% \9 S1 Z% s5 ABeing a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish wolfhound named Belker.& a! m/ q7 ]- a% P+ C
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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。. n+ b( O; T5 R8 W6 M5 R
1 z$ n6 b/ O4 L7 V" ?& lThe 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.. E. D3 x' j! U# r! |
9 z2 c9 j* M* B8 s: W( D: LBelker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。4 V) @/ e9 ^ b; r& w' s* T
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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. + ~& _4 X+ K0 v' u: c* f3 }& v0 |7 x; B' @5 q( z1 y
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。 # {: T) R( n; i X i- P4 ^: x* `" b; _$ E$ x! Q9 w8 \: |$ y
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.+ t. s/ }9 v2 f3 h9 K6 J4 U! i
2 e; A9 F% ^# p, \# g6 ?1 d! @' @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.5 ^3 w% g7 g4 |* ~' S5 R2 q/ U
8 `7 [3 L; z9 ~% H6 ~1 n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。; J5 W. ~9 C% `8 g
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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. ! m+ f) k* t6 C# N0 s2 C; L / q9 n/ e8 B/ k& \6 G/ S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。 ( f" V3 e4 {5 v! P, O9 l% t9 G5 w9 F% C0 x* ^
Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, "I know why.". h6 u( v3 p) L% J2 P) b+ G
" R; i% l2 y+ x: d靜靜地聽著我們談話的西恩，忽然冒出一句：「我知道為什麼。」 % d4 e" y, w8 G , {2 l. j5 \5 v, rStartled, 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 N' p$ d# [ ! n ]9 ?: k2 c7 S, N' G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？」. [% K; |7 Y5 c" k! `1 j N& d( i$ \
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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); K0 X: W9 p' D
! [: V- L3 i( s1 K, ]9 R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)* p7 b$ Y$ |( R/ }8 ]& H$ P5 H
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詞解：1.euthanasia：安樂死 9 Z+ v$ r% r) y3 u# B, A3 x' g5 e. m7 K6 @- Y3 v. A1 r
2.transition：過渡，轉變* L& J' E# `4 w* Z( |- p
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3.pipe up：尖聲的說，脫口而出) L7 ?8 E- a/ ?# w( I( @) c: s
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●狗老師的啟示… # T1 Y5 s" q$ d/ b6 M4 c 0 B4 Y- E- b! U( C h; G$ uRemember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like: 8 I0 L# h/ s5 e0 a* D) I! n% R+ H
記住，如果狗狗曾經是位老師，你會學到這些東西： ) s/ Y( q! {! F+ u4 U! C. s3 \) h' w8 |& z# H
When loved ones come home, always run to greet them. " A+ y! j, S' A8 | , p" t0 G+ V3 H. T, M當心愛的人回家了，永遠跑上前熱情地迎接他們。 2 R; y% B9 f. W) {. m! }2 ? 8 l$ ?3 C7 K0 g( p+ x8 FNever pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride." F4 K6 [" h1 r- Y& ?; A
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永遠不要錯過能夠出去玩兒的機會。 ( }; W+ l- |$ t - V# @+ C: h8 j4 G- e; [- oThrive on attention and let people touch you. 3 e# j4 T; b( H3 ?1 w' P 8 z, v; e+ o4 {" n, c& A. ~: y0 P隨時尋求關注並讓人們撫摸。; l B8 Q' r! t! [ T
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When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body. 1 p7 F/ \( U& S9 d6 Z4 v) V+ ]# O; f8 n j/ D
高興的時候，跳舞並搖動整個身體。0 |0 T9 V. P$ W1 A# x
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Be loyal., P, z2 b. k% F( b& V
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忠誠。 . ?* A5 J* A5 Z: m+ _$ p o y1 K) E* L0 p! i
Never pretend to be something you're not. , |1 q2 O, B6 F0 U4 V( V 2 z; d" l2 e1 {- P) R永遠不假裝。 5 w+ i. Q9 Y8 h 1 o" u5 ?5 c3 J% hWhen someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently. 6 F. Q1 L: v/ [- e, S4 l# Q) T) W; t- H7 f& m( a! v
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。9 I5 ?* G& [: L& m/ V T
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