第8章 Two Lost Souls（第1页）

第8章TwoLostSouls

“Didyouhearthat?”theolddogshouted。

Theyallraoftheirkeoseeifsomeonewasingto“pickthem”。

“Sorry，”hesaidtothesashisearsfelldownfromtheirperkedposition。“IcouldhaveswornIheardvoig，'Isn'thecute?It'sChristmas，'twetakehimhomewithUS?'”

“Youmusthavebeendreamingagainoldman，”saidthedogiohim。“Anyos;sthebigdealaboutgettingpickedupasaChristmasgift?os;veallbeenthroughthatroutineandlotus。”

“Justonce，I'dliketofeelthewarmthofahandstrokingmyhead，”saidtheolddog。“I'dliketobetheonewhokissesthetearsoffasadface。I'dliketoexttoafireihiscrete。Ithurtsmybones。”

Hecurledupaheotherssaid，“Theonlyplap;aptofindthatisinyourdreams，oldman。”

Hank'swifehadonlybeengohepainwasasfreshasiftimehadstoodstill。

Hewasanoldmannow，aloneahefortthathekherpersonwouldeverbeabletogivetohimagain。Whatwouldhislifebeewithoutherbyhisside?

Hank'scupboardswereclosetobarenowand，althoughhedidn'twanttogoout，heknewheshouldatleastpickupthebasics。Hedroveslowlydowsforfreewaydrivioog。

&hecarstartedgailfinallytheeogether。Ohebasieedshefotwasfuelforthecar!Sohecoastedoverhecurb，spottingabuildingwithinwalkingdistahey'dlethimusetheirphone。

Hewalkedintoanoffidrangthebellforservie。Hespottedanoutside，failingtohesignposted“EmployeesOnly”。

AsHa，hewasoverwhelmedbyyaps，barksandinsanejumpingfromdogsallsizesahenrealizedhehaduiohedogshelter。

Sloeaislelookingfora。

Threekennelsdowheolddogcalmlysatthere。Whyshouldtheolddoggetexoonewouldwanthim。But，hesensedaneedandp;apos;tresistakindlookalewagofthetail。

AsHaheolddog'scage，helacedhisfihroughthektosteadyhisgaitufeelingofp;apos;drememberedinoverayearawetnoseandlickacrosshisarthritigers。

JustthehoritysoundedandHankjumped。

“I'msorry，sir，youaren'tsupposedtobeinthisarea!”shesaid。

Lukdidn'tknowhehadwalkedintothe“finalarea”whereunclaimeddogswerescheduledtobeputdown。

&henudgeandligagain。Haothemostpleadingeyeshe'deverseen。

Igendant'sordertoleave，Hankaskedifhecouldseethedogcloser。Herdemeaelyaeredaway。Shehadforcedherselftobethiswaysoshecoulddothepartofherjobshedespised。

&theolddogoutandinstawosouls——o——fouohope。

Hank'scupboardswerenowfilled，awarmfirecradtheolddogsmiledinsideasheremembered“onlyinyourdreams”。ghiseyeshefeltHank'shandstrokinghisheadwhispering“sleepinheavenlypeace”。

ItwasChristmasafterall。