+ a7 z1 n7 w# BBeing a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish wolfhound named Belker. 6 {4 X9 `, m* b; v& x% ]- w$ n: a; v 2 T7 c) M/ X; j& S" X; q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。! ?. V) b# v; Z1 u0 E8 r8 _( t- g
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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.0 J, b& G' _3 X; ]
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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。 ) v- C+ P9 {2 `9 @9 I! \ j0 D2 I& h! _. `! F' g; ?: l" ]4 ~
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./ X1 m3 f0 U9 H0 m' B3 D
: a5 x/ @; q' s+ [& ]8 R1 E# dAs 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." H o2 v r0 d2 u+ T
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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。 3 c$ s) i; F+ `; a* Y' u 0 g: @4 l$ a! N. }1 k {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.) ?1 Z4 s: K' g& _/ 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。' n& T# c8 ]1 K- M; ]& w! @8 F
# X x$ \6 h. b% T8 sThe 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 M! @& t. A# x8 w7 y" u) X 5 ?3 v5 c1 w/ s8 ]' h+ H2 D7 `! C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。3 [, F5 F% Z: A( t" n/ I
" j1 i! D* `) V8 @1 S& UShane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, "I know why." - `% t; J, O5 |& s& d, [' W, n + M. X3 _ g) ~! C2 S7 E靜靜地聽著我們談話的西恩，忽然冒出一句：「我知道為什麼。」 ; J! c w8 u$ E- C9 p2 Q* O 6 Y5 M) I( _5 jStartled, 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?"# S2 Q/ e3 m2 M7 M/ p: O
( ^( V& o( R# Y+ f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？」 6 _ B3 S! m. j7 B# o' n 3 w. d1 I2 _) p- l6 F yThe six-year-old continued, "Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long."(allone.com)- ^4 Y' c5 D' {! M* T! l: _8 G7 g
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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)' H4 K5 _* i Z) x
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詞解：1.euthanasia：安樂死 ) a% s6 H8 w' T) R! b! | . O) f- o) h) x1 d2.transition：過渡，轉變) _) Z1 E4 E5 b) v
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3.pipe up：尖聲的說，脫口而出 7 B. {9 ]9 {7 Z+ V" F: C+ ? ) J) O$ K5 d5 e3 j( w/ J4 u& d●狗老師的啟示…3 `, Q( p8 e8 G: S# e4 H
! P, o3 _5 z( y- K2 MRemember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:5 [4 }; t0 j) k6 X6 [" r
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記住，如果狗狗曾經是位老師，你會學到這些東西：* ]/ C9 ]0 f9 [) {* w5 G0 W
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When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.3 z' Q$ R; t, Q7 K
% L3 U5 c' _2 m7 D k* M當心愛的人回家了，永遠跑上前熱情地迎接他們。. j+ m8 T& M5 D A% C# C
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Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.) G$ E( i! S0 ~* ~: C
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永遠不要錯過能夠出去玩兒的機會。- K2 M8 _ N5 Q
9 z+ \" b6 q% v+ nThrive on attention and let people touch you. 8 `4 D4 B" a/ ]- z3 { 0 ?; a! A. f& } ?6 V% k: R隨時尋求關注並讓人們撫摸。- D8 A+ x* P `, P) m# O3 X7 X# T
& F6 `6 Q- n( wWhen you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.; A9 ]4 B; r# m$ a; d1 \
- r3 c/ \5 }; \3 ~5 c. ?0 e6 G3 n+ m高興的時候，跳舞並搖動整個身體。 0 L' [" r- n$ s" S" e1 x: Q8 g' V4 U! Q( O7 j0 T% R9 Z7 ?' @6 D
Be loyal./ @, g; Y5 y# f
! l! K" c2 P9 O( J忠誠。/ y, ^# H* c/ u# Q9 t" G
; V! C1 C: M/ UNever pretend to be something you're not.! J! E3 `, Q# ?- B _
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永遠不假裝。3 z6 k2 s, i7 P/ S
& e* a/ b& w: A! G0 l: XWhen someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.4 i& u6 \) }6 I% \