Did You Hear Me When I Said Goodbye
Anonymous
Did you hear me，Beau？
I remember the day I brought you home from the shelter。They told me you were ten months old，a Golden Retriever，Great Pyrenees mix and weighed ninety pounds。My wife and I wanted a smaller dog，but when our eyes met and you looked at me so expectantly with such a hunger to be free，I couldn't resist。You knew that didn't you？You got under my skin and into my heart in just those few seconds。When you were let out of the kennel why didn't you jump up like the other dogs？Were you on your best behavior？Of course you were。You were so beautiful，and even though the glossy gold of your fur was black at the roots resembling a bad bleach job I didn't care。From that moment on，you were mine and I was yours and I named you Beau。
We bonded immediately and I marveled at how intelligent you were。You quickly learned the names of your toys and also what“sit。”“lie down。”and“stay”meant and when you wanted out，you'd touch the door knob with your nose。We'd go for our walks in the morning and you were so eager you'd gently grab my arm in those massive jaws and pull me toward the door then sit patiently as I attached your leash。Then you'd bound outside pulling me with you and I know I said some harsh words to you but you just ignored them。
Did you hear me，Beau？
One thing I could never do was teach you to heel。You had a stubborn streak in you，but that was okay as long as you didn't pull too hard。Remember the first day when we came back from our walk and I led you to your“play area？”We played“fetch”with that knotted rope。From that day on，when I unclipped your leash，you'd make a mad dash for that spot and wait，ears perked，your eyes wide with expectation as you barked for me to“hurry up。”You'd run circles around me as I tried to get that rope from you，but that was part of the game and you loved it so much that I didn't have the heart to scold you。
You scared me once，you know。The first time you came up to my chair，looked straight into my eyes，bared your teeth and growled caused my heart to thud in my chest，but that was your way of saying，“lets play，daddy。”And when I tried to ignore you，you'd sit back and bark in that deep voice of yours。If I ignored you further you'd bound into my chair，your front legs in my lap and swipe my face with your tongue。“Down boy。”I'd say。
Did you hear me，Beau？
When I sat in my chair，you'd lay your head at my feet looking up occasionally to make sure I knew you were there。Of course I did。By that time you weighed over 100 pounds。Who could have mistaken your presence？Then you'd sigh contentedly，close your eyes and soon we'd both be fast asleep。
You rarely let me out of your sight either。Whether I was working in the yard，or sitting at the computer，you were always by my side。Digging in the garden，your nose would be inches from the shovel and I was afraid I'd hurt you，but you were always fast on your feet。What was irritating were the times you'd growl and try to nip my ankles or grab my foot as we walked together，but you never tried to hurt me。You just thought it was fun even though I yelled at you to stop。
Did you hear me，Beau？
Then came the dark days。Those days when you became lethargic and refused to eat。The vet said you had Lyme's disease and you were given a month's worth of antibiotic。You seemed to recover after that，and your appetite returned，but you wouldn't eat regular dog food。Instead I fed you“people food。”Of course you were spoiled，but I didn't care。It was a simple thing to prepare an extra portion of food each evening。After all we were buddies。
And just when we thought you were returning to health you refused all food and I had to coax you to drink water by putting my hand in your bowl and bringing my filled palm up to your muzzle。You'd look into my eyes，not really wanting any but doing it just to please me，after I pleaded，saying，“Please，drink baby。”and your tongue would touch my open hand。
Even after all the tests we put you through，he didn't know what caused your sickness and had never seen anything like it before。You were so young，barely two years old，and full of the love of life。Did you know？Did you know you'd be with us for only a short time？Is that why you were so desperate to leave the shelter？
I didn't want you to leave us，Beau。I couldn't bare the thought of having you put to sleep。Yet I couldn't let you go through it without being by your side。We had made a commitment to each other and I'd stay with you till the end no matter how much it bruised my heart。
Did you feel me stroke your head and listen to my whisper when，for the final time，you looked into my eyes then went peacefully to sleep？
Oh，Beau。Did you hear me when I said goodbye？
你听到我说再见了吗，宝？
我想起把你从动物保护所带回家的那天，那天所里的人告诉我你10个月大，是一只金毛猎犬，属于与大白熊混血的那种狗，体重90磅。我和妻子都想要一只小一点的狗狗。可是，当我们目光相遇，你那么期盼地看着我，那么渴望从保护所里出去，我无法拒绝。你知道的，对吗？短短的几秒钟，你给我留下了那么深刻的印象，深深地钻进我的心田里。当把你从狗舍里放出来的时候，你为什么不跳起来呢？像别的狗那样？你是要让别人知道你很有礼貌吗？当然你非常有礼貌。你看起来这么漂亮，即使你那亮闪闪的金黄色的皮毛在根部显出黑色，就好像漂白的时候没有漂白彻底，我也不在乎。从那一刻起，你是我的狗狗，我是你的兄弟。我给你取名宝。
我们很快适应了。我为你的聪明伶俐而感到惊讶。你迅速地记住了你所有的玩具的名字，知道我说“坐”“躺下”和“呆在原地”是什么意思。当你想要出去的时候，你会用鼻子碰碰门拉手。我们常常早上出去散步，你那么急切地要出门，总是用嘴叼住我的胳膊，拉着我往门的方向跑。当我在门口给你拴上皮带的时候，你总是耐心地等着。然后你拉着我，蹦蹦跳跳地冲出去。我也知道我大声斥责你，可是你根本不往心里去。
你听见我说的话了吗，宝？
我没有教给你的就是怎么样小心。你骨子里有一种固执，但只要你不走极端，就没有什么不好。还记得头一天我们散步回来，我把你带到你的“游戏场”吗？我们用那条打了结的绳子玩游戏。从那天起，只要我一解开你的皮带，你就疯了似地冲向那个地方，然后，机灵地竖起耳朵等着我。当你汪汪地叫着，催我“快点，快点”的时候，你的眼睛里充满了期盼。当我试图把那根绳子从你身上拿走的时候，你总是围着我，不停地打转。但那正是游戏的一部分，而且你又那么喜欢玩这个环节，我不想对着你呵斥。
有一次你吓着我了，你知道。第一次你朝我坐的椅子走过去，直直地看着我的眼睛，朝着我叫着，甚至是咆哮着，让我的心怦怦地跳。可那就是你的方式，用这个方式你说：“一起玩吧，爸爸。”如果我装做没看见，你就向后一靠，用你最深切的声音继续叫。如果我还没在意，你就纵身跳进我的椅子，把前腿放在我怀里，伸出舌头使劲地扑我的脸。我会说：“坏孩子。”
你听见我说话了吗，宝？
当我在椅子里坐着的时候，你会把头靠在我脚上，时不时地抬头看看我，以便确信我知道你在那儿。我当然知道你在那儿。那时你体重超过了100磅。谁会不知道那就是你在那儿呢？然后你会心满意足地长出一口气，闭上眼睛，不一会儿，我们两个就进入梦乡。
你也几乎不让我走出你的视线。不管我是在院子里干活，还是在电脑上工作，你总是在我身旁。我在园子里挖地，你紧紧地跟着，鼻子和我的铲子总是只有几寸的距离。所以我一直担心会碰伤你，而你总是闪得很快。让我感到恼火的是，每当我们一起散步，你总会咆哮，还试图夹我的脚踝，或是抓我的脚。但你从没想过伤害我。你只是觉得这样好玩而已。即使我朝你大叫着让你停，你也还觉得有意思。
你听见我说的话了吗，宝？
后来黑暗的日子降临到我们头上。那些日子里，你整天无精打采，也不再进食。兽医说你患了莱姆病。接着，你就打了一个月的抗生素。之后你好像康复了，胃口又像以前那么好了，但你不愿意吃以前总吃的狗粮。于是我就喂你吃“人吃的食物”。这当然是我宠你，可是我不介意。每天晚上多准备一份饭是很简单的事情。毕竟我们是兄弟嘛。
然而，正当我们都以为你好了的时候，你却什么东西都不肯吃了。所以我就把手收伸到你的碗里，抓起满满一手掌水，送到你的鼻子前，用这样的办法逼你喝水。听到我央求你：“求求你，喝了吧，宝贝。”你会盯着我的眼睛，虽然内心并不情愿，却还是把水喝掉，只是为了让我高兴。喝水的时候，你的舌头会碰碰我伸开着的手。
即使是我们带你做了那么多的检查，兽医还是说不清你为什么会生这种病，还有，他说他以前从没有见过类似的病症。你这么小，才刚刚两岁，又有这么多爱和关心。你知道吗？你知道你刚刚和我们相聚了这么短的时间吗？这就是你那么急切地想离开收容所的原因吗？
我不愿意让你离开我们，宝。给你打一针，让你永远地睡着，这个念头我连想都不敢想。可是我不能让你独自面对这一切。我们曾互相承诺过，所以我会一直在你身边，直到最后一刻，不管这会让我的心多痛。
当你最后一次盯着我的眼睛，随后安静地睡着的时候，你感觉到我抚摩你的头了吗？你听见我轻声对你说的话了吗？随后你就安静地、永远地睡着了。
噢，宝。你听见我说再见了吗？
鹦鹉学舌
Golden Retriever金毛猎犬
过去，金毛猎犬主要用以狩猎。在围猎和狩猎聚会上，人们让金毛猎犬寻回被猎枪射中落下的水鸟及高地猎鸟。因此，金毛猎犬能把猎物毫发无损地叨回给主人，而且练就了很强的游泳能力。19世纪，这种金色的寻猎犬开始在英国流行，很快遍及世界各地。他们非常聪明，用处很大，可以作为猎狗，作为导盲犬，还可以用这种狗来鉴别、搜索、追踪并找回毒品。金毛猎犬是世界上最受欢迎的四种家庭犬之一，对人非常友好，善解人意、机警。
牛角挂书
New Words
kennel n。狗舍，狗屋，沟
glossy a。光滑的，有光泽的
streak n。条纹，线条；倾向
growl vi。嗥叫，狂吠；轰鸣，发隆隆声：vt。咆哮着说，粗暴地说，怒气冲冲地说
shovel n。铲（挖斗机，一铲的量）vt。用铲挖，铲除，vi。铲；铲挖
nip n。捏，挟，小饮vt。（紧紧）夹，掐；咬；vi。悄悄溜走；逃跑；捏牢；咬死
lethargic a。迟钝的（不活泼的，冷淡的，困倦的，昏睡的）
swipe n。猛击，重击vt。重击，猛打
T
猴老师有话说
est Yourself
1.Multiple Choice Questions
1）You had a stubborn streak in you。
A。（性格上的）特色；性情，气质B。斑纹
C。条理D。晨曦
2）when I clipped your leash。
A。修剪B。痛打
C。夹住；扣住D。紧缠；环绕
3）……and bringing my filled palm up to your muzzle。
A。口罩B。枪口
C。（动物的）鼻子D。口络
4）We had made a commitment to each other and……
A。委托B。承诺
C。保证D。献身
2.文中有一句话You got under my skin and into my heart in just those few seconds。你知道句中加粗短语的三个意思吗？
Keys：
1.1）A2）D3）C4）B
2.1）使某人恼火；使某人生气
例句：I must have said something。I've got under his skin。我一定说错了什么，让他很不高兴。
2）引起某人的极大关注；给某人留下深刻的印象
例句：Her tearful face and pathetic appeal really got under his skin。她泪流满面，神情哀伤，确实深深打动了他。
3）透彻地了解（或反应）了某人的性格特征
