的锅。“我很高兴你成功了。”

Grinning from ear to ear, Alex jumped up and ran inside, eager to tell his mom the news. Bursting through the back door, he called out, mom, the blue jay ate the seeds, and it came while I was there. Isn't that cool? It certainly is, sweetheart, his mother said, smiling as she stirred a pod on the stove. I'm glad it worked out for you.

每天放学后，亚历克斯都会重新装满篮子里的种子，等着看蓝松鸦会不会来。每次，它都来了。秋天过去，叶子从金色变成褐色，亚历克斯开始每天一点点靠近喂鸟器。他想更清楚地看看蓝松鸦。那只鸟似乎并不介意。

Every day after school, Alex would refill the seed in the basket and wait to see if the blue jay would come. And each time, it did. As fall passed and the leaves turned from gold to brown, Alex started inching closer to the bird feeder each day. He wanted to get a better look at the blue jay. The bird didn't seem to mind.

它落在篮子上啄食种子，Alex就静静地站在旁边看着。也许这只鸟正在习惯他，Alex想。想到他们可能正在成为朋友，他露出了微笑。然后冬天来了。第一场雪覆盖了地面，把草地和树木裹上了一层厚厚的白色。

It landed on the basket and pecked at the seeds while Alex stood nearby, watching quietly. Maybe the bird was getting used to him, Alex thought. It made him smile to think that they might even be becoming friends. Then winter came. The first snow blanketed the ground, covering the grass and trees in a thick white layer.

白天变短了，寒风开始呼啸。但Alex并没有因此停下脚步。他穿上最暖和的外套、戴上手套和帽子，依旧在天快黑时走向喂食器。他的手指冻得通红僵硬，但他不在乎。他喜欢看着蓝松鸦俯冲下来吃他留下的种子。

The days grew shorter, and the cold winds began to blow. But Alex didn't let that stop him. He bundled up in his warmest coat, gloves and hat and still made his way to the feeder just before dark. His fingers would turn red and stiff, but he didn't care. He liked seeing the blue jay swoop down to eat the seeds he left behind.

如果天气不算太恶劣，Alex有时会坐在喂食器旁，像跟学校里的同学一样跟鸟说话。他告诉它自己一天的经历，或者冰球训练怎么样，甚至抱怨昨晚妈妈做的西兰花他不喜欢。蓝松鸦会坐着，用明亮好奇的眼睛看着他。偶尔，它会啁啾回应，好像在倾听，Alex喜欢想象他们正在进行一场小小的对话。随着冬天加深，雪越积越高，有时没到Alex的膝盖。

Some days, if the weather wasn't too harsh, Alex would sit by the feeder, talking to the bird like it was another kid at school. He told it about his day, or how his hockey practice went, or even how he didn't like the broccoli his mom had made for dinner the night before. The blue jay would sit, looking at him with bright, curious eyes. Occasionally, it would chirp back as if it were listening, and Alex liked to imagine that they were having their own little conversation. As the winter deepened, the snow piled high, sometimes up to Alex's knees.

每天他都踩着深深的积雪，在院子里留下一串脚印通向喂食器。尽管树木光秃、天空常灰，蓝松鸦总会来。它鲜亮的蓝色羽毛在纯白积雪的映衬下格外醒目，让Alex觉得这只鸟是单调后院中的一抹亮色。最终，白天变得非常寒冷而短暂。太阳几乎穿不过云层，一切都覆盖在冰层之下。

Each day he'd trudged through the deep snow, leaving footsteps across the yard to the feeder. Even though the trees were bare and the sky was often gray, the blue jay always came. Its bright blue feathers stood out against the stark white snow, making Alex feel like the bird was a little bit of color in the otherwise dull backyard. Eventually, the days became very cold and short. The sun barely peeked through the clouds, and everything stayed covered in ice.

但Alex并不在意。他在篮子的种子里加了碎花生，希望给蓝松鸦一点额外的小零食帮它度过严寒。每次鸟儿来到喂食器，都像是一场小小的胜利，证明他们的友谊正日益深厚。三月来临时，Alex开始注意到春天的第一丝迹象。白天变长了，太阳终于开始穿透灰暗的冬云。

But Alex didn't mind. He added crushed peanuts to the seeds in the basket, hoping to give the blue jay an extra treat to help it through the cold. Each time the bird came to the feeder, it felt like a small victory, proof that their friendship was growing stronger. As March arrived, Alex began to notice the first signs of spring. The days were getting longer, and the sun finally started to break through the gray winter clouds.

积雪慢慢融化，露出一片片草地和泥巴。屋檐下的自行车滴着水，气温升到冰点以上。尽管有了春天的最初迹象，Alex的例行公事并没有改变。但四月的一天，当Alex兴奋地跑出去想告诉朋友他数学考得很好时，蓝松鸦却没有出现。Alex有点失落，但想着也许鸟儿被耽搁了，或者早就来过了。

The snow slowly melted, revealing patches of grass and mud. Bicycles hanging from the roof dripped as the temperatures climbed just above freezing. Even with the first hints of spring, Alex's routine didn't change. But one day in April, when Alex went out to visit his friend, excited to share how well he did on his math test, the blue jay didn't come. Alex felt a little disappointed, but thought maybe the bird had been delayed or had come earlier.

第二天他又去了，可蓝松鸦依旧没露面。第三天也没有。到第四天，Alex开始担心起来。他走进厨房，妈妈正在切更多的西兰花，他问：妈妈，蓝松鸦已经好几天没来了，我不知道为什么。我有点担心。

He returned the next day, but still the blue jay didn't show. Nor the day after that. By the fourth day, Alex started to worry. Walking into the kitchen where his mother was chopping yet more broccoli, he asked, Mom, the blue jay hasn't come in a few days and I don't know why. I'm kind of worried.

妈妈温柔地笑了。别太担心，亲爱的。现在是春天，蓝松鸦在春天通常会更忙。它们要么在寻找伴侣，要么在收集材料筑巢。它们会花很多时间飞来飞去，捡小树枝、草，甚至细绳，在树上搭一个安全舒适的家。

His mother smiled gently. I wouldn't worry too much, sweetheart. It's springtime now, and blue jays usually get busier in spring. They're either looking for a mate or gathering materials to build a nest. They spend a lot of time flying around, picking up twigs, grass, and even little bits of string to make a nice safe home in the trees.

你一直在喂的那只鸟现在可能正忙着这些事呢。所以他没事吗？Alex问，依旧担心。我相信他很好，妈妈安慰道。蓝松鸦是坚强的小鸟。

The bird you've been feeding is probably busy with that right now. So he's okay? Alex asked, still worried. I'm sure he's fine, his mother reassured him. Blue jays are tough little birds.

你整个冬天都在喂它，这可能帮它保持了强壮。现在天气暖和了，它有很多事情要做。但谁知道呢？等它的巢筑好了，也许它会再回来看看。Alex点点头，感觉好些了，但仍希望很快能再见到他的羽毛朋友。

You've been feeding him all winter, which probably helped him stay strong. Now that it's warmer, he's got a lot of work to do. But who knows? Maybe he'll stop by again once his nest is ready. Alex nodded feeling a bit better, but still hoping to see his feathered friend again soon.

随着春去夏来，亚历克斯依旧每天去补充鸟食器里的种子，尽管那只蓝鸦已经好几周没来了。一天傍晚，正当他准备回屋吃晚饭时，身后传来一声清脆响亮的鸟鸣。亚历克斯转身一看，他的蓝鸦正停在鸟食器上。这一次，它并不孤单。一只稍小一点的蓝鸦在它旁边扑腾着翅膀。

As spring turned to summer, Alex continued his daily trips to refill the feeder with seeds, even though the blue jay hadn't visited in weeks. One evening, just as he was about to head back to the house for dinner, he heard a sharp, loud chirp behind him. Alex spun around and saw his blue jay perched on the feeder. And this time, it wasn't alone. A slightly smaller blue jay fluttered beside it.

看着两只鸟一起啄食种子，亚历克斯笑得合不拢嘴。感觉就像老朋友回来打招呼，还带来了一位新朋友。他不由自主地坐在湿漉漉的草地上，深吸一口气，开始把蓝鸦离开期间发生的所有事情都讲了出来：他在学校表现得很好，很快就要开始踢足球了，甚至已经习惯了吃妈妈做的西兰花。两只蓝鸦坐在那里，歪着头听他说话，仿佛在认真聆听每一个字。

Alex had a huge grin as he watched the two birds pack at the seeds together. It felt like his old friend had returned to say hello, and even introduced a new friend. Without thinking, Alex sat down on the wet grass and, with a big breath, started sharing everything that had happened while the Blue Jay was gone. How he had done well in school, how he was starting soccer soon, and even how he had finally gotten used to eating his mom's broccoli. The two Blue jays sat there, heads tilting as Alex spoke, almost as if they were listening to every word.

偶尔，那只大一点的鸟会发出一声短促的鸣叫，就像以前一样，亚历克斯微笑着，感觉他们又像从前那样聊起了天。他站起身，看着这对鸟儿再次啄食种子，亚历克斯意识到，蓝鸦终究没有忘记他。它在过自己的生活，就像亚历克斯也在过他的。而现在，他们又一起分享了新的时刻。亚历克斯微微一笑，转身朝屋里走去。

Occasionally, the larger bird gave a short chirp, just like before, and Alex smiled, feeling like they were having their familiar conversation again. As he stood up, watching the pair packet the seeds once more, Alex realized that the blue jay hadn't forgotten him after all. Building its life, just as Alex had been living his. And now they were sharing a new moment together. Alex smiled to himself and turned and headed inside.

他迫不及待想告诉妈妈。故事到这里就结束了。晚安，睡个好觉。

He couldn't wait to tell his mom. And that is the end of our story. Good night. Sleep tight.