一隻狗狗對主人的臨終告白

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 belly rub.

當我還是一隻小狗的時候，我的頑皮滑稽每每惹來你發笑，為你帶來歡樂。你把我叫做你的孩子，雖然家裡許多鞋子和一些靠枕都被我咬得殘缺不全，我依然是你最好的朋友。無論什麼時候我幹了「壞」事，你總會對我搖搖手指說：「你怎麼可以這樣呢？」不過最後你都會原諒我，把我撲倒然後搓我的肚皮。

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 cone 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.

你忙碌的時候，百無聊賴的我只好把家裡弄得一團糟。我無聲的抗議對你總是管用的。每晚睡覺前我都會跳到你的床上，倚著你撒嬌，聽你細訴自己的夢想和秘密。我們常常到公園散步、追逐，偶爾也會乘車兜兜風。每天午後我都會在斜陽下打盹，準備迎接你回家。這些日子，我確信是我一生中最快樂的時光。

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 romped 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.

漸漸地，你把更多的時間花在工作和事業上，並且花更多的時間去找尋你的另一半。而我總會耐心地等你回來，在每一個絕望心碎的日子裡給你安慰，從來都不會因為你所做的糟糕決定而責怪你。每天只要你一踏進家門，我都會歡快的撲向你，當你墜入愛河時，我會為你高興得團團轉。她--也就是你現在的妻子，並不是一個「愛狗之人」，但我還是歡迎她來到我們家，還努力向她表達我的友好，並聽她的話。因為你開心，所以我也開心。

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 banished to another room, or to a dog crate. 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, poked 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 sneak into their beds and listen to their worries and secret dreams, and together we waited for the sound of your car in the driveway.

後來你們添了小娃娃，我也跟你一樣萬分雀躍。我被他們精緻的面孔、他們的一顰一笑感染了，我真想疼他們一下，好想像愛你般愛你的孩子，然而你和你的妻子卻深怕我弄傷他們，整天把我關在門外，甚至把我關到籠子里去。孩子們慢慢長大了，我也成了他們的好朋友。他們喜歡抓著我的毛皮蹣跚地站起來，喜歡用幼小的指頭戳我的眼睛，喜歡為我檢查耳朵，也喜歡吻我的鼻子。 我尤其喜歡他們的撫摸？？因為你已經很少觸摸我了。有時候我會跳上他們的床，倚著他們撒嬌，細聽他們的心事和小秘密，一起等待你回家。

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 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.

曾幾何時，人們問起你家裡有沒有寵物時，你總是毫不遲疑地從包里掏出我的照片，向他們娓娓道出我的軼事。可是，近幾年有人問起同一個問題，你卻只是冷冷地回答「是」，隨即就轉向別的話題。我已經從「你的狗兒」變成只是「一條狗」了，甚至對我的開支也變得吝嗇起來。後來你的仕途來了個新轉機，你可能要到另一個城市裡工作，移居到一幢不許豢養寵物的公寓去。終於，你為「家庭」作出正確的抉擇。可是，你是否還記得，曾幾何時我就是你「家庭」的詮釋？

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 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.

你的車子出發了。我不明真相，還在旅途中充滿期待。終於我們抵達的是一家動物收容所。裡面傳來不只是貓兒和狗兒的氣味，還有恐懼、絕望的氣味。你邊寫著文件邊對那裡的人說「我知道你們一定可以為它找個好歸宿的。」看著你，他們聳聳肩，露出一個很難過的神情。對於這裡的老犬最終會走的路，他們了如指掌；縱使老犬們身懷著各種各樣的證書，又如何？你的兒子緊抓著我的頸圈，哭喊著：「不要！爸爸，求你別讓他們帶走我的狗兒！」你狠下心去撬開他的小手指，直至他再也觸不到我。我擔心他，更擔心你教給他的人生課：什麼是友情、什麼是忠誠、什麼是愛、什麼是責任、什麼是……對生命的尊重！

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?"

你避開我的目光，最後一次輕輕地拍拍我的頭說再見，並禮貌的拒絕帶走我得項圈及皮帶。你走後，那兩位好心的女職員說你可能在幾個月前就知道要搬家了，卻從來沒有試過要為我另找一個好的家庭。她們搖搖頭說：「你怎麼可以這樣呢？」