透过泪眼感怀爱

by Kathy Anne Pippig

It was the weekend after Thanksgiving and Louise walked her black-and-tan 1）Cocker mix through the hilly woods of her property out back. It was a cool morning with 2）wispy fog trailing over the grass and 3）threading through the trees.

Before they left the house， Louise put a yellow jacket on her furry companion. The doggies name was Daisy and she didnt take well to the cold. Louise liked to dress Daisy in bright colors， because it made spotting her easier if she chased a ball into the nearby bush and trees.

Just yesterday the last of her visitors， her daughter and grandson， had flown home. As it was whenever family visited， upon their absence， Louise became a bit lonely. Spending 4）quality time with Daisy chased those blue feelings away.

Daisy brought an old tennis ball she found in the 5）shrubs to Louise. 6）Prancing on her front legs， the little dog panted happily， waiting. Muttering loving words to her furry girl， Louise bent down and took the ball， then threw it into a thicket of young evergreens. Daisy trotted after it， tail high and wagging.

When Daisy didnt return， Louise decided to find out what was keeping her. She wasnt far into the woods when she heard the screech of car brakes. Concern hurried her steps and as Louise crested a hill， at the bottom， shrouded by fog， a patch of yellow caught her gaze. When she reached the dirt road she saw the still body of her precious Daisy.

Her little girl was still breathing. Louise gathered her up and in a matter of minutes was driving to Daisys vet. It was a half an hour drive and during that time Louise kept checking her furry girl.

When Louise swept into the office， Daisy 7）whined and it tore through Louises heart. The vet took them right in and after a quick examination he 8）confided that it would be best to put Daisy down. She was beyond a vets ability to heal her.

Later， in agony， Louise left the pet hospital sobbing in disbelief and grief.

Two weeks later Louise drove back to the vets office to pay the bill. She had left so upset she forgot to pay the money she owed for Daisys final visit.

那是在感恩节后的那个周末，路易丝带着她的黑棕色混种可卡犬散步穿过屋子后面多山的小树林。那是个微寒的早上，薄雾扫过青草，穿过林木。

在她们动身离家之前，路易丝为她那个毛茸茸的伙伴穿上了一件黄色外套。这只狗狗的名字叫黛西，她有点怕冷。路易丝喜欢给黛西穿上颜色鲜艳的衣服，因为这样的话，在黛西追逐球儿跑进附近树丛的时候，她就能轻易看到她了。

就在昨天，她的最后一群访客——她的女儿和外孙乘飞机回家了。每次家人造访而离开后，路易丝也会感到一丝孤单。和黛西一起好好玩乐能将那些愁闷的情绪驱散。

黛西将她在灌木丛里找到的一个旧网球带给路易丝。她立起前腿，欢快地喘着气，等待着。路易丝一边对这个毛茸茸的“小姑娘”咕哝着亲昵的话，一边弯下腰，接过网球，接着把球扔进了一丛小常青树中。黛西一路小跑追着球，尾巴翘得高高的，不停地摆动。

黛西没有跑回来，于是路易丝决定去看看发生了什么事。她走进树丛没多远就听到了急刹车声。焦虑使她加快了脚步，当路易丝跑上一个小山丘，在雾气的掩映下，山脚的一抹黄色映入到她眼中。当她走到那条泥路上，她看到了自己心爱的黛西那僵硬的身躯。

她的“小姑娘”还有呼吸。路易丝把她蜷缩抱起，几分钟后就驾着车往兽医诊所奔去。路上车开了半个小时，期间，路易丝不停地察看她的狗狗。

当路易丝冲进诊所时，黛西发出痛苦的哀鸣，这让路易丝心碎不已。兽医把她们请了进去，在迅速地为黛西检查过后，他表示最好还是把黛西人道毁灭了。兽医对她的伤已经无能为力了。

随后，在极大的痛苦之中，路易丝带着难以置信和悲痛的心情低泣着离开了宠物医院。

两周后，路易丝驾车回到兽医诊所付账。当时她太难过了，都忘了为黛西的最后一次检查结账了。

Louise told the desk clerk what she was there for. The lady behind the counter shook her head，“Theres no charge. I am so sorry， Louise！”

She stood up and stretched over the counter to hug the older woman. Louise started to thank her but sobs knotted the words in her throat.

Just then， the bell above the door jingled as a man and woman stepped into the waiting room. Trembling in the mans arms was a small， older dog. His 9）lineage was questionable.

The couple walked up to the counter and hurriedly explained why they were there. Their father had passed away the day before. The dog was his and they didnt know what to do with it.

Louise looked over to see the dogs eyes darting around the room nervously. Poor thing was scared to death. He started to 10）whimper softly and the lonely sound of it tore at her heart.

“Whats his name？” she said to the couple.

“Preston” the man muttered. The vet entered the room and the man handed a bottle of pills and the dog over. Without another word， the two walked out the door.

“Oh， let me hold him，” Louise stuttered. She gazed at the old dog through tear washed eyes—tears for her Daisy， tears for this abandoned soul with no one to 11）croon and caress the trembles away.

The vet placed the furry little guy in Louises arms and then studied the bottle of medicine. It held half a bottle of 12）thyroid pills.

“Louise，” he said. “Let me examine him， run some tests， then hes all yours.”

A month later， Louise returned for more thyroid medicine. Preston followed smartly behind her on his leash. The vet greeted her. Joy suffused her expression as she told him how happy she was with Preston in her life. Then， suddenly， tears flooded her eyes. He asked why she was crying.

“Last month a small， old dog was 13）at everyones mercy and unwanted. I am an older woman and I could just as easily be at someones mercy， unwanted and alone. I had thought a younger dog would suit me best， but that wasnt necessarily true. Grief and belief are powerful teachers.

“I will open my doors to other senior dogs in need of a home with a 14）kindred spirit. I will touch more lives this way and my life will be enriched 15）beyond measure for the love I will share.” Louise then glanced down at Preston.“You know， sometimes we see more clearly through tear washed eyes.”

路易丝对接待人员说了她来的目的。柜台后的女子摇着头说：“那是免费的。真抱歉，路易丝！”

她站了起来，把手伸出柜台拥抱年长的路易丝。路易丝开始对她表示谢意，但呜咽哽塞，感激难以言说。

就在这时，门铃响了起来，一对男女走进了候诊室。在男子怀中颤抖着的是一条瘦小的老狗，血统难以辨认。

这一男一女走到柜台前，匆忙地说出他们到这里来的原因。他们的父亲在前天去世了。这条狗是他们父亲的，他们不知道该如何处置。

路易丝放眼望过去，看到狗的眼睛不安地扫视着房间。这可怜的东西吓得要死。他开始轻声呜咽起来，那孤独的叫声撕痛了她的心。

“他叫什么名字啊？”她对那对男女说道。

“普雷斯顿”男子咕哝道。兽医走进了房间，男子就把药罐子和狗递了过去。两人一句话也没说，就走出门外。

“噢，让我抱抱他，”路易丝结结巴巴地说道。她透过泪水洗刷过的双眼凝视着这条年迈的狗，那泪水是为了她的黛西，为了这个被遗弃的、得不到别人的轻哄爱抚来驱走焦虑的灵魂而流的。

兽医将这个毛茸茸的小东西放到路易丝怀中，然后研究起瓶中的药来。里面装着的是半罐子治疗甲状腺疾病的药。

“路易丝，”他说道。“让我替他做一下检查吧，完了他就属于你了。”

一个月后，路易丝再次来到诊所，开了更多治疗甲状腺疾病的药。普雷斯顿拴着皮带机灵地跟在她后面。兽医向她询问情况。当她告诉他生活中有了普雷斯顿是多么快乐的时候，言语中充满了欢乐。接着，突然间，泪水充满了她的双眼。兽医就问她怎么哭了？

“上个月，一条瘦小的老狗任人处置，无人想要。我是个老妪，很容易也会落得如此任人处置、无人想要和孤独的田地。我原以为年纪小一点的狗会最适合我，但原来不一定如此。悲痛与信念能给人有力的教诲。

“我将为其他年迈的、需要家的、同病相怜的狗狗打开我的大门。我将以这种方式接触更多的生命，而我的人生将因我分享爱而变得格外富足。”随后路易丝低头看着普雷斯顿。“你知道吧，有时候，透过泪水洗刷过的双眼，我们能看得更清楚。”