汪星人的控訴

W hen I was a puppy I entertained you with my 1）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 2）relent and roll me over for a belly rub.

I remember those nights of 3）nuzzling you in bed， 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.

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 4）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. 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 5）crate.

As they began to grow， I became their friend. They clung to my fur and pulled themselves up on wobbly legs， investigated my ears and gave me kisses on my nose. I loved everything about them， especially 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.

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 6）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.

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 or cat， even one with “papers.”

You had to 7）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. You gave me a goodbye pat on the head， avoided my eyes， and politely refused to take my collar and leash with you.

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 attentive to us here in the shelter as their busy schedules allow. They feed us， of course， but I lost my appetite days ago. 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.

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， 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.

She expertly slid the 8）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？”

Perhaps because she understood my dog-speak， 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 fend for myself—a place of love and light so very different from this earthly place. With my last bit of energy， I tried to convey to her with a thump of my tail that my “How could you？”was not meant for her. It was you， My Beloved Master， I was thinking of. I will think of you and wait for you forever.

May everyone in your life continue to show you so much loyalty.

小時候，我總會做些滑稽古怪的動作把你逗得哈哈大笑。即使我把你的許多鞋子和抱枕都撕咬抓破，你還是會把我稱為你的孩子，我成了你最好的朋友。每次我“使壞”的時候，你都會向我搖搖手指，問道：“你怎么能這樣做呢？”——但之后你就會心軟，然后把我翻轉(zhuǎn)過來，揉揉我的肚子。

我還記得那些夜晚，我在床上用鼻子撫弄你，聆聽你的那些雄心壯志和不為人知的夢想，我相信那就是最美好的生活。我們會花很長時間在公園里散步、追逐、開車兜風(fēng)，停下來買雪糕（我只能吃雪糕外面的圓筒，因為你說：“雪糕對狗狗不好?！保?。我會在太陽下大睡一覺，等你天黑時回家。

漸漸地，你開始把更多的時間花在工作和事業(yè)上、花在尋找一個人類伴侶上。我耐心地等著你，在你傷心失望時安慰你，從不指責(zé)你做過的任何一個錯誤的決定，在你回家時、得知你戀愛時，高興得上躥下跳。

她，你現(xiàn)在的妻子，不是一個“愛狗之人”——但我還是歡迎她加入我們這個家，我努力向她示好，服從她的命令。只要你開心我就開心。然后，你的孩子出生了，我和你一樣激動。我被他們那粉嫩嫩的皮膚和身上的氣味深深地吸引住了，我也想像母親一樣照顧他們。但你和她卻擔(dān)心我可能會傷到他們，所以我大部分時間都被趕到另一個房間或者狗屋里去。

隨著他們漸漸長大，我成為了他們的朋友。他們拉著我的毛，搖搖晃晃地站起來，研究我的耳朵，親吻我的鼻子。我愛他們的一切，尤其是他們的撫摸——因為你現(xiàn)在已經(jīng)不常撫摸我了——如有必要，我會用我的生命保護他們?！?br>