Lili's aunt left her a blue cup with a chip on its rim. 'Pour something warm inside,' said Aunt Mei, 'and listen.' Then she caught the evening bus and waved from the window.
莉莉的姨妈留给她一只蓝色的杯子，杯口缺了一小块。“往里面倒点热的东西，”美姨妈说，“然后听一听。”说完，她赶上了傍晚的公交车，从车窗里向她挥手。
That night Lili made tea. As the hot water touched the bottom, a small tune rose from the cup, thin and sweet, like a bird far away. Lili held the cup with both hands and forgot to drink.
那天夜里，莉莉泡了茶。热水一碰到杯底，一支小小的曲子就从杯子里升起来，细细的、甜甜的，像很远的地方有一只鸟。莉莉双手捧着杯子，忘了喝茶。
For three days Lili tried to find the song. She poured cold water, milk, and juice. Nothing. Only hot water made the cup sing, and only when Lili sat still and quiet.
一连三天，莉莉都在找那首歌。她倒过冷水、牛奶和果汁，都没有声音。只有热水能让杯子唱歌，而且只有当她安安静静坐着的时候才行。
On the fourth night, her little brother cried because he could not sleep. Lili carried the singing cup to his room and poured warm water into it. The tune floated in the dark. Her brother's breathing slowed, and soon he was asleep. Lili wondered who had taught the cup such a gentle song.
第四天晚上，弟弟因为睡不着哭了起来。莉莉把会唱歌的杯子端到他房间，往里面倒了温水。曲子在黑暗里飘着。弟弟的呼吸慢了下来，很快就睡着了。莉莉想，是谁教会了这只杯子这么温柔的歌呢？
Lili turned the cup upside down and saw a small round lid under the base. Aunt Mei had glued it there. Inside was a tiny music box with a paper star.
莉莉把杯子倒过来，看见底座下面有一个圆圆的小盖子。那是美姨妈粘上去的。盖子里面是一只小小的音乐盒，还有一颗纸星星。
The star had words on it: 'For nights when someone needs a song.' Lili put the lid back and poured herself some tea. The cup sang its thin, sweet tune, and she understood that Aunt Mei had not left her magic. She had left her a way to be kind.
星星上写着字：“留给需要一首歌的夜晚。”莉莉把盖子装回去，给自己倒了茶。杯子又唱起那支细细的、甜甜的曲子。她明白了，美姨妈留给她的不是魔法，而是一种对人好的方式。