Dear Father Christmas,

亲爱的圣诞老人：

So my friend has asked me to write to you... I have to confess it's been hard to know what to say. Mainly because like most adults I feel preposterous¹ asking anything of you because our time with you is surely done. Now we get our own presents, control our own fates, take responsibility for our own actions, and live in the world we have created... so it's not for us to turn around and plead for your help with the environment, the migrant crisis, the NHS, education, food banks, human rights, fundamentalism and wars. Though God knows we need all the help we can get with all these man-made problems and more.

我的朋友叫我写信给你……我真的不知道该对你说什么。主要因为跟大部分成年人一样，我觉得跟你要东西似乎很荒谬，因为我们和你已经没有交集了。如今我们自己给自己买礼物，掌控自己的命运，为自己的行为负责，并且生活在我们自己创造的世界里……所以我们没有理由找你帮忙解决这些问题，比如环境问题、移民危机、NHS医保系统、教育、食物银行、人权、原教旨主义和战争。尽管上帝知道，我们需要各种援助去解决这些人为的危机和麻烦。

And it's not that you aren't compassionate² and full of joy. You're great. In spite of you being changed into different colours for corporations and being bastardised to represent materialism³ gone mad - despite probably originating in some season based pagan druid ritual a million thought miles from requests for spontaneously combusting hoverboards... Kidadults cynically⁴ pointing this out after having their moment of belief in you are wasting everyone's precious time. Because you are not for them. You are for the children. Children who need some magic in a world where the borders between innocence⁵ and responsibility, playful imagination and cold, adult obstacles are continually shrinking.

我并不是说你没有同情心或不乐观。你很伟大。尽管你被各种大公司篡改的面貌全非；被妖魔化以代表那疯狂的拜金主义——简直像异教徒的仪式那样，每到这个季节就要用礼物填满欲望，比如那种可能会自燃的悬滑板。那些童心未泯的成年人竟然生气地认为你是在浪费每个人的宝贵时间，却忘了他们自己也曾相信你。因为你不属于成年人，而是属于孩子们的。孩子们需要一些魔力，因为这个世界上，天真与责任、欢乐的想象力与冷漠以及成人障碍之间的界限正在不断的缩小。

This is what I'd like to ask you to help with. A little more time for children to be children. Stretch the moment of magic and playfulness. Distract them from the realities of a world gone mad so that they can laugh with their breath rather than sob⁶ with their tears. Especially those caring for family members, or suffering illness, hunger or poverty. Especially those hiding in buildings as bombs rain down, or being handed shaking with fear or cold into a boat to escape environmental disaster or war. Please help to light up their worlds with a moment of joy and hope.

这才是我想求你援助的。让孩子们的童年更长久些吧。延长那充满魔力与乐趣的时刻。让孩童们忽略这疯狂又现实的世界，让他们拥有欢笑而非流泪。尤其是那些过早需要承担家庭责任或身患疾病的孩子们，又或者是那些遭受饥饿与贫穷的孩子们。尤其是那些躲在位于枪林弹雨的建筑中、或者是那些怀着恐惧与寒冷不断颤抖、被塞进船里以逃离灾难和战争的孩子们。请你用希望和欢乐照亮他们的世界。

When I think about it you've got it tough this year... And when I really think about it I'm not sure that asking you for a lightsaber and getting one (not that I ever did by the way) is equatable⁷ with controlling the space time continuum and making the good of childhood last a little longer.

当我想到今年你处境艰难时……当我仔细思考，我不确定这样是否合理：即找你要一把光剑（虽然我并不曾得到过）来控制时空介质，从而使得美好的童年时光再久一点。

But you do inspire wonder and awe⁸ amongst those that write you letters and go to sleep hoping there might be a new object in their possession come dawn. You inspire good behaviour and, at least in my memory, some desperate last minute attempts to redeem⁹ bad behaviour so as not to be overlooked. Spare a thought too for those millions who want to write to you but through illiteracy¹⁰ can't. Hear their words and help to give them the time and chance to learn how to read and write so they can better their lives and escape their impoverished¹¹ beginnings.

但对于那些给你写信、期待着你会在天明前送给他们礼物而入睡的孩子们，你带给他们好奇和敬畏。你激发了善行，至少在我的记忆中，一些孩子在最后一刻试图弥补过错，以避免因此受罚。还希望你体谅一下数百万想跟你写信却不会写字的人。请你倾听他们的声音，给他们时间和机会去学习读书和写字，这样他们就可以过上更好的生活，逃离贫困的处境。

I feel a little sorry for you. And I guess I've done exactly what I said I wouldn't... Asked you to help with adult problems and solve some of the greatest worries we have for our children. I promise to leave some extra port and mince¹² pies for you!

我对你感到一丝歉意。我好像做了我明明说自己不会做的事……我希望你能帮忙解决成年人造成的麻烦，缓解我们对孩子的某些担忧。我保证，我会给你留超多肉馅饼的！！

Lots of love

满满的爱

Benedict x

本尼亲亲

Benedict

本尼迪克特

P.S. Please could I have that lightsaber now?

P.S. 现在我能拿到那把光剑了吗？

注：本尼亲亲的手写信其实是长这样的——