0 w: T5 }5 q; p# P7 O; w+ j) o) {Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish wolfhound named Belker. 1 w, m: @5 K; q; {3 d( v7 `" \8 W7 D
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。 " L6 a0 B6 ?( ~* `" H ; W O! a8 ?- oThe 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. ( P: z% C+ E9 n% | D ! z, _" N5 G) h' G) [( A9 L8 NBelker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。 * c, Y# T4 k& Z" N' {: N2 ?) f/ ^$ E" [
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.# K) E- r+ p- V% d% {. U( d) _8 b
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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 e" m7 g& Y } p* u8 B
! D% i9 J+ ]) `. }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.$ l! t# J$ p8 T- M
5 M, _+ I; `, S; z5 m8 T3 p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。9 g3 v( C* `# }" [) T" T8 t
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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. * p" R& a5 J* r/ C% V# B+ z1 g0 j; _9 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。 ! x/ @6 W/ ]2 |7 A * \8 \6 r4 H- j n uThe 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.- S1 h1 V+ J8 ~% }+ P
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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。 ) o- y3 y) Q$ k: `* n# U# @( Z4 K4 A* x; z1 P9 A! g
Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, "I know why."0 U5 _* \1 r9 V, ^% ^$ a
3 j- I E& l7 b+ j9 ]: s% ~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 B4 ?. |
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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?"# J4 q1 P m( j$ M5 m/ ?
3 J1 W# S4 Z. Y# Q8 C. 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？」! Q* f' N8 A( \2 G% H- ]& H
) X% j5 y1 e% y9 aThe six-year-old continued, "Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long."(allone.com)7 E) s& U$ B, t# Q* N' y
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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) ; t3 _, E# a# W' i( u3 q& { 0 [% ~. H! G4 G0 j3 U8 [6 W6 w; a詞解：1.euthanasia：安樂死 " c4 l: b( k3 {4 P0 @, B/ z$ S$ o! c+ n
2.transition：過渡，轉變 7 k# `1 a2 [/ I' \1 I' [, T/ t: e$ ` ) k0 Q5 U3 W% f2 t* M3.pipe up：尖聲的說，脫口而出 , D' N2 Q/ E3 J& x d, G3 D) P( ]1 p
●狗老師的啟示…/ ~7 F( V0 e1 P. y+ E0 E6 Y2 |
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Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like: 3 p* j" H4 c% a$ p! d% u 9 Y' H' ]! a$ M0 [0 T4 _5 T: T$ X記住，如果狗狗曾經是位老師，你會學到這些東西：9 u/ _+ ^# I; j# ^9 A O
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When loved ones come home, always run to greet them. # G7 Q3 u( y( c) U3 _9 W' V & U7 ]/ z, K. Q6 q( m" s% g當心愛的人回家了，永遠跑上前熱情地迎接他們。 ! ^- N. d& ~# b7 s& g 5 ]8 U: i9 d t% c# X# ONever pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.+ [/ s1 Q8 p$ ~' x8 N
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永遠不要錯過能夠出去玩兒的機會。6 |, i9 d/ B2 B
3 c1 i4 u- @( j- S% R6 {* U2 UThrive on attention and let people touch you. 3 c# m" J# V3 W% R! x9 a* m$ \1 a3 `7 [# P' M
隨時尋求關注並讓人們撫摸。 1 [, p: X K3 ]) m$ n- @ ! m0 |" v2 F5 U/ a ~4 GWhen you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.! E6 f$ H6 N5 F7 }