Anonymous
Everyone in the apartment complex I lived in knew who Ugly was。Ugly was the resident tomcat。Ugly loved three things in this world：fighting，eating garbage，and，shall we say，love。
The combination of these things combined with a life spent outside had their effect on Ugly。To start with，he had only one eye and where the other should have been was a gaping hole。He was also missing his ear on the same side，his left foot appeared to have been badly broken at one time，and had healed at an unnatural angle，making him look like he was always turning the corner。His tail has long age been lost，leaving only the smallest stub，which he would constantly jerk and twitch。
Ugly would have been a dark grey tabby，striped type，except for the sores covering his head，neck，even his shoulders with thick，yellowing scabs。Every time someone saw Ugly there was the same reaction：“That's one UGLY cat！”
All the children were warned not to touch him，the adults threw rocks at him，hosed him down，squirted him when he tried to come in their homes，or shut his paws in the door when he would not leave。Ugly always had the same reaction。If you turned the hose on him，he would stand there，getting soaked until you gave up and quit。If you threw things at him，he would curl his lanky body around feet in forgiveness。
Whenever he spied children，he would come running，meowing frantically and bump his head against their hands，begging for their love。If you ever picked him，up he would immediately begin suckling on your shirt，earrings，whatever he could find。
One day Ugly shared his love with the neighbor's huskies。They did not respond kindly，and Ugly was badly mauled。From my apartment I could hear his screams，and I tried to rush to his aid。By the time I got to where he was laying，it was apparent Ugly's sad life was almost at an end。
Ugly lay in a wet circle，his back legs and lower back twisted grossly out of shape，a gaping tear in the white strip of fur that ran down his front。As I picked him up and tried to carry him home，I could hear him wheezing and gasping，and could feel him struggling。It must be hurting him terribly，I thought。
Then I felt a familiar tugging，sucking sensation on my ear。Ugly，in so much pain，suffering and obviously dying，was trying to suckle my ear。I pulled him closer to me，and he bumped the palm of my hand with his head，then he turned his one golden eye towards me，and I could hear the distinct sound of purring。Even in the greatest pain，that ugly battled scarred cat was asking only for a little affection，perhaps some compassion。
At that moment I thought Ugly was the most beautiful，loving creature I had ever seen。Never once did he try to bite or scratch me，or even try to get away from me，or struggle in any way。Ugly just looked up at me completely trusting in me to relieve his pain。
Ugly died in my arms before I could get inside，but I sat and held him for a long time afterwards，thinking about how one scarred，deformed little stray could so alter my opinion about what it means to have true pureness of spirit，to love so totally and truly。Ugly taught me more about giving and compassion than a thousand books，lectures，or talk show specials ever could，and for that I will always be thankful。He had been scarred on the outside，but I was scarred on the inside，and it was time for me to move on and learn to love truly and deeply。To give my total to those I cared for。
Many people want to be richer，more successful，well liked，beautiful，but for me，I will always try to be Ugly。
在我居住的公寓大楼里，没有人不知道这只叫做Ugly的猫。Ugly是流浪到这里的一只雄性猫。在这个世界上，Ugly只喜欢做三件事：打架、从垃圾里找食物吃，和（如果可以这样说的话）爱。
这些因素综合在一起，再加上Ugly一直是在外流浪，而不是宠物猫，给他带来了不少伤害。首先，它只有一只眼睛，在本来属于另外一只眼睛的地方却出现了一个很大的孔。还有，同一侧，它少了只耳朵。它的左脚好像曾经受过严重的伤，后来某个部位又奇怪地痊愈了，致使它走路的时候看起来总像是在转弯。长尾巴很久以前就不见了，只留下一点点残根，即便如此，它还会经常甩甩这残缺的尾巴。
如果不是它头上、脖子上布满了伤痕，如果不是它肩部留有厚厚的发黄的痂，Ugly会是一只长着深灰色毛毛的虎斑猫。可是现在，人们每次看见它，都会发出同样的感叹：“真是一只丑陋的猫！”
所有的家长都警告自己的孩子：千万别碰那只猫！当Ugly真的跑向住户时，大人则会用石头砸它、用水管浇它、用水枪喷它，如果Ugly还不走，他们就会用门夹它的爪子。这时候Ugly总是同样的反应：如果你是用水管浇它，它就只是站在那儿，原地不动，任你把它浇得一塌糊涂。最后是你放弃了，不再浇它了。如果你用东西砸它，它会把瘦长的身体蜷缩成一团，宽容地呆着不动。
不管什么时候，只要看见小孩儿，它就万分欣喜地并且喵喵地叫着跑过去，用头顶顶孩子的小手，渴望孩子喜欢它、爱它。如果你真的把它抱起来，它会急切地在你的衬衣上、耳环上或者任何它可以够得着的地方，亲切地舔啊，舔啊。
一天，Ugly和我邻居们喂养的爱斯基摩犬一起玩耍。这些狗不像Ugly那样善良，它们一起欺负它。在房间里我听到了Ugly的尖叫声，于是我奋力急冲过去想要帮帮它。但是当我到达Ugly躺着的地方时，我心里清楚，Ugly悲剧的一生几乎已经走到了尽头。
Ugly蜷缩着躺在地上，后腿和下背扭曲得几乎变了形。一颗硕大的泪珠顺着它前胸的一圈白毛悄然滑落。我抱起它，向家里走去，这时我听见它在不停地喘息，还有它急促的呼吸声。同时我能感觉到它的生命在挣扎。我想它一定痛得要命。
一会儿我觉得有什么东西在费力地拉、吸我的耳朵，一种非常熟悉的感觉，那是Ugly在舔我的耳朵，而它此刻却正经受着巨大的痛苦，忍受着折磨，生命垂危。我把Ugly抱得更紧了，它用头顶顶我的手掌，又把它黄色的眼睛转向我，这时我听见了它欢快地喵呜喵呜地叫。虽然处于极度痛苦中，这只丑陋的、浑身上下到处都是创伤的猫，还是要求人们给予它一点点爱，或者是少许同情。
在那一刻，我觉得Ugly是我所见过的最好看、最可爱的猫。它没有一次试图咬我、抓我，没有一次想要从我这儿跑开，甚至没有一次挣扎。只是抬头看着我，完全相信我能减轻它的痛苦。
还没回到房间，Ugly就死了，死在我的怀抱里。回家之后我坐在那儿，长时间地抱着它。我在想，就是这样一只满身伤痕、肢体残缺、弱小的流浪猫，如此巨大地改变了我的观念——什么是真正纯洁的灵魂；什么是全身心投入的真正的爱。我将永远对Ugly心存感激，因为正是它，而不是那些读过的书、听过的讲座和看过的脱口秀特别节目，教会了我付出、同情Ugly是身体上受了伤，而我却是心灵受了伤。对于我，现在是该走出心灵的创伤，学着真正去爱的时候了，是该对那些我所关心的，我所喜欢的，我所爱的人付出我全部的时候了。
多少人想要更富有、更成功、更尊崇、更漂亮，但我愿意永远做Ugly，美丽在我心。
鹦鹉学舌
流浪猫和宠物猫
虽然都是猫，流浪猫和宠物猫的命运却有太大的不同。正如人类世界里总有不幸的人哭，幸福的人笑一样，动物世界里也在上演着悲剧和喜剧。宠物猫只需要躺在沙发上睡睡觉，趴在窗台上晒晒太阳，跳到主人的腿上撒撒娇，时不时地发出温柔的喵呜，博得主人的欢心，就会衣食无忧，还被当宝贝宠着、哄着。
与宠物猫比起来，流浪猫的生活却是大相径庭。他们总是在流浪，身上总显得肮脏凌乱。为了能够生存下去，到处寻找可以栖身的地方。他们会在某个角落里停下疲惫的脚步，会在垃圾箱、杂物堆里寻觅，期望能填饱肚子。他们很小心，不然的话就会招来石子，招来尖声斥责，招来耍弄，遭到驱赶。但它们很容易知足，一点阳光的抚慰，一片干面包的充饥，就让它们欣喜地喵呜喵呜，诉说着满足和感激。
莺声燕语
Background Knowledge
世界最富流浪猫
人人都知道福布斯财富排行榜，知道它推出的美国富豪榜、女性富豪榜、明星富豪榜等等，但是在马奎特（Miranda Marquit）所创建的Bankling。com上，却能看到全球宠物富豪榜。Bankling列出的最富有的三只狗和三只猫。这三只猫是：
廷克（Tinker）：它曾是一只经常拜访有钱的寡妇莱恩（Margaret Layne）的流浪猫。它获得了22.6万美元的信托基金和一个家；
贝里尔·里德（Beryl Reid）的宠物猫们：这位女演员曾有一座180万美元的房子，她把房子留给了自己的猫们——哈米什（Hamish）、布恩（Boon）、艾琳（Eileen）、可可（Coco）和塔夫内尔（Tuffnel）；
瑞德（Red）：这只虎斑猫曾属于加拿大百万富翁哈珀（David Harper）。哈珀去世时给瑞德留下了110万美元。
牛角挂书
New Words
tomcat n。公猫；雄猫
tabby n。斑猫（=tabby cat）
sore n。疮，伤，伤处，痛处
lanky adj。过分瘦长的；骨瘦如柴的
maul n。大槌vt。打伤；殴打；抨击；粗暴对待
wheeze vi。喘息；呼哧呼哧地响vt。喘息着说；喘息地发出
gasp vi。喘息；喘气；渴望vt。气喘吁吁地说；喘着气说话n。喘气
stray n。走失的家畜；流浪者vi。迷路；偏离；流浪adj。迷路的；离群的
T
猴老师有话说
est Yourself
1.这里有关于sore的两个短语，分别是什么意思？
A）a sight for sore eyes
B）like a bear with a sore head
2.gasp通常和哪些副词连用？能举出一个例句吗？to the last gasp是什么意思？
3.英语里怎么表示死亡、断气的（用上gasp）？
4.tug 有“用力拉；用力拖”的意思，也可以作名词。比如give a tug用力拖，猛拉。你知道英语谚语When Greek meets Greek，then comes the tug of war。吗？是什么意思？里面有什么典故？
Keys：
1.A）[口语]乐于看到的人（或物）；极受欢迎的人（或物）
B）脾气暴躁，情绪恶劣，动不动发火
2.常与out，forth，away连用。
例句：The messenger gasped out his story after running all the way from the battle。
传令兵从战场上长途跑回来后，气喘吁吁地说出了战况。
to the last gasp到最后一口气
3.breathe one's last gasp死亡，断气，咽气
gasp one's life away（或out）死亡，断气
4.此谚语译为：两雄相遇，其斗必烈。
