1 { k) F4 L& J. v) T7 \Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish wolfhound named Belker. % n4 N, o R# Q* @ v$ O' P/ {, `5 t# g, C$ ~: @
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。 5 E5 m% e8 Q# o+ d- z! U7 H: |4 w q9 w& c; k! Y. u2 `
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.1 o Q. ]; u: _+ }, }! v. R( C
9 P* T# K a; cBelker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。 7 w: t% l8 q% q) B8 j5 B/ [3 x: D M6 c, Q/ N
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. # j) j% T4 \% ^4 F5 Z9 l& [; `& {- {9 {0 {6 H. z
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。' N* Z0 A5 `" q2 F9 O
8 T! M9 x, @- O! A( A% y% @1 WAs 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 P2 O5 }8 E" `' R7 h+ w8 o & r, S/ F$ y. @" M" V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。 , R# p; { ?" q( U. L: Z5 J, ]1 x0 D+ g6 q$ u* ~0 m8 M
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.7 L# d4 f+ \% t6 i/ T3 V
. \; J; k2 {5 {! U# N+ Y- b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。- M4 z. p& u* a
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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.2 v7 w( P! J* G& H0 H+ y5 ~& T
+ m0 m7 Y' |, P# k% ~4 W9 j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。0 `, e" t' O$ L! F
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Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, "I know why."$ E8 j7 p+ r& m4 a( x2 p0 T+ a: q
* F; K9 ?4 O3 }$ y R+ q% J靜靜地聽著我們談話的西恩，忽然冒出一句：「我知道為什麼。」5 ~ j1 m2 y; o0 h5 g
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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?"% `8 W. [3 R ]' V5 n$ W
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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？」* T. G1 ^" I- z! `' Q8 p
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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)& M- ~5 [% e( c* r8 v. O! ~
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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) 1 N6 F4 _0 D; k; r. W( n( Z1 @ 7 x2 x/ N( O2 E詞解：1.euthanasia：安樂死/ F& `5 w: r3 E
' ]2 a4 N3 g A& o* G5 s: E2.transition：過渡，轉變 1 z) I1 \8 m. W8 l5 e7 H * O& E* a S- e7 ^3.pipe up：尖聲的說，脫口而出 % N. [3 I* u% I# M" t* c 8 t$ ] { s' P5 L- E0 s" o●狗老師的啟示…& j, @9 u, ?; w- x9 V% K: s
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Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:3 E( ^8 x7 l }: P' o
( l8 X3 l% t9 z& e+ W* U1 F/ v記住，如果狗狗曾經是位老師，你會學到這些東西：- C0 [6 C# y& g9 a
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When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.% |: [& Q& V7 q/ H" |9 z2 f+ Z
8 ~: E; e4 ^, Y$ j當心愛的人回家了，永遠跑上前熱情地迎接他們。" C7 H$ F p+ g' l7 f
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Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.! M7 C( ^" n; @7 W
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永遠不要錯過能夠出去玩兒的機會。! Q/ w- Z, m) v' x1 x
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Thrive on attention and let people touch you.% b- E$ Z% R9 b! w( o y
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隨時尋求關注並讓人們撫摸。 ) } A$ S' U& K3 P2 [$ l: b6 c; H, d9 J
When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body. / R: `+ g" g7 v# H2 o8 h# v7 u+ e( t8 ]" G0 ?+ R$ C( t
高興的時候，跳舞並搖動整個身體。9 ^4 e7 L J9 O7 p2 t4 W
Z$ z' Q% z* _Be loyal. 5 W+ J7 `$ r. [! ^* G6 f + L0 R: I8 v9 L; `" O/ a; L忠誠。 4 s7 O. y+ ]. q. _; _2 A% X) G/ r2 A5 m$ w3 U& b- M, t
Never pretend to be something you're not. % j8 M/ L( \8 h. s: c: z0 c5 m- B# t9 k" A3 I0 h
永遠不假裝。; ~+ J- a+ M {- p" R n) \& U
/ ^- x/ c5 }. s# ?When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.0 H8 r& o2 p2 v8 g4 v