读者文摘:父亲在工作和照顾女儿之间的斗争(2)（在线收听）

She follows a daily routine that is both time-consuming and challenging.

她每天的工作既费时又有挑战性。

It includes certain basic tasks:

包括一些基本任务：

watching the "grop." (That would be the fish.) Sweeping the rug in her room and her crib.

看“格罗”（一条鱼）打扫自己房间的地毯和婴儿床。

(Yes, Meghan sweeps her crib.)

（是的，梅根扫了扫她的婴儿床。）

Sitting for a few minutes on the bottom shelf of the bookcase to determine whether she still fits there.

在书架最底层的架子上坐上几分钟，看看合不合适。

(She fit yesterday, and the prospects look good for tomorrow.)

（昨天还行，明天应该也不错。）

Checking periodically on Edward.

定期去看一下爱德华。

Climbing in and out of the stroller for practice.

在婴儿车爬进爬出。

Testing the sofa springs.

在沙发上蹦蹦跳跳。

Her constant companion through all of this is Dumpty, a shapeless rag doll whose best days are far behind him.

过程中，Dumpty（一个不像样的布娃娃）一直陪伴着她，Dumpty的好日子到头了。

A year ago, he was well stuffed and bursting with good cheer.

一年前，它壮壮的，欢声笑语。

His perpetual smile endeared him to Meghan immediately.

梅根因为Dumpty永恒不变的微笑立刻喜欢上了它。

She provides his transportation; he provides her security.

梅根走哪都带着Dumpty；Dumpty保护着梅根。

The filthier he grows, the more she seems to rely on his wisdom and homespun philosophy.

Dumpty越脏，梅根就愈加喜欢它的智慧和简单朴实。

About a week ago, my wife put Dumpty in the washing machine, hoping at least to make him recognizable.

大约一个星期前，我的妻子把Dumpty放进洗衣机里，希望这样至少能让它干净一些。

We were not ready for the emaciated creature that emerged. Dumpty had been disemboweled during the rinse cycle.

我们还没有准备好迎接瘦弱的Dumpty。在冲洗过程中，Dumpty的“肠子”被搅的七零八落。

My wife spent 20 minutes picking his foam rubber intestines out of the machine.

妻子花了20分钟从机器里取出它的泡沫橡胶“肠子”。

We thought Meghan might discard this mere shell of a Dumpty.

我们以为梅根可能会把它丢掉。

We were wrong.

但我们错了。

There was no detectable difference in her relationship with him,

梅根和Dumpty的关系没有明显的区别，

except that she found him easier to carry while performing her chores.

除了在做家务的时候，梅根发现Dumpty更容易携带。