Why pick on me?

Clarence는 어느날 Marvin이 코딱지를 팠다고 놀린다. 하지만 코를 파지 않은 Marvin은 다음날 학교에서 친구들에게 자신의 결백을 이야기하며 다닌다. 그러나 Marvin이 자신의 결백에 대해 이야기 하면 할수록 친구들과 선생님은 Marvin이 진짜 코를 팠다고 생각한다. 

그러던 어느날 Marvin의 부모님의 Marvin이 가져온 가정 통신문을 통해 학교에서 그들의 아들이 어떤 문제를 겪고 있음을 눈치채다. 부모님이 추궁하자 Marvin은 학교에서 있었던 일을 말하고, Marvin의 가족들은 문제에 대한 해결책을 고민하다. 그러던 중 동생 Linzy가 "Why is it bad to pick your nose?"라는 질문으로 Marvin에게 해결책의 실마리를 던진다.

그리고 Marvin은 다음날 학교에가서 친구들에게 설문지 조사의 일환으로 "Have you ever picked your nose?"라고 묻는다. 그리고 Clarence를 제외한 모든 학급 친구들과 선생님이 Yes라고 대답한다. 결국 Clarence는 거짓말 쟁이가 되고 Marvin은 다시 친구들의 인정을 받는다.

표현정리

Black widow: 세계 제일의 맹독 거미

You were snot? 코흘리개, 콧물

His boogers are on the ball. 코딱지

Then, he and Stuart racked up.

*rack up something: obtain or achieve sth, or score goals or points.

 

Clarence was just being sport.

*sport: 농담, 희롱, 조롱거리

 

His face burned as he thought about it.

*burned 타올랐다.

 

Everybody had laughed at him.

If they were true friends, they would have stuck up for him. He couldn’t stop thinking about it, all day into the night.

* stick up for sb: ~을 변호하다, 지지하다. = support or defend something or s1

 

I didn’t pick my nose.

What’d he say? 그래서 뭐래

Nose picker

 

But the more he talked about it, the more the other kids teased him about it. And the more they teased him, the more he kept talking about it.

“Don’t get too close to Marvin,” said Clarence. “Or else he’ll try to pick your nose too.”

* Or else: 그렇지 않으면

 

Chapter 3

The color of boogers!

As he walked away, he almost bumped into Heather.

*walk away 가버리다

*bumped into~ 부딪혔다.

 

After school he caught up with Nick and Stuart.

 

Marvin couldn’t believe it. Stuart and Nick would be fighting all the time if it wasn’t for him. How could they be best friends?

 

Next to the gate was one red post. Marvin tapped the red post as he walked through the gate.

They worst part was that Linzy always insisted on being the Daddy.

“Hiya, Mar,” said Jacob. Marvin grunted. “What’s wrong?” asked Jacob. Marvin shrugged. He couldn’t tell his big brother that the other kids said he picked his nose. It was so childish.

*grunt 불평하다, 툴툴거리다.

 

Okay, but I get to be the Daddy.

 

Chapter 4

He did poorly in school. He always used to be one of the first person done. Now there were times when he didn’t even finish.

* poorly: 형편없게,

 

Why don’t I see Stuart around anymore?

 

Except when Liny had friends over.

He thought about challenging Clarence to a fight.

But Clarence was the toughest kid in his class. There was no way Marvin could win

 

I have to ask you my survey question. I’ve already asked everyone else.

 

His opened his paper sack and took out his sandwich.

It’s not a booger sandwich!

Then, why won’t you eat it?

Mrs. Grant grabbed him by the elbow and yanked him outside.

*yank him out 그를 쫓아내다.

 

Chapter 5

He only got one U. U for unsatisfactory. That was in Social Studies because he never asked a survey question.

 

But then he read the teacher’s comments:

Marvin doesn’t play well with others. The other children are offended by his unsanitary habits and anti-social behavior. He needs to learn to use a tissue.

*are offended by ~에 의해 감정이 상하다. 불쾌감을 느끼다.

*unsanitary /언쎄네테뤼/ 불결한, 비위생적인 

 

It wasn’t fair. The ball was over the line!

Marvin walked home from school carrying his report card.

 

“I am telling on you!” she bawled. “너 이를거야!” 그녀가 외쳤다.     

 

He felt himself start to cry. He sniffled back the tears.

 

He had sunk as low as he could go. He was nine years old, and his life was ruined forever.

 

And then he sank even lower. He did something terrible. He didn’t realize he was doing it. Until after he had already done it. He stuck his finger up his nostril, and picked his nose.

 

Chapter 7

His family was in the den watching TV.

“Here’s my report card,” Marvin said, then threw it on the floor.

 

He dragged his feet back into the den. “Now what did I do?” he asked. “Pick it up,” said his father. The report card lay on the blue and white rug.

“Your father asked you to pick it up,”

 

“Something happened,” his mother said. “I know you got in some sort of fight with Nick and Stuart. I thought it would pass. I figured you’d be friends again by now.”

* figure ~라고 생각하다.

*get in a fight with ~와 싸우다.

 

Jacob cracked up.

*crack up: laugh with great enthusiasm 크게 웃었다.

 

 “Do you want to tell us about it?” asked his mother.

 

He told them what happened, from the wall-ball game up until his report card.

 

They’re afraid that if they stick up for me, then everybody will say that they pick their noses too!

 

You don’t solve problems by running away from them.

 

Well, if that’s how they feel, then they’re not really your friends.

 

You’re close to Marvin’s age. Has anything like this every happened to you?

 

Well, I used to pick on him too,

Nothing. Everyone just kept on hating him, all through third grade. Then he moved away.

 

“You don’t solve problems by running away from them,” said his father.

“I can beat him up for you,”

“Then what should Marvin do?”

“You two are supposed to be so smart.”

They just sat there. They were stumped. But then someone came up with the answer.

 

Chapter 8

“What’s so bad about picking your nose?”

“It’s not something you want to do in public,” said Marvin’s mother. “But everyone has done it.”

 

Marvin was horrified. 충격 받았다.

He knew what question he’d ask for the class survey.

 

Chapter 9

Judy Jasper was dropped off in the school parking lot. Marvin watched her get out of the car. Marvin was glad she was alone.

* was dropped off ~에 놓여있었다. ~에 내려졌다.

 

The kids usually weren’t mean to him when they were alone. It was only when they were in a group. The bigger the group, the meaner they acted.

 

I have to ask you my question for the class survey.

Okay, well, here goes. Have you ever picked your nose?

 

He chased her around the bike rack and caught up with her just outside the girls’ bathroom.

 

Judy ducked into the girl’s bathroom. ~로 숨다.

Marvin was about to walk away.

But then, safe within the bathroom walls, Judy Jasper shouted, “Yes!”

 

Just don’t get any of your boogers on me.

No one else is around. Can’t we just be honest with each other?”

But between her hoots and howls, she managed to shriek, “Yes!”

 

Justin said, “You’re sickening, Marvin! I am not going to answer that question.”

* sickening: 구역질을 나게 하는, (화나게 하거나, 충격 주게 하는) 굉장히 불쾌한

 

Mrs. Grant was on yard duty. She sent the two boys to see Mr. McCabe, the principal, for fighting.

 

Mrs. North sat up straight. “That’s no way to talk to a teacher,”

* sat up straight: 꼿꼿이 앉았다.

* That’s no way to ~ ~~해서는 안된다.

 

It’s for my survey.

“That’s not a proper question. You need to choose something more appropriate.”

 

chapter 10

Then they ran away giggling. 키득거리며

Several kids were already snickering. 킬킬 웃었다.  

 

Marvin finished off the list.

* finish sth off; ~을 다 마치다, 완성하다.

 

It was an unusual question, but I think it taught us all a lot about ourselves. We’re all human, aren’t we?

Way to go, Marvin!