第39章你是我生命中的阳光（9）
NosoonerdidIhearthevoiawrinkle-faced，six-foot-tall，ogostiaingusatthedoor，swoopinghisbig，openhandandstrongarmacrossthedoorway，invitingusin，“I’mCharlie。Thisismywife，Emma。ein，ein。”
WhenBeauheardCharlie’sfrieicvoitirebodywentintohisarywaggingfrenzyandleanagainstyhposition，waitingforapetting，whichwasimmediatelyffromCharlie。Aswewalkedintotheroom，afrailbutlivelyeighty，violet-hairedEmmasatinbed，smiling，pattingherhandonthebed。AllshehadtodoatondBeau，leashedandalwaysobedient，onthebedlyingdownbesideher，ligherface。HereyeswerefulloftearsasCharlietoldusthatheandEmmahadimmigratedtotheUesfromGermanyduringWorldWarIIandhadtoleavetheirbelovedDoberman，Max，behind。Max，agtoCharlie，ittingimageofBeau。
&door，room114，washometoKatherine，awomaiesedtalkingforafewmonthsearlierandhadbeenlivinginaiherwheelchairforthepastmonth。Noamoualkinghadbeeirher。WhenBeauaoherroom，asmalllightwasooherbedandtheshadeswerepulled。Shewassittinginherwheelchair，herbacktowardus，slouchedthevie。
Beauullingaheadofmewithhisleash。BeforeIcouldgetaroundkneelingdowninfrontofher，hewasatherleftside，withhisheadinherlap。Ipulledachairupinfrodownandsaidhello。NorespohefifteeBeauandIsatwithKatherine，sheneversaidawordandnevermasthatmaybe，mwasthatBeauher。Hestoodtheeeenminutes，hislonherlap。
IfyouknewBeau，you’dkensedswasaoetting。Nothere。HewasasfrozenasKatherine，headgluedtoherlap。Ibefortablewiththelackoflifeinthiswomaheed2：30p。m。，Irushedtosaygood-bye，stoodupaherelutBeauout。
Iaskedoheheriatoknowwhy。Sometimesitjusthappenswhenelderlypeoplehavefamilywhoshowhem。Wejusttrytomakeherasfortableaspossible。”
Allthewonderfulpeopleandanimalswhoblessedmylifeflashedinfrontofmyeyes，aheyweregoIimagibefeeliandfotten。Iwasdetermiofindawaythroughtoher。
EveryMoer，BeauandImadeourroualityroom，stoppingtomakespecialvisitsinroom112tovisitdEmma，andinroom114tositwithKatherine。Alwaysthesameresponse—CharliewavingusiiingforBeau’slicks，bothsoalive。AoKatheriiely，nosigforhershall。
&Iattemptedtoeherineiion。Noresponse。IgrewmoreaedwithKatheritwithjust“being”withher。YetherewasBeau，meditativedog，teagmehowto“be”aly，assumiioeeateachvisit。
Onourfourthvisit，IassKatherine’sroom，butBeauhadotherplans。HepulledmeintoKatherine’sroomandtookhisfamiliarposeoside，headonlap。Iacquiesced，butsinceIhadabusierihreoccupied，IdecidedtocutshortourusualfifteehKatherieadoftalking，Iremai，fowardlyonmyupeeting。Surelyshe’diceorcare。AsIstooduptowalkoutaopullBeauaway，hewouldn’tbudge。
Ahemostmiraculousthiherine’shaothetopofBeau’sheadahere。Noothermovement，justherhand。InsteadofBeau’saryresponseofnosenuzzlingandincreasedbodywaggiiaue，nevermovingfromhisspot。
Isatbasilentshodfortheenpreinutes，reveledireamoflifeflowiherine’shandandBeau’shead。Astheedhalf-pasttwtheendofourfifteeherine’shalyslidbatoherlap，aurowalkoutofthedoor。
It’sbeentenyearssivisitayearssinceBeaudiedinmyarmsfromastroke。Lovehasmanywaysofshowingitsface。EachtimeIamreadytowalkaersononwhomI’vegivenup，Iamremihepoersisteherihme。IfBeaugiveaes，surelyItoo。
每周一下午2点，我和博都要去密尔沃基东北部的银泉康复中心，为住在那里的老人们进行一小时的宠物治疗。我们穿过走廊走向接待室，与每位相遇的人打招呼。在接待室里休养的人都会过来爱抚博——一只活泼可爱的德国短毛猎犬。他今年10岁，体重99磅，很招人喜欢。你们很难想象，8年前，这只狗来到我家门阶上，被打得伤痕累累，一见到人就吓得仰躺在地，四脚朝天，抬起腿来就撒尿，直到人们抚摸它，柔声细语地安慰它，它才会有安全感。
在我们第一次拜访康复中心，路经淡黄色的1号走廊时，从112号房间里传出一位老人激动的声音，带着浓重的德国口音：“玛，玛，来了一条德国狗！这里，有只德国狗！”
随即，一位皱纹满面、约6英尺高的白发瘦高老人出现在门口，他张开有力的双臂，伸出大手，邀我们进去。“我是查理，这是我的妻子埃玛。请进，请进。”