P' `9 ` \% [Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish wolfhound named Belker. . }* I$ A) ~+ A6 r ! o( b* O5 W) ?: u0 i, z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。% c9 Q, E& Q& J" I9 r: d. C
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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.$ M8 k# g: S" C+ `' E- m
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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。" I8 |8 L( q0 ^; r A; [
) ^: Z6 L* [" q5 s, K5 m6 @( VI 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. ( z6 X1 F+ W8 e2 c0 z% I8 R4 \3 p- k4 S' G7 ?4 y4 x
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。 + m% ^( F$ `7 C0 n4 i8 O: J9 F% t @! D+ X5 V
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. 8 S2 v9 E* ~( N& L2 A" c; m) | ( j. h9 e' P$ @9 b) X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 l/ H0 O- k3 ] F" ~5 X. m: a. E1 _ `2 \
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., r+ L. ~0 F) \1 F& {! T
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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。 , u; s2 _7 y% A- |# a' B/ j' }6 a: H8 N% m# k
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.: b7 c3 }' s+ w X, R/ e/ m
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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。9 H. M$ u; k+ r% o- A. W p
. b- D2 B5 `" G% Q" p3 ]6 J5 NShane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, "I know why."1 D! q2 Y( Q: K7 v' B- n* `
1 g5 p9 c% z' y A靜靜地聽著我們談話的西恩，忽然冒出一句：「我知道為什麼。」 2 c2 r, n1 t0 Q8 I; M! F( r" e+ l5 e* y% R/ \# k; n
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?"6 f7 O+ n& P/ V# G+ \5 q! {
, j/ p: e* F l! b/ l# m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？」 & u6 L8 T) V6 j' x1 { 6 M1 ?' ^; [$ f7 [ \* [9 H. NThe six-year-old continued, "Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long."(allone.com) 1 X" D) B0 D: }6 X/ }1 f7 g" s' k n5 o; @. n- r: n
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)9 B% f9 h1 @3 `! l. K2 h; g8 S: a
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詞解：1.euthanasia：安樂死 ( c8 c) r% _" D, k0 P% N; r6 v& z' p/ m& D: K5 D+ S* l! Z$ f
2.transition：過渡，轉變$ f6 q: W/ I! @: V M) j3 ` S
! P; I6 A9 Z1 u1 Z t3.pipe up：尖聲的說，脫口而出. w; Z- b. n0 O" h6 B
9 R6 B% q( G: P- c( F- \* U●狗老師的啟示… ; s# ^- E: P9 J) P! H3 ?5 p' @ ' I4 a0 v8 u+ e8 {' `8 g& o$ ARemember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like: 1 Q3 m4 C0 Q" I! N6 {1 i+ j `* Q8 t( c$ }: z& x
記住，如果狗狗曾經是位老師，你會學到這些東西：$ x* p+ b2 z2 a! D2 y$ o4 b
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When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.& n/ E; ^$ p1 c; l: q' N
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當心愛的人回家了，永遠跑上前熱情地迎接他們。 . G7 b; M% Z, X8 R/ v& g- j0 b0 K8 Z' M8 g# A
Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride. # G& |* v; P4 B4 x. |2 V+ D$ I8 t) k# Y. F2 V
永遠不要錯過能夠出去玩兒的機會。3 a* H, @# H0 {2 S
0 b; U" M m$ T sThrive on attention and let people touch you.( z' K* u) ]) t0 t% J1 o
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隨時尋求關注並讓人們撫摸。 ' d9 S+ o% o6 ]0 Y$ I3 P . E" U0 e7 N# ] C. a6 n1 [6 dWhen you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body. $ r: [5 V. H" H! j" H& L % P3 J2 d6 g2 Q5 v高興的時候，跳舞並搖動整個身體。 , V: k( ?$ T3 W4 @5 } 3 ^' R+ b% c$ @# D& d! jBe loyal. ) n( j2 L4 F* q* I, o. t6 w( D; \- ?2 \9 y0 U) e# X1 R2 R) H' W' V
忠誠。( [0 A' |1 Z4 B3 F9 X
9 K: g2 ~& T0 P: O9 d& mNever pretend to be something you're not. ' ^0 p% X2 n% [* x6 _ 4 K6 t& `* C- l4 u. t7 l. G; x, ~永遠不假裝。 8 U7 ~8 v1 V. u$ j" [ 4 t0 t) A6 C* l* F3 }: SWhen someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently. " K: c4 V# h) X7 I% A' c8 R" @" P' ^: I R. A) m! g
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。2 f1 C0 z8 q" K9 A