) y$ m7 o' n( I' d/ y) b' jBeing a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish wolfhound named Belker.) j8 M# l: P3 ?" Q
+ W, q0 b0 v2 C+ E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。 . Q7 {+ A" r3 j" ^" _$ D. q; r+ c& Y$ A6 X7 b; g0 k8 R! U! X
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.* W* O4 L9 x8 C0 ^
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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。; J7 p" ~* y4 v+ J. z
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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.! L; {; A, _8 F( [( Q
9 m) _7 o- p% R% n+ z4 e: p. h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。3 w9 k' M% E% M
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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.3 }2 C8 o$ _$ A: [' c5 `
# t- ]$ c3 e" x! e7 n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。 - e: V' L8 L: D* j, f" Y4 r( D- ^/ i! Y) V6 R
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' l, Q1 T7 D! _1 ?: 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+ `. @2 g8 A4 L$ ?9 R3 Y$ M- d5 f- Q
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 R6 E! U. r, e$ G) {
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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。 6 B$ [; K* x/ K" v& V* H0 y: ]' O2 e8 `. {, j3 v, ]
Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, "I know why."0 r/ O. A3 s k8 U+ x, @
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靜靜地聽著我們談話的西恩，忽然冒出一句：「我知道為什麼。」 6 f' r" K: ?/ m1 f7 \- P/ o6 a; E) U% r$ C4 f% D
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?"5 T& j- l+ b- }2 d8 N% s3 r
2 m2 G( o4 s3 o+ G' L8 Q- s ^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？」 , b: t- g" D: S. r, L8 _2 Y U0 Y) ?0 \
The six-year-old continued, "Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long."(allone.com) 2 o4 H8 ]3 d5 L8 a$ ~ 2 c. O! z @; Z. e* K$ B3 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); z% L) h3 K* i/ S
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詞解：1.euthanasia：安樂死 . r9 N0 n1 v8 X# Q9 h- a/ X8 B& l' F4 E9 `
2.transition：過渡，轉變 9 s3 k6 _" f/ k5 g5 O $ j9 Y% M V/ f1 c) k0 Q: T6 l3.pipe up：尖聲的說，脫口而出 + O. N$ t) r: [2 R0 n" ~# g t- r6 z* n; q) u●狗老師的啟示… 2 P7 F0 }9 q. S# E$ [$ V0 m& O 2 E- a3 q0 y7 g' x" ^1 z3 s3 ERemember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:0 q+ F8 @ z3 `% S/ Q: m0 Z
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記住，如果狗狗曾經是位老師，你會學到這些東西：* z) e3 x1 b' o ^1 e9 J4 H! @
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When loved ones come home, always run to greet them. 8 {- d2 R4 d8 j' F/ H9 E( @6 n 2 \7 ~( E5 P. ^! t當心愛的人回家了，永遠跑上前熱情地迎接他們。0 x( H: k5 B% d8 n8 K6 `" y
* R% q. z9 a3 RNever pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.: i, D; R5 H, @# Z" \ l0 f5 D
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永遠不要錯過能夠出去玩兒的機會。, u9 h$ f6 y8 I# d* z
8 K: A! A: ^6 z- ^/ a( w7 gThrive on attention and let people touch you. # p% n( \1 o& ^- Z+ X# ~ 4 K- t" b |" g% O1 n隨時尋求關注並讓人們撫摸。 9 @* @) j6 E" m# R# x* `: D2 _) a+ j
When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.8 W( Z1 I: K3 B+ h3 D
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高興的時候，跳舞並搖動整個身體。 5 i9 l% i4 v- M+ c3 q4 S p7 G' C) z. @% ?+ {. Y
Be loyal.9 ~* G) j& [+ c) H1 A, A7 i
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忠誠。 ! S4 T5 K% L' n, P1 F/ {; o0 x6 l! V# i# L7 K/ @' Q
Never pretend to be something you're not.+ k) U: B; {! f8 Y6 t5 y" A p
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永遠不假裝。 / ?. a3 H4 Z) k 4 i' }. l7 }' {7 dWhen someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.) j. {0 S8 B! y2 _