Паутина Шарлотты
Chapter 15
Onedaymorethanahundredpeoplecametostandathisyardandadmirehim.CharlottehadwrittenthewordRADIANT,andWilburreallylookedradiantashestoodinthegoldensunlight.Eversincethespiderhadbefriendedhim,hehaddonehisbesttoliveuptohisreputation.WhenCharlotte’swebsaidSOMEPIG,Wilburhadtriedhardtolooklikesomepig.WhenCharlotte’swebsaidTERRIFIC,Wilburhadtriedtolookterrific.AndnowthatthewebsaidRADIANT,hedideverythingpossibletomakehimselfglow.
Itisnoteasytolookradiant,butWilburthrewhimselfintoitwithawill.Hewouldturnhisheadslightlyandblinkhislongeye-lashes.Thenhewouldbreathedeeply.Andwhenhisaudiencegrewbored,hewouldspringintotheairanddoabackflipwithahalftwist.Atthisthecrowdwouldyellandcheer."How’sthatforapig?"Mr.Zuckermanwouldask,wellpleasedwithhimself."Thatpigisradiant."
SomeofWilbur’sfriendsinthebarnworriedforfearallthisattentionwouldgotohisheadandmakehimstuckup.Butitneverdid.Wilburwasmodest;famedidnotspoilhim.Hestillworriedsomeaboutthefuture,ashecouldhardlybelievethatamerespiderwouldbeabletosavehislife.Sometimesatnighthewouldhaveabaddream.Hewoulddreamthatmenwerecomingtogethimwithknivesandguns.Butthatwasonlyadream.Inthedaytime,Wilburusuallyfelthappyandconfident.Nopigeverhadtruerfriends,andherealizedthatfriendshipisoneofthemostsatisfyingthingsintheworld.EventhesongofthecricketsdidnotmakeWilburtoosad.
