O, Z5 F" B" q7 PBeing a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish wolfhound named Belker. & \% |7 n' J7 H B5 d+ n 5 [7 c# A/ Z' g5 M) Z# M9 U3 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。 $ c$ X# Y: x4 w& m5 G/ H* h( O S + k( ^" N4 z7 r% }! l9 l' I _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.: i$ e! Y0 q* q( W4 t$ }
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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。 % W* r2 Y# G& Y" s1 ?3 C+ e# K/ M 9 T/ o$ P; ]" K/ }, [) U8 l" sI 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.9 T, a5 P8 r7 z; [
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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。1 M2 a! Q2 f3 v8 y' C$ B
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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.0 ?; o X9 A4 @3 b9 }% D6 b
8 T7 j: G5 r9 l6 O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。8 E# N- \0 R, m M3 Z; c9 J
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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. ( w; Z2 A( G0 _% q: D. G2 S) `6 f' A& K$ m
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。3 S! L5 E d1 a7 y+ ~3 B# j( R6 q, n
& C1 ^" |7 O- g4 r& f; d; U9 Z+ iThe 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. 5 Z8 f0 G+ K2 f0 {( [: q7 {/ h5 s8 x- F- E% 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。9 y- G: m- I& n
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Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, "I know why." ; i! q, ?/ c6 X3 K ; Y! m# e3 P/ V6 [5 ?- @! B- k# B靜靜地聽著我們談話的西恩，忽然冒出一句：「我知道為什麼。」: D9 k% Z+ i9 M6 N+ w' I1 F1 ^% V, O
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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?"$ q: y' a/ Q1 v& Z
( f& E9 S, a3 R) s- v: N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 F! m9 Q. o3 A
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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). ^ z& U6 m0 ^+ _5 G2 n
; u8 C8 v. x3 ~' U3 E' r* T f9 ?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) & Q j7 S: e/ L6 I4 j/ H & s8 R5 N4 Q) I# t' A, M詞解：1.euthanasia：安樂死 Y6 n- P! z" W8 N. p3 t0 p; S; Z1 L9 c9 D
2.transition：過渡，轉變 " Z% ^: M$ M. u1 J& t7 \, o1 Z( T3 C; c& d& q7 s
3.pipe up：尖聲的說，脫口而出: B* m! g& _! a' ^) h
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●狗老師的啟示… , B3 s1 Y" M5 K9 ~' i# E: N5 ~; j$ K& J- k! f6 W: G
Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:. }, L5 m" ]* ~9 v/ A" j9 r4 ~% j
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記住，如果狗狗曾經是位老師，你會學到這些東西：$ [/ k3 D5 u* g& i5 g% M9 ^! U
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When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.: S! k& a6 x3 t6 \9 p) ?3 G* r
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當心愛的人回家了，永遠跑上前熱情地迎接他們。 - s, {& w/ M$ Y2 r) A/ [$ e. o * p8 k7 }( Y# \) lNever pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.3 J; T1 x1 T7 K$ ]
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永遠不要錯過能夠出去玩兒的機會。% k. M; z* U- |! T. F7 x0 J
; v g, j8 C) b; s, i0 ~7 J- kThrive on attention and let people touch you. - V6 {* e% l. r9 q% E' O# J4 F3 r# \" x
隨時尋求關注並讓人們撫摸。 4 r2 q% y: Y* c- J7 H$ {' F F# A+ G
When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.5 J5 d5 N. d5 z6 z: \' f* g2 L. t
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高興的時候，跳舞並搖動整個身體。 2 O3 s" P7 k: j% }1 n4 Z/ G ) w+ t' t C4 w- d) g# t/ LBe loyal.; {! m: H- K. S+ I0 U1 f9 v' R
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忠誠。 : F ?# \) X5 P4 ^" u, d$ f9 T, x
Never pretend to be something you're not. 1 X* n% Y# ^" I8 ?' Z/ E: K4 R4 G
永遠不假裝。 i0 p8 T0 A. v- `
' g$ b9 N8 F N9 k2 F* N% s+ _When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently. - e( V$ _0 R* F6 {& r 7 ?% D: w' k( c; ~8 q6 _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。! x& f- ]& c4 U0 o