Anonymous
The silence on the other end of the phone said it all。
Finally，my father's voice，a sound of reason for my then 19 years of life，began to speak。“George，I don't think this is a very good idea。”
He continued。I should not have adopted the Golden retriever puppy who was，at the time，snuggling up asleep across my feet。Nineteen year old college sophomores who have just joined a fraternity and teetered on expulsion from lack of studies don't need another distraction。It's not wise，and it's not fair to the dog。
His logic，as always，was impeccable。But this time，something was different。He ended up being wrong。
Something changed in me when Jumpin'Jasper bounded into my life。I won't lie and say I suddenly woke up with a sense of responsibility suddenly enveloping my every breath。Nothing comes that easily。
I had grown up in two middle class homes where I was showered with love but，because of my parents'divorce，had almost no responsibilities。No one expected me to do much more than take care of myself。I was not needed by anyone。
Jasper whimpered through that first night。For the first few hours，I wondered whether I had erred。Was my father right？
Sometime before the sun rose，I realized something。This little ball of fur needs me。I told myself，“Watson，you gotta get it together。”
Feeding，exercise，training。There were my chores，and those were his needs I had to fulfill。There was more。My days of last second trips were over。I had to make sure Jasper was welcome，too。And while he didn't say much，he took part in every conversation about our future life together。
How close was the nearest park to any potential apartments？Did the neighbors mind dogs？Did they have any unfriendly animals of their own？
As Jasper aged，my concern became wondering if a potential home had too many stairs for him to climb。Was there an elevator？
I must say，it really is something to be needed。And as Jasper taught me his lessons of life，I learned volumes about myself。I liked to help others。I gained a special satisfaction from helping those who couldn't help themselves。
I didn't become a reporter because of Jasper，but he's one reason why I have stuck with it for a dozen years and will likely continue for decades to come。
Jasper passed away a year ago，succumbing to a rapidly spreading cancer that turned my powerful and noble friend，for years the one consistent part of my life，into a frail，trembling shell of his former self。
When the time came for a vet to help him reach his personal ending，he looked up at me one last time from the floor where I crouched beside him。His beautiful brown eyes perked up for me and then closed forever。I had never cried-make that blubbered-for anyone like I did for Jasper。
I thought to my self：“I wish I had done more。I should have given him more brushing or the massages that he liked so much in his older years。”
It was a final lesson。While it sounds cliche，I decided to drink in all that life ordered，especially in friendship and personal relationships。
The reality of his final lesson revisited me just this passed weekend。My boss，a true pillar of journalism named Lawrence Yong，died at the age of 47 on Saturday of an apparent heart attack。He was my biggest advocate and as I have learned in recent days，a mentor for legions of other journalists around the country。
It's how I can stomach Lawrence's death。He was always teaching，always pushing me for more。I gobbled up his lessons，which he offered up over afternoon sessions in his office。Certainly，I wanted more from him，and of course，I never expected him to die so soon。My tears told me that。
But however brief the time，Lawrence was there to touch my soul and fill my mind。I can only be glad I was so fortunate to have listened and learned as often as I did。
电话那头的沉默已经说明了一切。
终于父亲打破了沉默，他的声音在19岁的我听来，就是理智之声。“乔治，我觉得这样做不好。”
父亲的声音在继续。说什么我本不该领养这只金黄色的小猎犬（而当时，这小狗正依偎在我脚边睡觉）；说什么我刚刚19岁，大学才二年级，已经参加了大学的兄弟会；说什么我因为学习不努力，有被学校开除的危险；说什么我不能再让别的东西来使我分心了；说这时候养狗不明智，而且对狗也不公平。
他的逻辑很严密，无可挑剔，一如往常。但这次有点不同。在这件事上，最终证明他错了。
当蹦蹦跳跳的加斯波闯入我的生活的时候，我的内心产生了变化。我不会撒谎，不会说我的责任感突然苏醒了，每一个呼吸都充满了责任意识。一切皆有因果。
我在两个中产阶级家庭成长，无论在哪个家都被爱所包围。可是由于父母离婚，我几乎没什么责任可尽。大家都盼望我能照顾好自己，不要求我做别的什么。谁都不需要我。
加斯波来到我身边的第一个晚上，一直呜咽地叫着。前几个小时，我怀疑自己是不是错了。父亲说得对吗？
日出前的某一刻，我意识到了什么。这只小小的狗需要我。我对自己说：“华生，你要做好。”
喂饭，锻炼，训练。这些是我要做的事情，而这些就是小狗需要的，我必须满足。还有更多要做的。以前我出去玩，总是玩到最后一刻，不尽兴不回家，现在这样的日子结束了。我必须保证加斯波也受欢迎。每一次谈论我们将要一起度过的未来，小狗都参与其中，虽然他的话不多。
每一个想要搬进居住的公寓距离最近的公园有多远？邻居们介意狗吗？邻居们自己养的有不友好的宠物吗？
当加斯波年龄越来越大，我关心的内容变成了：未来的家是否楼层太高，是否有太多的台阶要上。有没有电梯？
我必须要说，这就是需要做的事情。并且，当加斯波教给我他的生活经验的时候，我对自己也了解了许多。我愿意帮助别人，帮助那些无助的人，我有一种特别的满足感。
为了加斯波，我没有当上记者。我却在记者这一行坚持了12年，并且，我很可能在以后的几十年里一直继续下去，加斯波是我唯一的动力。
加斯波一年前死了。死于一种迅速在他身上扩散的癌。这种病把我活力充沛、尊贵的朋友变成了脆弱得不堪一击，颤颤巍巍的躯壳，这么多年来一直是我生命中不可分割的一部分的朋友。
那一刻到来了，兽医要帮助他走到生命的尽头。他抬起头，最后一次看着我，我就坐在地上，就趴在他身边。那双漂亮的棕色眼睛对着我一闪，然后就永远地闭上了。我哭起来，从来没有像哭加斯波一样为别人哭过。
我心里想：“要是我为加斯波做过更多该多好啊。在他越来越老的时候，我真应该多给他刷刷毛，多给他做做按摩，他是那样地喜欢我给他刷毛、做按摩。”
这是最后的教训。虽然听起来有点落入俗套，我还是决定接受生活教给我的一切，尤其是在友谊和人际关系这方面生活教给我的东西。
就在刚刚过去的这个周末，我又一次真真切切地体会到了这最后的教训。我的老板，劳伦斯·杨，星期六突然死亡，年仅47岁。死因很明确：心脏病突发。他堪称新闻界的支柱。他是我最大的支持者。还有，正像我最近了解到的那样，他还是全国范围内众多记者的指导者。
我就是这样接受劳伦斯的辞世的。他总是在教我怎么做，总是激励我向前。我如饥似渴地接受他的教诲，这些都是在他的办公室里听到的，他在那儿举行下午会谈。无疑我想聆听他更多的教诲，同样确定的是，我从来没想到过他会这么快地离开这个世界。我的眼泪告诉我这些。
但是，尽管时间很短，劳伦斯却在如此短暂的时间里深深地触动我的灵魂，填满我的心灵。像以前那样，总是能倾听他的教诲，向他学习，我觉得自己很幸运。我很高兴我曾这么幸运。
牛角挂书
New Words
snuggle vi。躺；舒服地倦伏；偎依：vt。使变得温暖舒适；偎依；紧抱
fraternity n。友爱，互助会，兄弟会
teeter a。摇摆，踌躇，犹豫不决vt。[美国英语]使上下晃动，使摇摆
expulsion n。逐出，开除，驱逐
distraction n。娱乐，分心的事物，分心
impeccable a。无瑕疵的
whimper n。呜咽，啜泣，低声吠叫；悲嗥v。呜咽，啜泣
succumb vi。1.屈服，屈从；听任；弃置（常与to连用）：
mentor n。指导者
gobble n。咯咯声v。狼吞虎咽
T
猴老师有话说
est Yourself
1.Multiple Choice Questions
1）There were my chores，and……
A。日常零星活B。家庭杂务
C。困难的工作D。令人厌烦的工作
2）His beautiful brown eyes perked up for me and then closed forever。
A。动作灵敏B。振作
C。详细调查D。过滤
3）It's how I can stomach Lawrence's death。
A。胃部B。生气；发怒
C。能吃下D。忍耐，忍受
4）I learned volumes about myself。
A。大量，许多B。卷，册
C。容量，体积D。音量，响度
2.写出gobble up的四个释义。
3.关于concern的小测验。
A。写出下列句中concern一词的意思及句意。
1）The novel concerns three soldiers。
2）The boy's poor health concerned his parents。
3）Maintaining world peace concerns all the peace loving nations。
4）Parents cannot help concerning themselves in school affairs。
5）Don't concern yourself about his future。
B。写出下面两个关于concern的短语的意思。
6）as concerns
7）have no concern with
Keys：
1.1）B2）B3）D4）A
2.gobble up 1）（口）急切地抓住；攫夺
例句：The small amounts banks are selling from their own holdings are quickly gobbled up。银行正在抛售的少量股票很快被抢购一空。
2）吞没；消耗掉gobble up a third of the gross national product消耗掉国民生产总值的三分之一
3）快速贪婪地阅读
4）兼并；接管
3.1）涉及；关于（小说讲的是三个士兵。）
2）使挂念；使担心（孩子健康不佳使他的父母担忧。）
3）使关心；使忙着（一切爱好和平的国家都以维护世界和平为己任。）
4）关心；忙（于）（家长们都不由得关心着学校教育的事情。）
5）挂念；担忧（别为他的前途担心。）
6）关于
7）与……无关
T
猩猩出手
ranslation
1.Finally，my father's voice，a sound of reason for my then 19 years of life，began to speak。
2.I had grown up in two middle class homes where I was showered with love but，because of my parents'divorce，had almost no responsibilities。
3.I won't lie and say I suddenly woke up with a sense of responsibility suddenly enveloping my every breath。Nothing comes that easily。
4.Something changed in me when Jumpin'Jasper bounded into my life。
5.I gobbled up his lessons，which he offered up over afternoon sessions in his office。
Keys：
1.终于我父亲打破了沉默，他的声音在19岁的我听来，就是理智之声。
2.我在两个中产阶级家庭成长，无论在哪个家都被爱所包围。可是由于父母离婚，我几乎没什么责任可尽。
3.我不会撒谎，不会说我的责任感突然苏醒了，每一个呼吸都充满了责任意识。一切皆有因果。
4.当蹦蹦跳跳的加斯波闯入我的生活的时候，我的内心产生了变化。
5.我如饥似渴地接受他的教诲，这些都是在他的办公室里听到的，他在那儿举行下午会谈。