1 N% y( L# w' Z( T. ]Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish wolfhound named Belker. 8 e N% |: R( P3 n) A% a # i0 j; y [( N$ ]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。 . F: m7 |, g4 K' n S' w B - o0 F3 b: A/ ^( W/ dThe 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.0 @3 @; F7 u! c4 L9 i
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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。: N8 X8 S$ ]" J1 r
5 b9 K3 ^6 Z) ]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.+ b" {. }3 n; o+ U
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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。6 ]$ o- z6 }( Q. I: [. y! b# z; f
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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.) V$ t' }6 O3 v% o$ G4 N- Z. U
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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。6 Y8 H8 h- t* u7 A+ a
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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." O& l; k, @: i
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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。 ) J. |; g! b+ A* @4 r , G" [$ D9 C1 LThe 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.& Y; \& u3 D v7 M1 b2 o0 |& g
1 H* E* N. O3 g' ?' g0 @+ B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。- N0 V) c2 k9 A4 Q* A
+ P) ~, l- ]" i( X! VShane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, "I know why." $ w8 p+ O9 T4 u* d. P& f8 ]8 Y3 _2 i9 Q
靜靜地聽著我們談話的西恩，忽然冒出一句：「我知道為什麼。」 " c) Z! @2 G2 Z* a. b( d. \8 b ' ` {# e% S9 ?0 Y6 tStartled, 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?" ' ]& g! k7 S! @$ F8 o1 q 3 y; W9 s# ^0 |6 D$ }% H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？」 h3 K5 B* ]% Q7 |- u& T: d9 x2 u! t! S0 w5 m a8 g6 H
The six-year-old continued, "Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long."(allone.com) 7 Z6 c( z. M3 d, J c" g* ^ [ ( Q- S: {; [+ J" h6 I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)# ?% B& v# t0 o E2 f) U3 V
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詞解：1.euthanasia：安樂死% a& ^0 K1 u/ Y# L; }: ?/ m
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2.transition：過渡，轉變, o$ m% W7 Q5 \7 Y. p7 p( |7 k
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3.pipe up：尖聲的說，脫口而出" Y0 a" d8 I( u4 W& F" T( Q: c
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●狗老師的啟示… ! t* `' U& [1 L0 o* [0 {' v 8 e3 j: A% M$ S; F8 pRemember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:" ~" q" Q7 R# s2 l$ @8 l) \
" V& {; {6 Z' L2 ~! F記住，如果狗狗曾經是位老師，你會學到這些東西： $ d) n3 I* S0 K2 z 3 _2 ?& g- X$ z, ]: jWhen loved ones come home, always run to greet them.% C) S; e: X/ u' Q1 u0 \# L. J' F2 m
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當心愛的人回家了，永遠跑上前熱情地迎接他們。) h9 i5 T. |0 S
% ?$ `8 A7 B+ R& ], ?( U2 o/ jNever pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride./ s2 _& c! r$ l3 P' W8 T
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永遠不要錯過能夠出去玩兒的機會。 ! D- ]6 B3 o( K. H1 s. P. p" W1 x2 @/ k+ l1 |3 c
Thrive on attention and let people touch you.2 p4 }6 Y. D) e
. w% k$ m2 D/ M* w6 \隨時尋求關注並讓人們撫摸。 : p. ^- o2 ]4 n$ G. G' z; ^% N) Y9 @5 ]6 w
When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body. * M9 b: F @- E8 y) ]+ S; q+ o4 ` - x+ J! ?4 G# C2 {高興的時候，跳舞並搖動整個身體。: `( v Y6 s1 f/ \! P: k" Z) B, c
7 S" X6 K4 [. r/ s2 f" N5 aBe loyal.# P8 {2 |- h' h) [; g* @$ ~, T1 l8 D
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忠誠。 % Q/ O) q* ~# h! L1 s5 y+ y* f # R8 k9 X) { K4 @1 y, X. V* eNever pretend to be something you're not. ) D! l% A k& z; }/ A* _. I , z) d& K( l; Z; J3 i8 H永遠不假裝。 * x0 l8 L" M- y2 {( W+ x7 r0 P+ o6 M/ E! j7 |0 ]
When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently. , H% T' o+ X. P. v( @5 e# m' Q ?) _" N7 A5 |7 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。' n7 }% I" M2 O- L