1 `& \5 x- x1 E6 ~9 k1 ]! K" y4 u( _+ RBeing a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish wolfhound named Belker. ' k" r7 ]) G; r2 N+ C3 {" S3 k# g
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。 0 R8 T8 k$ y# M/ K* K ' s# v$ K, B8 D. yThe 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. 2 z( e: f6 p+ `- z' i, |/ q- ~0 a- {$ p: M. M
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。 & }+ J: c) r$ f/ j3 ?; \0 ~1 D* N ^" s9 ~4 b n7 g& w
I 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.; W% n- s9 A8 g I3 @
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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 b# B- }; Y: l! Q+ r) w
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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. - |) Y/ p9 S, P# G0 O4 p, I; _5 k. U) D, d1 z
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。 2 K O" t9 A7 P- L1 W$ F0 _; _+ d, a# Y
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.- X9 s( O) ]# p% ~
2 A1 U: E# e0 \7 o& X4 j v8 I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。 v0 d4 W+ B3 t$ z/ R" z, r0 s, J+ [( M: J1 }; H! d
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. 0 `' E1 Y- p1 I: ?( P3 W0 d9 [: O; V; B! {1 y2 A- x5 W) d" `6 {9 d4 D
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。 p/ B f% E1 }2 h6 \4 T$ _! D# i! _( c
Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, "I know why.", ?$ \! q) F1 |! A5 w
$ I3 b7 I( O; \! Y0 [靜靜地聽著我們談話的西恩，忽然冒出一句：「我知道為什麼。」6 F, Z$ D' u# o+ i
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Startled, 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?") e# n3 U2 ^8 G8 x
# ~3 r- Q7 O! F% J5 y! t# W) qThe six-year-old continued, "Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long."(allone.com)" b) t/ q- J0 g) Q
9 j! b" U2 j8 J+ O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)2 C I1 x6 @# n3 F
5 R. |( d5 e- S* t e& ~" T詞解：1.euthanasia：安樂死$ J9 ] }7 d, m# T8 W0 O
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2.transition：過渡，轉變 . P: A$ b$ S' A8 W+ o! y 5 O g( v1 N; P! ~0 g$ J- r3.pipe up：尖聲的說，脫口而出+ J- S* A1 @5 n9 }0 ~9 g
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●狗老師的啟示… - N4 l7 v" l% A1 g9 Q. s# j4 b& w ! v0 }& f o7 x, O9 BRemember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:, r8 F* P6 r5 r( C5 c% L# u, Z( H# J
% v- E3 f% ]) J+ [. h記住，如果狗狗曾經是位老師，你會學到這些東西： - D3 I3 j- [" b" k# ~ - l( P( [% q& K1 X+ ^When loved ones come home, always run to greet them. n4 w0 c0 F' u9 R8 N3 e 0 l* X U1 f8 b+ s( D4 O當心愛的人回家了，永遠跑上前熱情地迎接他們。+ i# Z4 _7 y C9 d2 }7 u
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Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride. 6 i" S4 c. T- i( k, F 3 d% x) X( @* F z7 w9 T永遠不要錯過能夠出去玩兒的機會。# Y- x5 R9 }0 W- o/ O$ k0 s y
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Thrive on attention and let people touch you.* e* T* x l G1 A6 L4 @" s1 p* B
( f$ J2 ^1 t: r9 J隨時尋求關注並讓人們撫摸。 $ |3 j* U; E7 f2 V1 G2 f" t0 L/ m" I # g! a- s1 d. V, }) q5 |When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body. " I4 f9 Q% e/ i# P4 Z E# }/ Z# U0 m" x" u0 n4 s
高興的時候，跳舞並搖動整個身體。 " O8 d7 l' h; @- l% G* u' A8 r i! K! o( S( [! r( r" w
Be loyal.) e) F. Y: d1 h# f
" {- P/ w9 H1 i* k' L1 c1 m8 Z/ y( v8 }忠誠。4 Q3 F4 U; k/ U9 T
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Never pretend to be something you're not. G6 E+ Y) y! W+ E2 I4 E2 W3 g* W' l
永遠不假裝。 ! `6 \7 |/ G, M9 R4 p" f/ L5 L% o1 `4 x$ ~. E( |2 e
When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.* [: @' Y/ b9 q, O) N