一只狗狗的临终告白
8)crate [kreit] n. 1. 板条箱, 柳条箱; 装货箱2. 一箱(之量)3. 破旧的汽车[飞机] vt. 把…装入箱中
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 9)resented every expenditure 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.
曾几何时，当人们问起你有没有养狗的时候，你总是从钱包里掏出我的照片，向他们讲述我的轶事。可是近几年，你却只是简单地回答“有”，随即就转换话题。我已经从“你的狗狗”变成“只是一条狗”了，你甚至为在我身上花的每一分钱而生气。现在，你的事业迎来了一个新的机遇，你们要搬到另一个城市去，移居到一幢不许养宠物的公寓里。终于，你为“家庭”做出了正确的抉择，可是曾几何时我就是你唯一的家人？
9)resentvt. 对…感到愤怒
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 shrugged and gave you a pained look. They understand the realities facing a middle-aged dog, even one with "papers". You had to 10)pry 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 loyalty, about love and responsibility, and about respect for all life.
坐在你的车里我充满了期待，然而我们到达的却是一家动物收容所。那里弥漫着猫儿和狗儿的气味，还有恐惧和绝望的气息。你填写好文件后，对那里的人说：“我知道你们一定可以为它找个好归宿的。”他们耸耸肩，露出为难的神情。他们很清楚一只已到中年的狗将要面临的悲惨命运，纵使它有着各种各样的证件。你不得不掰开你儿子紧抓着我项圈的手指，而他哭喊着：“不要！爸爸，求你不要让他们带走我的狗狗！”我很替他担心，因为你刚才教他的人生课程：什么是友情、忠诚、爱、责任，还有对所有生命的尊重，是多么的歪曲错误！
10)pry [prai] vi. 打听，刺探（他人的私事） vt. 撬开
You gave me a good-bye pat on the head, avoided my eyes, and politely refused to take my collar and leash 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?"
你避开我的目光，最后一次轻轻拍我的头说再见，并礼貌地拒绝带走我的项圈及皮带。我知道你赶时间，而现在我也知道自己的大限将至了。你走后，两位好心的女士说你可能在几个月前就知道自己要搬家了，却从来没有试过要为我另找一个好的家庭。她们摇摇头说：“你怎么可以这样呢？”
They are as attentive 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 11)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, oblivious to their own fate, I retreated to a far corner and waited.
虽然这里的人整天忙得团团转，但只要有时间，他们总会尽量照料我们。在这里我不愁食物，可是数日以来我已经食不下咽了。刚开始，每当有人经过这牢笼，我都会满心期待地冲上前去，希望是你来了——以为你回心转意来把我接回去——希望这只是一场噩梦……或者至少是有人来关心我，有人愿意救我出去。当我意识到我永远都不可能争得过那些嬉笑打闹的小狗时，我退到一个偏远的角落，静静地等待着命运的到来，而他们显然对自己将要面对的命运还一无所知。
11)pen [pen] n. 1.笔；钢笔；圆珠笔 2.写作 3.圈，围栏 vt. 1.写（信） 2.把…关入栏中
I heard her footsteps as she came for me at the end of the day, and I padded along the aisle 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 anticipation 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 12)tourniquet 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 13)hypodermic needle into my vein. 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?"