3 x3 N* y$ H4 O' C6 `Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish wolfhound named Belker." z Y( @( _5 l" K& u7 U7 w( {- i/ F& Z# _
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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。/ f9 R0 g" j' w0 V* f( i. N
- ^0 f) q# O8 W- g! M/ \, m6 ?9 V/ aThe 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.& d8 ]& u5 k" j3 Y c! C9 c" Y' S2 a
0 t* Z% g0 [ e- e* j0 W8 [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。! E, f4 g& i3 g. X5 J6 D
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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.1 c) I5 u" i: f T7 l; i. V
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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。5 v; T, M* G8 i8 x" W9 k; q
/ y$ a! \ P4 zAs 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.. w* E5 W, g. H; 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。4 T3 v/ l( n* M- O0 b, `6 u+ I
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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. 5 i8 |: A3 v. W! a3 u! U $ Y- G8 S( b3 o1 u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。" `/ I7 k8 G& Y \: ^: ^
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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. 6 |% X$ G0 {* G( F5 n" P$ H3 f2 ?1 ^7 ~1 {2 J
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。 * h6 A0 ` r5 K# v0 t - X s: J( g$ c3 i; `Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, "I know why." 2 M* t6 q' w7 z# w' o) h# k5 l) X) U& w' u
靜靜地聽著我們談話的西恩，忽然冒出一句：「我知道為什麼。」 8 o! i" m3 y2 t% J% f' t. x, q& V$ Z, K) T0 E S# H( p- J
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?" ) a" [, ~) ^) _) {4 S, }. y; s1 ?; R+ e" U7 K7 S. w& J
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？」 / F- \: ~8 T* V+ J3 _" g1 c& L+ y& H6 o2 |& N% T) ^
The six-year-old continued, "Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long."(allone.com)/ R+ I: A& @2 N* x/ E
% N: z9 I! @* i7 e8 V) T1 K I詞解：1.euthanasia：安樂死: \5 K6 A2 x4 @/ A
: I; @1 \8 T) A2 {5 h2.transition：過渡，轉變, {! Y; s/ h/ d6 s$ s M
3 K8 x& {* d5 F0 {6 F3.pipe up：尖聲的說，脫口而出 ' s. ^1 D! C: U4 z/ ^ 6 m5 E2 m; t+ C. ~9 r●狗老師的啟示… j% C7 f6 X" T6 k0 l , c y- Y0 F0 c4 [5 v8 sRemember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:6 p, ]6 q: z& ~4 m( x5 O( T
4 X, A& @) U) B* j5 K記住，如果狗狗曾經是位老師，你會學到這些東西：8 c; o, g1 ^* `5 M& E$ |7 i
" h Q7 a. W T% @* ~0 X5 bWhen loved ones come home, always run to greet them. + d% z3 B; H; Z5 Q/ ?( K9 o# }5 R9 Y. `7 |* V% T
當心愛的人回家了，永遠跑上前熱情地迎接他們。 : ~; i J/ d* s# Q. p( k% Q * u x1 n6 F1 D5 Y2 ?. mNever pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride. ! U' x4 e/ Q u& `& }3 i- ^2 ^6 ?; M' Z* Z5 h. m. R
永遠不要錯過能夠出去玩兒的機會。4 I) n; M5 w7 r0 i" `9 c, P
1 c( k3 s* V3 nThrive on attention and let people touch you.* ~; X3 g; ^- L, a
4 D3 z% t+ I# o3 h# {9 D隨時尋求關注並讓人們撫摸。0 f, o' V. R1 F7 }: M, b
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When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body." v) F$ Z% u) b5 V' i! f6 N
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高興的時候，跳舞並搖動整個身體。4 P" a; ]) b1 j
( \+ N' L* t- o" _* G9 |Never pretend to be something you're not.+ j& \! u8 w9 o6 s
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永遠不假裝。( x1 _# s5 U& O' a; C' x# j0 W
! J) c& H' \7 h+ G9 e8 AWhen someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently. 9 c5 y2 `3 {- R8 o( R% ?( o K: K: C0 ]* }- P/ P) O
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。# q, O6 Z4 J) g- H" \5 n% d