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(单词翻译:双击或拖选)
本文选自美国作家Jim Willis的畅销书《Pieces Of My Heart-----Writings Inspired by Animals and Nature》,该书以自述的形式讲述了一只家犬对昔日主人的真情告白。当年作者用七千美元以全版广告的形式在报纸上刊登了该文章,以一篇文章感动了所有的读者。
When I was a puppy, I entertained you with my antics and made you laugh. You called me your child, and despite a number of chewed shoes and a couple of murdered throw pillows, I became your best friend. Whenever I was "bad," you'd shake your finger at me and ask "How could you?"-but then you'd relent, and roll me over for a belly1 rub.
My housebreaking took a little longer than expected, because you were terribly busy, but we worked on that together. I remember those nights of nuzzling you in bed and listening to your confidences and secret dreams, and I believed that life could not be any more perfect. We went for long walks and runs in the park, car rides, stops for ice cream (I only got the cone2 because "ice cream is bad for dogs," you said), and I took long naps in the sun waiting for you to come home at the end of the day.
Gradually, you began spending more time at work and on your career, and more time searching for a human mate. I waited for you patiently, comforted you through heartbreaks and disappointments, never chided you about bad decisions, and romped3 with glee at your homecomings, and when you fell in love. She, now your wife, is not a "dog person"-still I welcomed her into our home, tried to show her affection, and obeyed her. I was happy because you were happy.
Then the human babies came along and I shared your excitement. I was fascinated by their pinkness, how they smelled, and I wanted to mother them, too. Only she and you worried that I might hurt them, and I spent most of my time banished4 to another room, or to a dog crate5. Oh, how I wanted to love them, but I became a "prisoner of love." As they began to grow, I became their friend. They clung to my fur and pulled themselves up on wobbly legs, poked6 fingers in my eyes, investigated my ears, and gave me kisses on my nose. I loved everything about them and their touch-because your touch was now so infrequent-and I would have defended them with my life if need be. I would sneak8 into their beds and listen to their worries and secret dreams, and together we waited for the sound of your car in the driveway.
There had been a time, when others asked you if you had a dog, that you produced a photo of me from your wallet and told them stories about me. These past few years, you just answered "yes" and changed the subject. I had gone from being "your dog" to "just a dog," and you resented every expenditure9 on my behalf. Now, you have a new career opportunity in another city, and you and they will be moving to an apartment that does not allow pets. You've made the right decision for your "family," but there was a time when I was your only family.
I was excited about the car ride until we arrived at the animal shelter. It smelled of dogs and cats, of fear, of hopelessness. You filled out the paperwork and said "I know you will find a good home for her". They shrugged10 and gave you a pained look. They understand the realities facing a middle-aged11 dog, even one with "papers". You had to pry12 your son's fingers loose from my collar, as he screamed "No, Daddy. Please don't let them take my dog!" And I worried for him, and what lessons you had just taught him about friendship and loyalty13, about love and responsibility, and about respect for all life.
You gave me a good-bye pat on the head, avoided my eyes, and politely refused to take my collar and leash14 with you. You had a deadline to meet and now I have one, too. After you left, the two nice ladies said you probably knew about your upcoming move months ago and made no attempt to find me another good home. They shook their heads and asked "How could you?"
They are as attentive15 to us here in the shelter as their busy schedules allow. They feed us, of course, but I lost my appetite days ago. At first, whenever anyone passed my pen, I rushed to the front, hoping it was you-that you had changed your mind-that this was all a bad dream…or I hoped it would at least be someone who cared, anyone who might save me. When I realized I could not compete with the frolicking for attention of happy puppies, oblivious16 to their own fate, I retreated to a far corner and waited.
I heard her footsteps as she came for me at the end of the day, and I padded along the aisle17 after her to a separate room. A blissfully quiet room. She placed me on the table and rubbed my ears, and told me not to worry. My heart pounded in anticipation18 of what was to come, but there was also a sense of relief. The prisoner of love had run out of days. As is my nature, I was more concerned about her. The burden which she bears weighs heavily on her, and I know that, the same way I knew your every mood. She gently placed a tourniquet19 around my foreleg as a tear ran down her cheek. I licked her hand in the same way I used to comfort you so many years ago. She expertly slid the hypodermic needle into my vein20. As I felt the sting and the cool liquid coursing through my body, I lay down sleepily, looked into her kind eyes and murmured "How could you?"
Perhaps because she understood my dogspeak, she said "I'm so sorry." She hugged me, and hurriedly explained it was her job to make sure I went to a better place, where I wouldn't be ignored or abused or abandoned, or have to fend7 for myself-a place of love and light so very different from this earthly place.
点击收听单词发音
1 belly | |
n.肚子,腹部;(像肚子一样)鼓起的部分,膛 | |
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2 cone | |
n.圆锥体,圆锥形东西,球果 | |
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3 romped | |
v.嬉笑玩闹( romp的过去式和过去分词 );(尤指在赛跑或竞选等中)轻易获胜 | |
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4 banished | |
v.放逐,驱逐( banish的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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5 crate | |
vt.(up)把…装入箱中;n.板条箱,装货箱 | |
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6 poked | |
v.伸出( poke的过去式和过去分词 );戳出;拨弄;与(某人)性交 | |
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7 fend | |
v.照料(自己),(自己)谋生,挡开,避开 | |
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8 sneak | |
vt.潜行(隐藏,填石缝);偷偷摸摸做;n.潜行;adj.暗中进行 | |
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9 expenditure | |
n.(时间、劳力、金钱等)支出;使用,消耗 | |
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10 shrugged | |
vt.耸肩(shrug的过去式与过去分词形式) | |
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11 middle-aged | |
adj.中年的 | |
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12 pry | |
vi.窥(刺)探,打听;vt.撬动(开,起) | |
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13 loyalty | |
n.忠诚,忠心 | |
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14 leash | |
n.牵狗的皮带,束缚;v.用皮带系住 | |
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15 attentive | |
adj.注意的,专心的;关心(别人)的,殷勤的 | |
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16 oblivious | |
adj.易忘的,遗忘的,忘却的,健忘的 | |
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17 aisle | |
n.(教堂、教室、戏院等里的)过道,通道 | |
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18 anticipation | |
n.预期,预料,期望 | |
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19 tourniquet | |
n.止血器,绞压器,驱血带 | |
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20 vein | |
n.血管,静脉;叶脉,纹理;情绪;vt.使成脉络 | |
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21 thump | |
v.重击,砰然地响;n.重击,重击声 | |
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