Just home from work,Daddy stepped in the kitchen where Mother and I were preparing supper.From the look on his face, we knew something was 1him.
“Mr.Roth is worse, ” he said. “The doctor says it’s only a 2of time now.The old man call bear his pain, but not the long hours he has to spend alone.His eyes are 4bad that he can’t read,and he doesn’t get much 5.He keeps begging for a big dog to be his companion, 6he can reach out and touch as he sits in his wheelchair in the sun.”
“Why don’t they buy him a dog?” I asked.
“Honey,with Mr.Roth in the hospital so much of time.there are a lot of 8.There isn’t
enough money.”
“They could go to the animal shelter and get one.”I 9.
“Yes,” Daddy said.“I suppose they could.But it has to be a special dog,which they can trust
to be gentle.Not all big dogs are.”
After supper,I went 11my big German shepherd(牧羊犬),Dan,was usually dozing.He jumped up and ran to meet me 12he always did when I came into sight.There were no other 12一year—old girls in our neighborhood,so I depended on Dan for companionship.When I rode my bicycle,he ran behind me;when I roller—skated on the sidewalk, he followed behind.It had been
that way since Daddy 14him home four years before.
Now, I couldn’t 15Daddy’s words in the kitchen.I threw my arms 16Dan’s neck
and buried my face in his stiff hair.
“I love you,” I whispered to him. “I’d be 17without you,but…oh,Dan,I know what I should do, 18I don’t want to do it.”
I thought about Mr.Roth.He was old,sick and almost 19.It seemed to me that he was just about out of blessings.I 20quickly.I knew what I had to do.
I went to my father and said, “Mr.Roth can borrow Dan.”Tears started down my face