她把老狗拿出来，刹那间——曾无比失落的两个灵魂——发现了点燃希望之火的动力。
汉克的食品橱现在满是食物，壁炉里温暖的火焰噼里啪啦地响着，一回想到同伴们说的“只能是在你的梦中”的那句话，老狗就开心地微笑。老狗合上眼睛，它享受着汉克一边小声吟唱“在天堂般的宁静中睡吧”，一边轻抚他的头。
终究是圣诞节呀！
“Didyouhearthat”theolddogshouted。
Theyallraoftheirkeoseeifsomeonewasingto“pickthem”。“Sorry，”hesaidtothesashisearsfelldownfromtheirperkedposition。“IcouldhaveswornIheardvoig，‘Is’sChristmas，’twetakehimhomewithus’”“Youmusthavebeendreamingagainoldman，”saidthedogiohim。“Anyway，what’sthebigdealaboutgettingpickedupasaChristmasgiftWe’veallbeenthroughthatroutineandlotus。”
“Justonce，I’dliketofeelthewarmthofahandstrokingmyhead，”saidtheolddog。“I’dliketobetheonewhokissesthetearsoffasadface。I’dliketoexttoafireihiscrete。Ithurtsmybones。”
Hecurledupaheotherssaid，“Theonlyplaceytofindthatisinyourdreams，oldman。”
Hank’swifehadonlybeengohepainwasasfreshasiftimehadstoodstill。
Hewasanoldmannow，aloneahefortthathekherpersonwouldeverbeabletogivetohimagain。WhatwouldhislifebeewithoutherbyhissideHank’scupboardswereclosetobarenowand，althoughhedidn’twanttogoout，heknewheshouldatleastpickupthebasics。Hedroveslowlydowsforfreewaydrivioog。
&hecarstartedgailfinallytheeogether。Ohebasieedshefotwasfuelforthecar！Sohecoastedoverhecurb，spottingabuildingwithinwalkingdistahey’dlethimusetheirphone。
Hewalkedintoanoffidrangthebellforservie。Hespottedanoutside，failingtohesignposted“EmployeesOnly”。
AsHa，hewasoverwhelmedbyyaps，barksandinsanejumpingfromdogsallsizesahenrealizedhehaduiohedogshelter。
Sloeaislelookingfora。
Threekennelsdowheolddogcalmlysatthere。Whyshouldtheolddoggetexoonewouldwanthim。But，hesensedaneedand’tresistakindlookalewagofthetail。
AsHaheolddog’scage，helacedhisfihroughthektosteadyhisgaitufeelingofforthe’drememberedinoverayearawetnoseandlickacrosshisarthritigers。
JustthehoritysoundedandHankjumped。
“I’msorry，sir，youaren’tsupposedtobeinthisarea！”shesaid。
Lukdidn’tknowhehadwalkedintothe“finalarea”whereunclaimeddogswerescheduledtobeputdown。
&henudgeandligagain。Haothemostpleadingeyeshe’deverseen。
Igendaoleave，Hankaskedifhecouldseethedogcloser。Herdemeaelyaeredaway。Shehadforcedherselftobethiswaysoshecoulddothepartofherjobshedespised。
&theolddogoutandinstawosouls—o—fouohope。Hank’scupboardswerenowfilled，awarmfirecradtheolddogsmiledinsideasheremembered“onlyinyourdreams”。ghiseyeshefeltHank’shandstrokinghisheadwhispering“sleepinheavenlypeace”。
ItwasChristmasafterall。