8 F% N" g0 J' V3 u( aBeing a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish wolfhound named Belker. " V: L1 d5 M7 m C$ X1 ? * h9 U/ A7 ~7 `: o' o- L4 F, u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。* O6 h1 B0 c: T
" a, O( x2 G" g3 RThe 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.: u+ k6 D: @8 S3 S/ i
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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。 . m/ J2 ?" G+ b% E% I/ q! c% D9 ^% l& R- r$ Q. J z
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. " I& [- L$ C: |) y2 G& y ; S3 I& C1 [2 i1 n v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。9 S7 B4 y, f' l8 {) L& f2 R
1 l- `( Q+ [' eAs 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. - \ \/ m; L Z/ ?' ~6 ~9 W/ i! u# G; Q9 I6 P) `1 ]2 @4 p, d
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。$ e5 |* D" y5 n; `3 n- [
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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% A& E$ G$ z9 S3 l* _
8 a; Z( A, I5 x6 Q) ?, G+ v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。 2 u3 @8 Z. N3 w/ v! T4 z+ _" f ( W5 h! V6 K, W$ WThe 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. : l) w4 u, h" c) l. B1 k) E) r. L1 Z+ N
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。% z8 ?* w9 f7 t
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Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, "I know why."; [7 @0 U5 M3 o- r- y
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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。」 ( k* B) \8 Q+ z, F ( v6 @8 {. M- m7 uStartled, 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?"4 `: y) J$ Y7 t' v e' @
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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？」, \0 w& R' V/ [ n9 H* g4 l/ V3 d7 E
" m+ B" \0 V: [5 V2 _The six-year-old continued, "Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long."(allone.com)9 [! B ^! Q( f. a( f' Q$ p+ u8 k
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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)( c2 E; n! z, e. c* ]7 g! Y
8 a: O( C9 K( R& w詞解：1.euthanasia：安樂死 " u5 A- A% t# g. o( s- Z, K" x m1 ]5 I
2.transition：過渡，轉變 0 u+ @, ^8 U$ W3 v/ @$ ^/ D ' H: z" ?% _/ Q: q# O' {3.pipe up：尖聲的說，脫口而出' _# _" ~9 w) F; |
% d. v5 y1 G N9 }8 O●狗老師的啟示… + O5 L' E- @/ [: P3 O, ^ 8 r4 T8 V0 N1 X \& ]' f HRemember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like: ) H6 J( Z/ v9 `! ?+ [ + \. m8 ?5 T- O記住，如果狗狗曾經是位老師，你會學到這些東西： C5 W- S2 m+ x( l5 A( M: b# }2 c( S0 J
When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.8 n: k) i0 g$ {9 p7 R3 y
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當心愛的人回家了，永遠跑上前熱情地迎接他們。$ X( T5 f/ Z% g6 m7 x/ T
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Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.: U! o6 u& p. @9 ]( `. M
; A. `' a- S; t* t永遠不要錯過能夠出去玩兒的機會。' O, J/ v9 _$ b, `# t+ p: `
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Thrive on attention and let people touch you., d/ {+ [/ z) q
# v8 t5 ]' G! W+ @- F) EWhen you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.: G9 b4 m% K% t6 d$ D
! ~: W$ D& R( A, @: {. N高興的時候，跳舞並搖動整個身體。0 m) y: [6 u# U7 D+ _( c
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Be loyal. 9 N8 |7 p1 e& e+ [: N) F$ E/ R4 `& {$ g9 r9 W& S) w% N
忠誠。$ W, b* w1 u, }
- c0 V3 w i. r5 k: K% YNever pretend to be something you're not. 1 f) W2 {6 u9 V0 G5 c! Y$ i. i / ^$ r3 m8 G F% ~, Z9 }永遠不假裝。8 {( m0 ]: |! }# Y# x
5 E. {8 O# v0 f: m; aWhen someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently. ( f0 q- p/ r: F% w; `8 \) h7 B4 d& w( J5 ^8 [) l2 A6 k1 j" u& g
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。% z4 {) V7 B, p$ k5 Y$ ]