绘◎舒泳之

Jack was born without eyes. He's very lucky with his timing.

He grew up having other kittens to play and socialize with①, and was used to people from the moment he was born since there are always kids hanging around②the barn. He was a favorite amongst the students at the barn.

However, when it came time to find the kittens homes, no one knew where Jack would end up.

That's when I got an e-mail from my friend. All she asked was "Do you still want one of the kittens? There's one here with no eyes and no one can take him."

Without thinking I told her that I did want the kitten.

When we first brought him home, Jack stayed mostly in my room.

He walked cautiously around, sniffing③everything.

After about a day he had no issues running around,jumping onto my bed and climbing on everything.

Also, a few weeks after getting Jack, we got a new barn cat named Bear.

Bear and Jack have become best friends.

It doesn't matter that he can't see, Jack always knows when Bear is around.

They chase④each other around and wrestle⑤, and when they're tired they'll lie down in the grass together.

Jack is truly an inspiration.

I've owned a lot of kittens in my life, but Jack is the happiest, most playful of them all.

He doesn't feel sorry for himself. Heck, for all he knows, all cats are just like him.

People who know Jack don't feel sorry for him. They cherish him for the treasure that he is.

I have talked to a few people who haven't met him personally who tend to pity him, but they just don't understand, Jack doesn't need pity.

I think Jean said it best when she told me that cats don't have disabilities, they have adaptabilities.

杰克出生的时候就没有眼睛，不过它出生的时机倒是很好。

在它长大的过程中，它可以和其他的小猫一起玩闹，也很习惯与人相处，因为那时总有孩子在农场周围玩耍。它可是那群孩子最喜欢的一只猫。

但是到了要为小猫们找家的时候，却没人知道杰克最终会到哪里。

那时，我收到了朋友的一封电子邮件。她在邮件里只说了两句话：“那窝生下来的猫里，你现在还想不想要一只？这里有一只没有眼睛的猫，没人要它。”

我想都没想就告诉她，我要这只猫。

当杰克刚被我们带回家的时候，它基本上都只乖乖待在我的卧室里。

它走路很小心，什么东西都要闻一闻。

不过差不多一天之后，它就开始到处跑起来，跳到我的床上，或是爬到各种家具上。

在把杰克带回家几周后，我们又有了一只叫贝尔的猫。

贝尔和杰克成了最好的朋友。

看不见东西对杰克一点影响都没有，贝尔来了它总能知道。

它们互相追逐嬉戏，累了的时候就一起在草坪上躺下。

杰克真的给了我很大的鼓舞。

我养过许多猫，但在它们之中，杰克是最快乐、最喜欢玩耍的一只。

它从不自怨自怜。哎，也许它觉得所有的猫都跟它一样呢。

了解杰克的人从不为它而感到惋惜。他们会像对待珍宝一样对待它，而它也确实是一件珍宝。

我曾跟一些没有亲眼见过它的人说过不要为它感到惋惜，但他们就是不明白，杰克不需要别人的怜悯。

我觉得，简的一句话用来解释这个问题最好不过，她曾告诉我，没有残疾的猫，猫拥有很强的适应能力去应对生活。

① socialize with 与……社交，与……交往

② hang around 闲荡；徘徊

③ sniff 英 [snɪf] 美 [snɪf] vi. 嗅；嗤之以鼻 vt. 嗅；闻；用力吸；发觉 n. 吸，闻；嗤之以鼻；气味；以鼻吸气；吸气声

④ chase 英 [tʃeɪs] vt. 追逐；追捕；试图赢得；雕镂vi. 追逐；追赶；奔跑 n. 追逐；追赶；追击

⑤ wrestle 英 ['res(ə)l] 美 ['rɛsl] n. 摔跤；搏斗；斗争vi. 摔跤；斗争；斟酌 vt. 与摔跤；与……搏斗；使劲搬动