Anonymous
The hastily scrawled sign on the crumpled cardboard read：BROKE-NEED DOG FOOD。The desperate young man held the sign in one hand and a leash in the other as he paced back and forth on the busy corner in downtown Las Vegas。
Attached to the leash was a husky pup no more than a year old。Not far from them was an older dog of the same breed，chained to a lamppost。He was howling into the brisk chill of the approaching winter evening，with a wail that could be heard for blocks。It was as though he knew his own fate，for the sign that was propped next to him read：FOR SALE。
Forgetting about my own destination，I quickly turned the car around and made a beeline back toward the homeless trio。For years，I've kept dog and cat food in the trunk of my car for stray or hungry animals I often find。It's been a way of helping those I couldn't take in。It's also what I've used to coax many a scared dog off the road to safety。Helping needy animals has always been an automatic decision for me。
I pulled into the nearest parking lot and grabbed a five pound bag of dog food，a container of water and a twenty dollar bill from my purse。I approached the ragged looking man and his unhappy dogs warily。If this man had somehow hurt these creatures or was using them as come ons，I knew my anger would quickly take over。The older dog was staring up at the sky，whining pitifully。Just before I reached them，a truck pulled up along side of them and asked how much the man wanted for the older dog。
“Fifty bucks。”the man on the corner replied，then added quickly，“but I really don't want to sell him。”
“Is he papered？”
“No。”
“Is he fixed？”
“No。”
“How old is he？”
“Five。But I really don't want to sell him。I just need some money to feed him。”
“If I had fifty bucks，I'd buy him。”The light turned green，and the truck sped off。
The man shook his head and continued dejectedly pacing the sidewalk。When he noticed me coming in his direction，he stopped walking and watched me approach。The pup began wagging his tail。
“Hi。”I offered，as I drew nearer。The young man's face was gentle and friendly，and I could sense just by looking in his eyes that he was someone in real crisis。
“I have some food here for your dogs。”I said。Dumbfounded，he took the bag as I set down the water in front of them。
“You brought water，too？”he asked incredulously。We both knelt down next to the older dog，and the puppy greeted me enthusiastically。
“That one there is T。C。，and this one's Dog。I'm Wayne。”The sad，older dog stopped crying long enough to see what was in the container。
“What happened，Wayne？”I asked。I felt a bit intrusive，but he answered me directly and simply。“Well，I just moved out here from Arizona and haven't been able to find work。I'm at the point where I can't even feed the dogs。”
“Where are you living？”
“In that truck right there。”He pointed to a dilapidated old vehicle that was parked close by。It had an extra long bed with a shell，so at least they had shelter from the elements。
The pup had climbed onto my lap and settled in。I asked Wayne what type of work he did。
“I'm a mechanic and a welder。”he said，“but there's nothing out here for either。I've looked and looked。These dogs are my families；I hate to have to sell them，but I just can't afford to feed them。”
He kept saying it over and over。He didn't want to sell them，but he couldn't feed them。An awful look came over his face every time he repeated it。It was as if he might have to give up a child。
The time seemed right to casually pass over the twenty dollar bill，hoping I wouldn't further damage his already shaky pride。“Here。Use this to buy yourself something to eat。”
“Well，thanks。”he slowly replied，unable to look me in the face，“This could get us a room for the night，too。”
“How long have you been out here？”
“All day。”
“Hasn't anyone else stopped？”
“No，you're the first。”It was late afternoon and quickly getting dark。Here in the desert，when the sun dropped，the temperature would dip into the thirties。
My mind went into fast forward as I pictured the three of them going without even a single meal today，perhaps for several days，and spending many long，cold hours cooped up in their inadequate，makeshift shelter。
Seeing people beg for food isn't anything new in this city。But this man stood out because he wasn't asking for food for himself。He was more concerned with keeping his dogs fed than with his own welfare。As a pet parent of nine well fed and passionately loved dogs of my own，it hit a deep chord in me。
I don't think I'll ever really know what came over me at that moment，inspiring me to do what I did next，but I just knew it was something I had to do。I asked him if he'd wait there for a few minutes until I returned。He nodded his head and smiled。
My car flew to the nearest grocery store。Bursting with urgency，I raced in and took hold of a cart。I started on the first aisle and didn't quit until I reached the other side of the store。The items couldn't be pulled off the shelves fast enough。Just the essentials，I thought。Just food that will last a couple of weeks and sustain their meager existence。Peanut butter and jelly，Bread，Canned food，Juice，Fruit，Vegetables，Dog food。More dog food（forty pounds，to be exact）。And chew toys。They should have some treats，too。A few other necessities and job was done。
“The total comes to 102.91.”said the checker。I didn't bat an eye。The pen ran over that blank check faster than I could legibly write。It didn't matter that the mortgage was due soon or that I really didn't have the extra hundred dollars to spend。Nothing mattered besides seeing that this family had some food。I was amazed at my own intensity and the overwhelming motivation that compelled me to spend a hundred dollars on a total stranger。Yet，at the same time，I felt like the luckiest person in the world。To be able to give this man and his beloved companions a tiny bit of something of which I had so much opened the floodgates of gratitude in my own heart。
The icing on the cake was the look on Wayne's face when I returned with all the groceries。“Here are just a few things……”I said as the dogs looked on with great anticipation。I wanted to avoid any awkwardness，so I hastily petted the dogs。
“Good luck to you！”I said and held out my hand。
“Thank you and God bless you。Now I won't have to sell my dogs。”His smile shone brightly in the deepening darkness。
那块皱巴巴的纸板上，潦草地写着几个字：本人身无分文——施舍点狗粮吧。显然，这些字是匆匆忙忙地写上去的。在拉斯维加斯繁华的闹市区，这个绝望的年轻人一只手举着纸板，另一只手里牵着一根栓狗用的绳子，来来回回地在一个喧闹的角落里徘徊。
绳子系在一只哈士奇幼犬身上，这只幼犬看起来不到一岁的样子。离年轻人和小狗不远的一座电线杆上，还拴着一只狗，也是哈士奇，只是年龄要大些。已经是冬天了，天越来越黑，冬夜寒气逼人。狗在寒冷中狂吠，叫声里透着一种哀号，在很远的地方都能听得见，仿佛它已经知道自己不幸的命运，因为，它旁边有个牌子，上面写着：出售。
看到这一切，我顾不上做自己的事情，迅速把车调转过来，沿着直路，开向这无家可归的年轻人和他的两条狗。很多年来，我总在车后的行李箱里带着狗粮、猫粮，都是为我碰到的流浪动物或者饥饿的动物准备的，这是用来帮助那些我不能带到家里去的动物的。我在路边曾遇到过不少受惊的狗，也用这些猫粮、狗粮引诱他们离开马路，脱离危险。对我来说，这已经成了习惯，总是不假思索地向需要帮助的动物伸出援助之手。
我把车停在离他们最近的停车场，从行李箱里抓起一袋五磅重的狗粮，一瓶水，又从钱包里取出一张20美元的钞票，然后小心翼翼地走向这个衣衫褴褛的人和他那两只悲惨的狗。我心里清楚，如果察觉到这个人伤害了狗，或者利用它们作诱饵，使人上当，我会义愤填膺的。那只老一点的狗仰脸望着天空，不停地哀鸣，煞是可怜。我快要走到他们跟前的时候，一辆大卡车停在他们旁边，车里的司机问这个年轻人，那只大一点的狗卖多少钱。
“五十美元，”角落里的年轻人回答，又马上加了一句，“但我真不想卖掉他。”
“这狗有证件吗？”
“没有。”
“阉割过吗？”
“没有。”
“狗有几岁？”
“五岁。可是我真不想卖掉他。我只是需要钱来喂养他。”
“如果我有五十美元的话，我早把他买下了。”绿灯信号亮了，大卡车绝尘而去。
年轻人摇摇头，继续在人行道上走来走去，非常沮丧。当他注意到我朝着他走过来的时候，就停下了脚步，注视着我一步步走近，小狗也开始摇起尾巴。
“嗨！”我越走越近，主动向他打招呼。年轻人的脸很和善，非常友好。而且，一看他的眼睛，我就知道他真是遇到了困难。
“我给你的狗带了些食物。”我边说边把手里的水瓶放在他们面前的地上。他接过食物袋子，目瞪口呆。
“你还带来了水？”他问道，难以置信。我们都在大一点的狗旁边蹲下来，那只小狗热情地招呼我。
“那边的是T。C。，这是多哥，我叫韦恩。”那条悲伤的大狗不再狂叫，低头看着，直到看清楚瓶子里面装的东西。
“遇到什么事了，韦恩？”我问道，感觉自己有点打听别人隐私的嫌疑，但是他简单、直接地回答了我的问题。“咳！我刚刚从亚利桑那州搬到这里，可是，还没有找到工作。现在，我到了喂养不起这两条狗的境地。”
“你住在什么地方？”
“就住在那边的卡车里。”他指着一辆停在附近的车说。车非常破旧，看起来快要塌掉了似的，车壳还在，还有一个长长的床。那车至少可以为他们遮风挡雨，让他们免受恶劣天气之苦。
小狗早已经爬进我怀里，并且满足地躺在那里。我问韦恩做的是什么工作。
“我是个机修工，还做焊接，”他说，“可是这里不需要机修工，也不需要焊接工。我找啊，找啊，都没有找到工作。这狗就是我的家人，我不愿意卖掉他们，但是我养不起啊。”
他说了一遍又一遍。说他不想卖这两只狗，可真的没钱给狗买吃的。每次这样说，他的脸上都会表现出难过的神情，好像是不得已要卖掉自己的孩子。
看来时机已到，现在我该顺手把那20美元塞给他了。希望我这样做不会伤害他那已经动摇的自尊心。“拿着吧，给你自己买些东西吃。”
“好吧，谢谢，”他慢慢地说，不愿意看我的脸，“有了这些钱，我们晚上就可以有住的地方了。”
“你在这儿呆了多长时间？”
“今天一天我都在这儿。”
“没有别的人帮助你们？”
“没有。你是第一个。”下午早已过去，天很快黑下来。在沙漠地区，太阳一落山，温度就会降到华氏30多度。
我仿佛看见他们三个今天一天没有吃上一顿饭，也许好几天都没有吃上饭；仿佛看见他们三个挤在一起，挤在他们那个临时凑合的、勉强可以叫做住处的地方，度过了许许多多漫长而寒冷的夜晚。一想起这些，我就思绪万千。
在这个城市里，你经常可以看到有人乞讨。但是这个人与众不同，因为他不是为自己乞讨，他更关心的是要让狗吃上东西，而不在意他自己能否填饱肚子。他这样做，深深地打动了我的心。我也是爱狗之人，养有九只可爱的狗狗，每一只狗我都照顾得很好，而且我非常爱他们。
说不清楚当时我是怎么回事，也永远不会明白，到底是什么驱使我做出了后面的事情，我只知道，我必须那样做。我问他愿不愿意在这儿等几分钟，说我马上就回来。他微笑着点点头。
我开着车，飞快地赶到最近的那家食品店。时间紧迫，我心急火燎地冲进去，抓起一辆手推车，从第一排货架开始，一直把整个商店搜索个遍，找我需要的东西。找到以后马上取下，扔进手推车，速度快得不能再快。就要那些最基本的东西，我心想。就要食物，够他们吃上两个星期，能维持他们的生存。要花生酱、黄油、果酱、面包、罐头、果汁、水果、蔬菜、狗粮。狗粮要多些（确切地说是40磅），还有锻炼牙齿的玩具，他们也应该有零食吃，最后我还买了些其他的生活必需品。
“总共102.91美元。”收款员告诉我。我没有一丝迟疑，拿过笔在空白支票上飞快地签上我的名字。事实上，关于我自己，情况是这样的：我欠的贷款马上该还了。我其实也没有这笔预算外的100美元，但这都无关紧要。什么都没有让这有人有狗的一家吃上东西重要。有一种执着，还有一种强烈的动机促使我为了一个萍水相逢的人花了100美元。我的这种执着、这种动机让我自己都感到惊讶。然而，同时，我又觉得自己是世界上最幸运的人。能够给这个人、给他挚爱的狗一点点我本来就有的东西，让我的心里荡漾起一阵阵感激之情。
看到我回来，还带着那么多东西，韦恩非常激动，满脸都是感激之情。“东西不多……”我说道。两只狗看着我，满怀期望，又很急切。我不想让韦恩有一点点尴尬，于是赶快用手拍拍狗。
“祝你好运！”我边说边向韦恩伸出手。
“谢谢你！愿上帝保佑你！现在我不用卖狗了。”夜色愈来愈浓，他的笑容灿烂、明亮。
你知道吗
迷人的拉斯维加斯
拉斯维加斯（Las Vegas）是美国内华达州最大的城市，以赌博业为中心，其庞大的旅游、购物、度假产业非常著名。它还是世界知名的度假圣地之一。Las Vegas源自西班牙语，意为“肥沃的青草地”。因为拉斯维加斯周围是荒凉的沙漠和半沙漠地带，只有这里是有泉水的绿洲。冬季阴冷，夜长昼短，夏天日照时间长，几乎每天晚上都能看到奇妙的极光，再加上风景秀美，拉斯维加斯吸引着大批的游客来此。这个城市还被称为“赌城”“世界娱乐之都”“罪恶之城”等等。1990年到2000年这10年里，拉斯维加斯的人口增加了80%，目前已经达到约190万。而这座城市的吸引力也慢慢变得多元化。
词汇寻解
New Words
crumple vt。弄皱；使一蹶不振vi。起皱；倒坍；一蹶不振n。皱纹；褶皱
scrawl vt。潦草地写；乱涂vi。乱涂，涂鸦；乱写n。潦草的笔迹
beeline n。[美国英语]（两地间的）直线，最短的路，最短距离，捷径
coax v。哄，劝诱；哄骗
例句：He coaxed his daughter to take her medicine。他哄着女儿吃药。
dilapidated adj。破坏的；荒废的，要塌似的
makeshift adj。临时的；权宜之计的；凑合的
T
翻译技巧PK
ranslation
1.He was howling into the brisk chill of the approaching winter evening，with a wail that could be heard for blocks。
2.It's also what I've used to coax many a scared dog off the road to safety。Helping needy animals has always been an automatic decision for me。
3.He pointed to a dilapidated old vehicle that was parked close by。It had an extra long bed with a shell，so at least they had shelter from the elements。
4.I was amazed at my own intensity and the overwhelming motivation that compelled me to spend a hundred dollars on a total stranger。
Keys：
1.已经是冬天了，天越来越黑，冬夜寒气逼人。狗在寒冷中狂吠，叫声里透着一种哀号，在很远的地方都能听得见。
2.我在路边曾遇到过不少受惊的狗，也用这些猫粮、狗粮引诱他们离开马路，脱离危险。对我来说，这已经成了习惯，总是不假思索地向需要帮助的动物伸出援助之手。
3.他指着一辆停在附近的车说。车非常破旧，看起来快要塌掉了似的，车壳还在，还有一个长长的床。它至少可以为他们遮风挡雨，让他们免受恶劣天气之苦。
4.有一种执着，还有一种强烈的动机促使我为了一个萍水相逢的人花了100美元。我的这种执着、这种动机让我自己都感到惊讶。
