第31章 一起走过的日子 4（第2页）
inhighspirits：喜气洋洋（兴高采烈）
&epan，seizinghislypounher，likeakiteona。
poun：突然袭击（扑向）
父亲与狗的温情故事
TheOldManandtheDog
佚名Anonymous
SayioMegwasthehardestthingI'veeverdone。She'dbeenpartofmylifef，alwaystherewhenIneededher。
Throughoutthelastfifteenyears，she'dbeefriend，sharingmyjoyandsadness。
She'dseenmemarryawo，losemymotheraherthroughalongillness。Somuelifetime。
Weburiedherinherfavouriteerofthegardeheflcherrytree。MatthewmadealittlecrossoutofwoodandLauracarefullyprintedhernameinred。
Friendsarealwaysfullofgoodadviceattimeslikethat。Getanisoes—butyou'trepladlikethat。
Myfatherhadbeehelplessafterastroke。I'dnursedhimbacktohealth，butIwasbeginwe'dtakenastepback>
Am'spassing，ItookatrayintothegardenforDad。Helikedtositohesunshine。
"Teaandbiscuits，Dad。"Isaidcheerfully。
&urnedaway，startled，butnotbeforeI'dseeearonhischeek。
"Whatalovelyday，&quivinghimtimetoself。
"YesJill，"hesaidatlast。"It'sbeautiful。"
"Trytoeatsomething，Dad。"
Hesighedahesky。
"Thewillbehomefroms。"Ismiled。"Thenyou'llhaveafightonyourhandsifyouwantabiscuit。"
HechuckledsoftlyandIhadtoswallowthelumpwhichhadriseninmythroat。
"Iloveyou，Dad。"Irestedmyhandonhisshoulder。"Please，don'tgiveup。"
"Idon'tknowwhatyoumean。&qued。
"Yes，youdo。You'vefoughteveryinchoftheinning，too，butlately，it'sasifyou'vejustgivenup。"
Heheavedasighandpickedupabisibblingatitbefatme。
Dad'sdeepuzzledthedoctor，too。
"I'msorry。There'snothingphysigwithyourfather，apartfromwhat'sleftoverfromthestroke。Aally，well，Ireallydon'tthinkthere'sanythingtoworryaboutthere。"
&ht。Dad'sbloodtestscamebackdfurthertestsshowedn。Heshouldhavebeengtogetbetter—buthewasn't。
Itriedallkiotempthisfailie。Ieverpersuadedhimtoeforadriveiassoohome，he'dsinkbatoapathyandI'dthink，I'mlosinghimagain。
WhatmadeitsomuchhardertobearwasthefactthatIrememberedhimsowellasayoungman。He'dbeensofullyandlife，gmeonhisshoulders，gmearoundtheparkandgmeupinhisarms。
He'ssetoffforawalkandalways，always，I'drunoutofthehousebehindhim。He'dhadsuchazestforlifethatitbrokemyhearttoseehimnow，sittingoutinthegarden，ablaoverhisknees，gaziospace。
Whecametolivewithusafterthestroke，he'dbeenbed-ridden。IsmiledasIrememberedhowMeghadfinallygothimup。
DearMeg。She&#htinastithegardenaraightupstairswithit！
Ifollowedher，wwhatohsheto。ShedepositedthestiDad'sbed，thensteppedbaghertaillikemad。
Dadliftedhisheadfromthepillow。
"What'sthis？"
Shebarkedeversosoftlyaickwithhernose。
"Forme？"Dadchuckled，reagforit，butMegwastooquiatchedthestickback。
Itturoagame。EverytimeDadtriedtotouchherstick，shewhippeditaway。Atlast，shedroppeditohistime，Meglethimpickitup。
"Jill！"Dadshouted。"Jill！"