Our Perfect Puppy (I)

Katie comes home · 小狗进家门

My sister and I have always wanted a dog. My favourite type of dog is called the Labrador Retriever. They're pure black with a shiny coat. They're friendly. They're great swimmers. And they are very smart. In fact, they're often used to help blind people.

One day, my sister and I were at a store getting some eye glasses made. I was bored waiting for my sister to get her eyes examined, so I went to a store where they sold pets.

When I walked in, my eyes lit up. Sitting in a cage were two black puppies. The sign said Labrador Retrievers. I asked the girl if she could tell me more about the two puppies. She told me one was a boy and the other, a girl. They were just one month old. They were so cute. They both looked at me with their beautiful eyes, and whined and wagged their tails. I couldn't take my eyes off these two puppies. They were so adorable!

I brought my sister over. She liked the dogs, but felt that it wasn't a good time to get a dog.

On the way home, I finally convinced her that a puppy would be perfect for us. When we arrived home, we begged our parents to let us have a puppy. My father said, maybe — if we would work more on our chores. No problem. Right after supper, I rolled up my sleeves and washed the dishes. I saw my mother smiling.

About a week later, we went back to the store and the puppies were still there. We chose the female. She was shaking in the car, but she licked my hand and was very happy to see us. I could not help thinking about how she would miss her brother, but we couldn't take both puppies.

We got home and made a nice warm nest for her. She fit in perfectly. We gave her a name: Katie.

Finally, we had a pet — a Labrador Retriever.

Our Perfect Puppy (I) — How Katie found her way home

My sister and I have always wanted a dog. My favourite type of dog is called the Labrador Retriever. They're pure black with a shiny coat. They're friendly. They're great swimmers. And they are very smart. In fact, they're often used to help b(1)__________ people.

One day, my sister and I were at a store getting some eye glasses made. I was bored waiting for my sister to get her eyes e(2)__________, so I went to a store where they sold pets.

When I walked in, my eyes lit up. Sitting in a cage were two black puppies. The sign said Labrador Retrievers. I asked the girl if she could tell me more about the two puppies. She told me one was a boy and the other, a girl. They were just one month old. They were so cute. They both looked at me with their beautiful eyes, and whined and w(3)__________ their tails. I couldn't take my eyes off these two puppies. They were so a(4)__________!

I brought my sister over. She liked the dogs, but felt that it wasn't a good time to get a dog.

On the way home, I finally c(5)__________ her that a puppy would be perfect for us. When we arrived home, we begged our parents to let us have a puppy. My father said, maybe — if we would work more on our chores. No problem. Right after supper, I rolled up my s(6)__________ and washed the dishes. I saw my mother smiling.

About a week later, we went back to the store and the puppies were still there. We chose the f(7)__________. She was shaking in the car, but she l(8)__________ my hand and was very happy to see us. I could not help thinking about how she would miss her brother, but we couldn't take both puppies.

We got home and made a nice warm n(9)__________ for her. She fit in p(10)__________. We gave her a name: Katie.

Finally, we had a pet — a Labrador Retriever.

📌 重点单词 · Key Vocabulary

🔗 重点词组 · Key Phrases

💡 语法小贴士 · Grammar Tips

🐶 文化拓展 · Why "Retriever" Is in the Name

拉布拉多的全名 Labrador Retriever 里藏着它的职业简历：Labrador 是它起源的加拿大拉布拉多地区，retriever 来自 retrieve（取回）——它们最早的工作是跳进冷水帮猎人叼回射落的猎鸟，所以才「great swimmers」。如今这份「叼东西回来」的天赋转了型：导盲犬、搜救犬、警犬、自闭症儿童陪伴犬，拉布拉多年年霸榜最受欢迎犬种。文中 the blind 一句正是这份履历的注脚。

这篇故事真正值得细读的是「手续」：兄妹俩先被爸爸提条件（work more on your chores），再卷起袖子洗碗表态，一周后才把小狗接回家。英语国家的家庭里，养宠物几乎都要走这套「家庭谈判流程」——因为 pet 不是玩具，是一个要喂饭、铲屎、陪散步的家庭成员。I could not help thinking about how she would miss her brother 这句想得很深：毛茸茸的欢喜背后，也有一点点对小生命分离的歉疚。

标题写着（I），说明 Katie 的故事才刚开头——她们家的「谈判」成功了，「经营」还在后头。下篇再见 🐶