) [# Z3 h# \% G" B5 H" P! \) ?Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish wolfhound named Belker.; k; a/ P# Q1 X
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身為獸醫，我曾被找去為一隻名叫「Belker」的10歲愛爾蘭獵狼犬看病。 # x, M1 u+ Y' ]( t# b9 U w( k( d8 r! h3 G
The dog's owners, Ron, his wife, Lisa, and their little boy, Shane, were all very attached to Belker, and they were hoping for a miracle. ' F- B0 ~* g; Z$ I1 k* A7 W: l, X5 V, ^
Belker的主人羅恩，他的太太麗莎和他們的小男孩西恩都和Belker感情很好，也都期待奇蹟發生。 ! t! U( k+ ^. l; b5 I 8 |+ B( W6 C) P8 Q5 Y& l' PI examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. I told the family we couldn't do anything for Belker, and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home.' x1 H8 e8 d: V' G4 Q
' O+ L4 L, ^. P檢查後，我發現Belker罹患癌症，回天乏術；我告訴這家人，我們無法幫Belker做點什麼了，也建議在家中為牠實施安樂死。 9 R, D$ r; ~+ G7 }) M ^# k. D2 a7 w' ~4 p: t& a- Z% t; }
As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be good for six-year-old Shane to observe the procedure. They felt as though Shane might learn something from the experience. h' {- f: j; C! x' S$ C Y6 z& E( L7 b u! {8 o
在我們準備的時候，羅恩和麗莎告訴我，他們覺得讓西恩觀察整個過程會是好事，相信西恩也許能從這段經歷學到一些東西。5 g( S7 U) c6 w, @+ K9 z
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The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker's family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on. Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away. : [! n% ], _# l9 i+ L3 D2 L$ ^8 B9 R/ g9 o( O7 ]' ?
隔天，這家人圍繞在Belker身邊時，我和以往一樣有了哽咽的感覺。西恩似乎很平靜，最後一次輕拍這隻老狗，我甚至懷疑他是否真的瞭解情況。幾分鐘之後，Belker安詳地死去了。 & ?1 S6 T- J- h' ^1 G" X6 n# {
The little boy seemed to accept Belker's transition without any difficulty or confusion. We sat together for a while after Belker's death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives. : E, q+ Y) J, n; ?/ f1 Y2 M8 V* ` C! P' O
小男孩似乎沒有太多困難和疑惑就接受了Belker的離去。我們在Belker死去後一起坐了一會兒，感嘆動物的壽命總是比人類短這個哀傷的現實。) I1 k7 N) x; I2 p) r/ f
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Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, "I know why."$ n9 d0 j i9 z( B" {# k
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靜靜地聽著我們談話的西恩，忽然冒出一句：「我知道為什麼。」3 ^& q' H& U- _) @7 g& X
7 t3 M# s7 M/ w! O2 AStartled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned me. I'd never heard a more comforting explanation. He said, "People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life -- like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?"; @6 k5 D) X4 C
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我們非常驚訝地轉頭望著他，接下來他說的話，令我大為感動，是我聽過最令人欣慰的解釋。他說：「人們出生就是為了要學會如何過好生活，比如愛身邊的人，好好對待別人，對嗎？」+ Q7 s/ W; x: z, g
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The six-year-old continued, "Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long."(allone.com); Y* a4 n& {; r6 X! b2 u( S
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這個6歲的孩子繼續說：「而狗狗原本就知道怎麼做到這些了，所以牠們不需要活那麼久。」(取材自allone.com)0 }; k n# L, g( u& G# a
" P- t' G5 Y0 X7 {& k& @) s詞解：1.euthanasia：安樂死 2 c; f1 F- K5 d' {8 `+ e0 |2 o) _2 _5 a8 v
2.transition：過渡，轉變 ( t4 V& ^- A: N1 L1 J , z `! i, [( _( K3.pipe up：尖聲的說，脫口而出3 O. \* d& C& F/ u
( f9 R. K3 C2 s) t# G●狗老師的啟示…' q K1 x( j: I- P/ X+ H
9 [* D( R8 a, E) v$ p* jRemember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like: x D* N* V) X) ?7 x+ R3 n# T' ]( T; W5 [2 I1 G& }! ]
記住，如果狗狗曾經是位老師，你會學到這些東西：! A3 X, [* u4 z8 f7 z& f" t
, _1 H% \( u* D& o0 R; oWhen loved ones come home, always run to greet them., p0 q. g# |1 q* u% V+ P
; k/ B A4 P7 A' f/ d當心愛的人回家了，永遠跑上前熱情地迎接他們。& M; U& u4 V c
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Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride. - V4 f3 V% \# R$ h) m p. r7 F, w
永遠不要錯過能夠出去玩兒的機會。 / D! U( ?2 m4 F; n' i6 k: \. |6 N: h: [4 U" D( X' G% I9 D
Thrive on attention and let people touch you. , B8 m8 S$ V! V7 j 4 d* C1 w0 M9 Z隨時尋求關注並讓人們撫摸。0 Z% ~; B" j1 j4 Q
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When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.& h# a5 g& q) g3 v9 E
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高興的時候，跳舞並搖動整個身體。# C6 }, `; ?- `
. v+ r' t5 ^# z2 g9 }4 C% F; uBe loyal.# E" A7 p1 i$ \5 x! b$ X
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忠誠。 ! `; W1 C$ p& F; T% V( C) V+ _- ^+ G4 g5 I; }4 v$ u% T9 n
Never pretend to be something you're not.6 O6 i$ H5 f# O' H9 J
. x* k3 p2 d) P( z" M永遠不假裝。 1 u* L! g8 [ o0 h7 V, {; D/ m2 ]: |9 i6 r2 q9 ?5 w
When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently. 1 S: E. `- p6 W' E) M( u 5 Y* H, o5 [8 e: i7 b+ S- ?如果家裡有人不開心，保持沉默，坐到他身邊，溫柔地拱拱他、安慰他。! I3 J( v) E; M; x