By Shelly Guidotti
“Did you hear that？”the old dog shouted。
They all ran to the front of their kennel doors to see if someone was coming to“pick them。”
“Sorry。”he said to the other dogs as his ears fell down from their perked position。“I could have sworn I heard voices saying，‘Isn't he cute？It's Christmas，can't we take him home with us？’”
“You must have been dreaming again，old man。”said the dog in the cage next to him。
“Anyway，what's the big deal about getting picked up as a Christmas gift。We've all been through that routine and look where it got us。”
The word“home”meant little to these shelter dogs。
“Just once，I'd like to feel the warmth of a hand stroking my head。”said the old dog，“I'd like to be the one who kisses the tears off a sad face。I'd like to curl up next to a fire instead of this cold concrete。It hurts my bones。”
He curled up and sighed as the others said，“The only place you're going to find that is in your dreams，old man。”
Hank's wife had only been gone a year but the pain was as fresh as if time had stood still。
He was an old man now，alone and longed for the comfort that he knew no other person would ever be able to give to him again。What would his life become without her by his side？
Hank's cupboards were close to bare now and，although he didn't want to go out，he knew he should at least pick up the basics。He drove slowly down the side streets，for freeway driving had become too challenging。
Suddenly，the car started chugging and sputtering until finally the engine quit altogether。One of the basic needs he had forgotten was fuel for the car！So he coasted over next to the curb，spotting a building within walking distance。Hopefully，they'd let him use their phone。
He walked into an office area and rang the bell for service but no one came。He spotted another door going outside，failing to notice the sign posted“Employees Only”。
As Hank walked out，he was overwhelmed by yaps，barks and insane jumping from dogs all sizes and shapes。He then realized he had unintentionally gone to the dog shelter。
Slowly he walked down the concrete aisle looking for an attendant。
Three kennels down on the right，the old dog calmly sat there。Why should the old dog get excited？No one would want him。But，he sensed a need and couldn't resist offering a kind look and a gentle wag of the tail。
As Hank neared the old dog's cage，he laced his fingers through the chain link to steady his gait and the first feeling of comfort he'd remembered in over a year came from a wet nose and lick across his arthritic fingers。
Just then a voice of authority sounded，and Hank jumped。
“I'm sorry sir，you aren't supposed to be in this area！”she said。Luckily Hank didn't know he had walked into the“Final Area”where unclaimed dogs were scheduled to be put down。
There went the nudge and lick thing again。Hank looked down to the most pleading eyes he'd ever seen。
Ignoring the attendant's order to leave，Hank asked if he could see the dog closer。Her demeanor changed completely and her sternness melted away。She had forced herself to be this way so she could do the part of her job she despised。
She brought the old dog out and instantly the two souls-once so lost-found reason to hope。
Hank's cupboards were now filled，a warm fire crackled and the old dog smiled inside as he remembered“only in your dreams。”Closing his eyes he felt Hank's hand stroking his head whispering“sleep in heavenly peace”。
It was Christmas after all。
“哎，你们听见了吗？”老狗大声喊道。
关在狗屋里的狗一听，都急忙跑到门口，看是否有什么人来领走它们。
什么都没有。“对不起。”老狗于是对这些狗说，说话的时候耳朵不再竖起来，而是耷拉下去。“我发誓，真的，刚刚我真的听见有人说，‘瞧它有多可爱啊！圣诞节了，咱们把他带回家，一块儿过圣诞节好不好’”
“你肯定又在做梦了，老兄。”隔壁狗屋里的狗说。“再说，被人家当作圣诞礼物带走又有什么呢！我们都曾经在圣诞节的时候被人带走几天，可是，看看我们现在的样子，还不是整天呆在这里，凄凄惨惨。”
“就一次，我只要一次，就心满意足了。我想体会一下那种感觉，有一只温暖的手抚摸着我的头，那种温暖的感觉。”老狗说。“我想去安慰受伤的灵魂，用我的吻让悲伤的人不再流泪。我想舒服地躺在红彤彤的炉火旁，而不愿意在这冰冷的水泥地上缩成一团。这地弄得我骨头酸痛。”
狗屋里的狗七嘴八舌地说：“老兄，那种感觉，你只能在梦里找到。”听到这话，他蜷缩起身子，同时叹了口气。
汉克的妻子一年前离开人世，撇下他一个人，但留给汉克的痛苦却还是那么刻骨铭心，时间仿佛凝滞在那一天，一切都好像刚刚发生。
现在，他老了，孤身一人，渴望得到慰藉。而他心里清楚，在这个世界上，没有别的什么人能够像妻子那样抚慰他的心灵。没有妻子在身边，他的生活会变成什么样子？
汉克家的食橱里几乎什么都没有了。虽然不愿意出去，但是他心里明白，最起码得去买些必需品……他开着车，在小街上缓慢地行驶。因为，在高速公路上，车辆总是呼啸着驶来驶去，开车对他来说太冒险了。
忽然，车子开始嘎嚓嘎嚓地响起来，过了一会儿，又发出劈啪劈啪的声音，再后来，发动机干脆动不了了。没有汽油了，他居然连汽车最不可缺少的东西都给忘了！于是，他只好顺坡滑到路边。这时，他看到不远处有一幢建筑物，只需几步就可以到达。但愿里面的人能让他借用一下电话。
他走进大楼里的办公区，伸手按了一下铃，想请求帮助，但是没有人露面。他朝外走时发现另一扇门，但没有注意到门上挂着“员工专用”的牌子。
他正往外面走时，听见狗发出的咆哮声和狂吠声，还看见一群狗在乱蹦乱跳。这些狗大小、形状各异，叫声包围着汉克。他这才意识到，自己无意间走进了狗狗收容所。
他沿着水泥路面走廊慢慢地走着，想找一位工作人员。
就在路右侧的第三个狗屋里，老狗静静地坐在那里。何必兴奋呢？老狗心里清楚，没有人会要他的。但是，又想想，还是觉得自己需要出去，禁不住用友好的目光看着外面，轻轻地摆摆尾巴。
汉克走近拴着老狗的狗笼，停下来，抓住铁丝网围栏，站稳脚步。随即他体验到一种温暖、舒服的感觉。一年来，这还是第一次。那是一只湿润的鼻子正在蹭他那患有关节炎的手指。
就在这时，突然传来一个女人的说话声，声音听起来非常严厉，把汉克吓了一跳。
“对不起，先生，您不应该到这地方来！”她说。
原来，汉克已经进入“终点区”，里面全是无人领养的狗。这些狗被集中在这里，等候生命的终止。幸好他自己不知道。
同时，汉克又感觉到狗在轻轻地推碰着他，在亲切地舔着他。他低下头，看到了那令人心碎的、哀求的目光。有生以来，他从来没有看到过这样揪心的目光。
于是，汉克不理睬这位工作人员让他离开的命令，反而问她，自己能否走得更近些，来仔细看看这条狗。这一下，工作人员的态度完全转变，严厉的神情也消失了。她不得不这样，这是她的工作，她总要为之做些什么，尽管她瞧不起自己的这份工作。
她把老狗带了出来。一旦面对面，两个灵魂——曾是那般失落的两个灵魂——马上重新点燃起希望之火。
现在，汉克的食品橱里又塞满各种各样的东西，家里的壁炉也点燃了，温暖的火焰噼里啪啦作响。想到同伴们说的“只能是在你的梦中”那句话，老狗从内心发出了微笑。闭上眼睛，他感觉到，汉克一边轻抚他的头，一边低声吟唱那首歌《在天堂般的宁静中睡吧》。
毕竟是圣诞节呀。
牛角挂书
New Words
chug vi。发出轧轧声；发出嘎嚓声；发出轧轧声前进n。（美）轧轧声
sputter v。发出爆裂声，发出劈劈啪啪的声响：
例句：A whole goat is sputtering over the fire。一整只被烤的山羊在火上劈啪作响
curb n。抑制；勒马绳；路边vt。勒住；控制
yap v。（狗）狂吠：
例句：Her little dog yaps away all day while she's out。她那小狗在她不在的时候整天叫。
nudge n。用肘轻推；推动；没完没了抱怨的人
demeanor n。行为；举止；风度
T
猴老师有话说
est Yourself
下面是几个关于quit的短语，写出其含义。
1.quit it
2.quit love with hate
3.quit one's nonsense
4.quit the scene
Keys：
1.[美国俚语]死
2.以恨报爱；恩将仇报
例句：You should never quit love with hate。
3.别胡说八道
例句：You must quit your nonsense in the meeting。
4.退场，离场；死，离开人间
