# Z0 ^2 [- m9 h5 GBeing a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish wolfhound named Belker.8 z" Q) \" M) L2 `0 O
* E- {) B1 G9 W" P' n/ g4 ~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。 , B0 b0 z/ G* g( |8 d$ ^1 w+ W
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.: j* T6 Q: G Q" w& g( ^# L
% ?+ F* p5 \( ^ ]5 }3 [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。 ) G3 D" C; o H. O* E- V $ V: M/ g7 M& hI 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.8 O( Z X& h. T8 C* o
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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。( B/ h' c8 j7 ^/ v0 g9 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. 9 T9 ]6 N% a9 W; E, D* a% b p' {1 G 4 B- S8 T9 p; c5 ?9 N' c5 z0 H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。7 R% P# `* O1 L; t! X
: R* T0 @6 v7 A2 {: w9 T& b! SThe 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. 7 I" y ]: K& z+ q2 X% e$ R1 c8 _* H % M- o. G" q @3 r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。7 M, q) g) A* u
- I `. T( X" O8 NThe 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., u7 W, J, F* {+ v
$ [2 n9 R, d% ?, s3 J6 V1 }: jShane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, "I know why." 6 r+ Z- I5 a" |4 L3 D/ i! z+ g& C! W! ~; P6 [- h @
靜靜地聽著我們談話的西恩，忽然冒出一句：「我知道為什麼。」 K [0 G. V$ J7 G4 {9 @
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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?"7 W; h: u# W3 Q6 ]0 j1 p% ^
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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？」2 _. d6 X9 @5 K9 V
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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) & g' c* `2 t6 j. g" D1 q, r. [: {$ [! Y* y2 ^
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) : L* v# @! L2 j s- ]6 X$ ~; O+ f( j' x/ F {+ S
詞解：1.euthanasia：安樂死$ P2 m5 u. m3 t$ {
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2.transition：過渡，轉變 / Y% h ~, a. E4 k+ g4 Z: p- g2 L5 k3 R; e# O% Q
3.pipe up：尖聲的說，脫口而出 * ^7 U! i6 e3 | S n' T. T2 f8 X E7 E$ r
●狗老師的啟示…9 Z$ d$ u; x# F8 l- a% Q d' P5 [3 K5 n
- P- C& e2 S' J$ \Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like: ; r" k% k1 p& u/ @# V7 O , R) D/ ~: v* r/ E! T記住，如果狗狗曾經是位老師，你會學到這些東西：, W7 \; _- h+ V, C% T
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When loved ones come home, always run to greet them. + J) Q7 ?7 B- c: t0 I6 y $ F% Q6 t: J w& \% j4 `+ @當心愛的人回家了，永遠跑上前熱情地迎接他們。 ; `; E* a: U% F( k % e* E; u, H% M: n1 O& r! o6 iNever pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.8 p7 o* y4 J, D, k- y
4 @9 e. E0 ^- K9 h+ N- u. c, p永遠不要錯過能夠出去玩兒的機會。+ |/ d& f. X9 E l7 I* J' @) [# s
' r* R( P5 _: J$ N: F# \: p7 D% EThrive on attention and let people touch you., R9 G! g+ a- Q d% U1 M9 P
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隨時尋求關注並讓人們撫摸。 % Y; R2 S& j0 J! ?9 g; m8 ]& I m. h4 o! H2 w3 H
When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body. % j1 o% g) \' I9 `8 C% V9 X' a& t$ I2 Q1 t6 u
高興的時候，跳舞並搖動整個身體。 ! U4 G5 [! ]# H2 s) U# h + h4 |- R* R% v0 FBe loyal. - k P: ]" O9 V! I+ x9 M/ s1 V( U, V8 h$ R
忠誠。5 J- ?, i" D6 q7 W% {) K9 g
& G: C5 o' H& X7 i$ L1 u4 X! E2 I+ V& qNever pretend to be something you're not. : @/ j5 j( s$ s* ?( E2 k8 U% a# r3 H1 [+ {& e, z: L
永遠不假裝。, x) }: K/ K+ }' L- b
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When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently. 6 g# w# T3 f( t* f3 q2 d5 o" u 7 W) L6 M9 P; f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。0 R5 X; |7 N b$ x. B }