Xiaoyu set her alarm clock for seven, just like every night. The little clock had a cracked glass face and two silver bells on top. Her father had used it when he was a boy. She patted it and whispered, "Good night, little clock."
小雨像每个晚上一样，把闹钟定在七点。这只小闹钟的玻璃面有一道裂纹，顶上装着两个银色铃铛。爸爸小时候用过它。她轻轻拍了拍它，小声说：“晚安，小闹钟。”
The next morning, the room stayed dark and silent. Sunlight crept across the floor, and still the bells did not ring. Xiaoyu woke to her mother's voice: "You are late!" She jumped up, pulled on one sock, and ran out with her hair uncombed.
第二天早上，房间一直又暗又静。阳光慢慢爬过地板，铃铛仍然没有响。小雨被妈妈的声音叫醒：“你迟到了！”她跳起来，只穿上一只袜子，头发也没梳就跑了出去。
At school, Xiaoyu kept thinking about the clock. In art class, she drew its round face and put a question mark beside it. Her teacher, Ms. Chen, saw the drawing. She said her grandfather repaired clocks and could take a look.
在学校，小雨一直想着那只闹钟。美术课上，她画了它圆圆的脸，还在旁边画了一个问号。她的老师陈老师看见了这幅画。陈老师说，她爷爷会修钟表，可以帮忙看看。
After school, Grandpa Chen opened the back of the clock with a tiny screwdriver. Inside, wheels and springs lay in neat circles, like a small metal garden. He pointed to one thin spring. It was bent, he said, so it could no longer push the hammer.
放学后，陈爷爷用小螺丝刀打开了闹钟的后盖。里面，齿轮和发条排成整齐的圆圈，像一座小小的金属花园。他指着一根细细的发条。它弯了，他说，所以再也推不动那把小锤子了。
Grandpa Chen found a new spring in a tin box and fitted it in place. He showed Xiaoyu how to wind the clock gently. When they closed the glass, the two bells looked almost happy. That night, she set the clock and put a small timer beside her bed.
陈爷爷在铁盒里找到一根新发条，装了回去。他还教小雨怎样轻轻地给闹钟上弦。合上玻璃面时，两个铃铛看起来几乎在笑。那天晚上，她定好闹钟，又在床边放了一个小计时器。
In the morning, the silver bells rang at seven. Xiaoyu had time for warm milk and bread. On her way out, she met a neighbor hurrying with untied shoes. She smiled and waited, because she knew how that morning felt.
早上，银色铃铛在七点响起。小雨有时间喝热牛奶、吃面包。出门时，她遇见一位邻居正匆匆忙忙地系鞋带。她笑着等他，因为她知道那样的早晨是什么滋味。