% i0 j! l( H* y/ S3 A# SBeing a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish wolfhound named Belker. 4 v" ]5 V1 z) @) u 4 K8 h6 _( m/ b$ {) v7 l% 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。 6 A A' `- s+ x& |+ |6 _1 ~! b- R0 P' J
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. % V8 v x2 t: s$ D! j 3 e; T( t7 J+ [$ }) ^+ n( X* ~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。" O3 q8 y1 B0 Q/ L5 K
2 `4 S* L. K* NI 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. ( V# Y {2 O3 I7 ?1 k$ s# I9 J+ E2 a4 A$ @0 p
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。 + Q2 k7 g$ i: C% v & X3 ^& y$ Z8 G0 |. kAs 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 Q m+ v2 H2 A2 e9 w
5 I1 {/ \ W" L% \( Y4 M* j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。% R) |) H( ~, w
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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.) x' b+ x, {: n. } T# K9 m" C
# C' h% ?, f- n! y- G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。$ i0 G- o5 [3 a% Y: w/ P
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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.- |, ^8 f( l, t
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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。4 u/ R. a% G- g7 {) y1 Z
6 r8 d* D2 ^! m; z. V& TShane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, "I know why." 7 D/ T, \' a F5 c1 o2 E! b5 B! B0 ` + u2 O$ N3 f5 S" D6 ]1 n靜靜地聽著我們談話的西恩，忽然冒出一句：「我知道為什麼。」 ' F" Q9 D! \8 Q* z7 g4 ^* s' L1 j- Q: m
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?" ( r1 g- g+ ]3 d W1 S 2 B( d9 |' e& S) F, E5 w% \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？」 , ~. Y% G; L& P" W% ^ 8 l( Y6 ~% L* P9 N5 A9 [0 fThe six-year-old continued, "Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long."(allone.com) 9 Y3 X5 n2 M' Y2 F) f. ^( x * |" P( m' `" o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) " X' j# O4 \! l; I$ V" v) {! n7 p$ U; |
詞解：1.euthanasia：安樂死" { L/ m; w/ ]1 B4 `3 d
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2.transition：過渡，轉變 / p' G7 F$ k3 g4 o9 L* d 0 p' A8 C( J. z: Y3.pipe up：尖聲的說，脫口而出 $ l7 i- q& A# j: C2 Z/ ?6 B( L+ `# T1 P* W: O- C* L
●狗老師的啟示… 8 @/ V: G" V4 F( i/ _3 P 6 v/ x! k1 H$ i: G( }! ?8 Q1 }Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like: 1 s7 v' [% n4 y- w( d1 \/ z" G' [) A9 Q8 r/ B9 L2 d
記住，如果狗狗曾經是位老師，你會學到這些東西：' s8 t1 `7 [* } i1 ^ k! ~
2 @7 ]% ?! _* L3 s- z4 o+ D4 eWhen loved ones come home, always run to greet them.& m9 E K: ]% K+ U
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當心愛的人回家了，永遠跑上前熱情地迎接他們。 5 K; Y1 E; T8 q 5 w* j2 d1 [! L; X% tNever pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride./ G7 F" b( L, K
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永遠不要錯過能夠出去玩兒的機會。: m- Q6 g/ X+ b9 [+ W ~' \
8 r' D# |0 X7 d5 C4 f5 U$ TThrive on attention and let people touch you. ) y/ l4 H7 A) X6 G# H! e: ]; x* c( b- `3 j
隨時尋求關注並讓人們撫摸。 / Z9 F5 M9 p2 U. t3 H" g: }! r. d; h* G: o
When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body. 6 }& i% n8 Z7 k' J- X* ]( e. f6 P+ ]1 B3 u; m; I- v+ q
高興的時候，跳舞並搖動整個身體。 1 F9 `( C) U- R+ ] t# s0 u' K& Q $ B4 L/ W) v; z, E1 P0 VBe loyal. 0 w7 I2 \$ l) a7 e5 Q: Z4 s& V z4 \9 Y7 @- m! N B1 l忠誠。* E4 e8 a; y/ V
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Never pretend to be something you're not. + a! n& T6 q5 [9 F 7 q! J2 c& l( j永遠不假裝。 9 h q& X0 l6 i5 d , w1 O! ~; ~* MWhen someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently. ' C1 ^4 g2 R: l . f1 W, n& t0 x$ P' V Y4 _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。. P0 J! y( ]: h1 p" \
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