) |& I. C& H6 V- k: O2 {- G6 MBeing a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish wolfhound named Belker. ( A! X& A6 q2 t3 b/ N* T* L2 o/ e1 h- p8 [" d5 E7 e/ @* h
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。- {3 C/ o4 R$ Y6 v% l2 `, T4 D
7 l, ~( M; d3 c# o) ]& 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. + \0 E+ v& Q9 H& I& B , v2 J1 P9 F; {8 eBelker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。 * d( U G: l/ ~1 H! {7 P M+ e% c) ] E( E& a
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. - o: m/ \/ ~% n6 K: T& m" I2 W % k) K( [5 ~! K4 G4 Q' c5 E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 }8 @% @, x) X+ [
; ~2 {1 _& |: E. }. @! @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.# w- j5 S7 [* h: x% W
6 ^9 \0 H, B1 L' M4 }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。; u: X! R0 I- j6 x4 @
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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." c, T. I* D6 r# W# y% D
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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。 - I/ M, n) k0 f& a- n- R; u v2 B1 ], k- B1 X0 [! n& U
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. * ^( \( S3 P! f# r7 N; N% `' W! N* L A
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。7 R. m5 B; H1 ], t) _2 z! E9 @
& Z0 B# B) i8 ~: c; ?2 |2 wShane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, "I know why." % T! v+ e. ^) N9 T8 @1 S" h( G+ i9 G: f% q& q" b. _2 f8 L
靜靜地聽著我們談話的西恩，忽然冒出一句：「我知道為什麼。」# G+ L8 E$ E# w( R! k" K
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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?" - K& u3 M8 o% P( V7 x! t0 J) V7 @ , M! Y, Z/ t0 s3 ?# ~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？」 ' f s! k$ M s3 o9 m2 C5 w$ T. q0 `9 d! |* m. U; D
The six-year-old continued, "Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long."(allone.com) ; A. J- ^; ?" Y. Y5 q0 k$ A) H, D3 }+ z
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 `0 ~2 ^& N) T; q. K
8 D( t8 V6 I7 I詞解：1.euthanasia：安樂死 B* u/ x0 L6 c& D. v% F) ~ ; ]4 Y0 | H5 p. @. B& H2.transition：過渡，轉變( \. A% w N1 d* k2 f( \/ r& P
8 m5 T6 l1 E2 \3.pipe up：尖聲的說，脫口而出 4 ~: [3 i0 o$ a7 `( }. w$ R ! K% ^" v& V8 `4 F●狗老師的啟示…0 H+ D6 U( E8 @' W2 a& Y s
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Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:6 e$ c8 b. }) ~/ a) Y
3 S3 V3 s5 x; r# p記住，如果狗狗曾經是位老師，你會學到這些東西：/ r( w, P4 \8 J2 o( g7 T
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When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.; l+ K) ]3 I3 Y& v: k
3 u2 @- g, K* \' F0 a h5 y當心愛的人回家了，永遠跑上前熱情地迎接他們。& F5 f2 c& {& r
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Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride. 5 l9 Q' @. S1 k4 o# Z2 V7 Q- G6 b# \8 R5 G u% L. P
永遠不要錯過能夠出去玩兒的機會。2 y6 E a, o- k4 L3 b
7 E+ g: N7 U( gThrive on attention and let people touch you.* W: w6 J7 ?* h
4 G4 f n! y: y) x' Y隨時尋求關注並讓人們撫摸。7 D# E( N( } q _+ @7 G
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When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.6 t v; o6 \0 V+ ]
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高興的時候，跳舞並搖動整個身體。 5 q8 c- G L* x' j& N- I) A& B. } $ A* x r1 c% H0 P" JBe loyal." G5 k2 Q) L, f7 g6 R; Z, j
) k; A4 n8 ?, |# V+ E j忠誠。 8 f$ t/ D j5 [$ T0 W( h % \* N6 s8 ]6 WNever pretend to be something you're not.5 b* g% t) z: N/ J1 w6 |& W
' d7 T% Z& u. Y: K5 h% T( r9 u永遠不假裝。9 T0 d* D& A3 N) \
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When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.* K0 b0 }# s4 ]1 I% w
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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。4 s! v/ T% f/ N9 H6 S" Z2 I
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