By Kathleen Kennedy
Oscar was named after the Sesame Street character who lives in a garbage can because that is where we first became acquainted。I was working at a pizza delivery chain and had been assigned garbage duty。While tossing bags into a Dumpster，I heard a faint meow。I began digging through the trash，and several layers down I found a cat-bruised and thin。I wasn't sure if the cat had crawled into the Dumpster to scavenge for food or if he had been put there purposely。Our establishment sat directly behind an apartment complex，and unsupervised and abandoned were common。
Back on solid ground，it became evident that the cat had an injured leg。He couldn't put any weight on his right hindquarters。The situation created a dilemma for me。Finances were tight，and I was moving back home to my parents'house-with two cats already in tow。Dad barely tolerated the two established felines。His reaction to another injured stray was sure to be less than receptive。
I took the stray to the vet，hoping to patch him up。After shots and X rays，the vet discovered the cat had a cracked pelvis。I posted notices，hoping someone would claim the cat or adopt him。
Meanwhile，the response at home was swift and firm：No more cats！Dad insisted I take the cat to the Humane Society immediately。I protested that the cat would be put to sleep。Luckily，my mother intervened。She agreed the injury would make the cat unadoptable，so we would keep him long enough for his hip to heal。Then he would have to go-no arguments。
Oscar must have somehow understood his situation。He seemed to study the other two cats and their interactions with my father。We suspect he bribed Tanner，our golden retriever，with table scraps in exchange for etiquette lessons。When the other cats were aloof，Oscar was attentive。He came when his name was called，and he would roll over on his back to have his belly scratched。As his injury began to heal，he would jump on the otttoman by my father's favorite chair，and，eventually，into his lap。Initially，Dad pushed Oscar away，but persistence paid off。Soon，Oscar and a muttering Dad shared the chair。
At meantimes，Oscar would come to sit with us。Positioned on the floor by my father's chair，every so often Oscar would reach up with one paw and tap Dad on the knee。At first，this provoked great irritation and colorful expletives expressed in harsh tones。Oscar，however，refused to be put off。Repetitive knee taps soon led to semi covert handouts of choice morsels。
Oscar greeted my father at the top of the stairs every morning and waited for him at the door every evening。My father sometimes ignored Oscar，and，at other times，stepped over him，complaining the whole time。Oscar mastered opening doors by sticking his paw underneath the door and rocking it back and forth until it opened。Soon，he was sleeping in the master bedroom at the foot of the bed。My father was completely disgusted，but couldn't stop the cat from sneaking onto the bed while they were sleeping。Eventually，Dad gave up。
Before long，Oscar，aspiring to his own place at the table during meals，began jumping up into my lap。He was allowed to stay as long as his head remained below table level。Of course，an occasional paw would appear as a reminder of his presence。
Three months passed，and the vet pronounced Oscar healthy and healed。I was heartbroken。How could I take this loving soul away from what had become his home，from the people he trusted？Sick at heart，I brought Oscar home and told my parents what should have been good news：Oscar was a healthy cat with a healed hip。“I'll take him to the Humane Society like I promised。”I said dully。
As I turned to put Oscar in the carrier for the trip，my father spoke，uttering three magic words，“Not my cat！”
Oscar has home to stay。He now has his own chair at the table and sleeps-where else？—in the master bedroom between my mother and father。He is their official“grand kitten”and living proof that deep within the most unlikely heart，there is a cat lover in all of us。
奥斯卡这个名字来源于“芝麻街”节目里那个住在垃圾桶里的木偶形象，因为我就是在垃圾桶里第一次见到奥斯卡的。那时我在一个匹萨连锁店里工作，曾负责倒垃圾。有一次，我正往垃圾箱里倒东西，忽然听见了细微的猫叫声。我开始在垃圾里寻找，往下扒拉几层之后看见了一只猫，带着伤，很瘦弱。我不确定这只猫是自己爬进垃圾箱找食吃，还是有人专门把他丢弃在这里的。我们连锁店正好位于居民综合楼的后面，经常可以看见无人看管的、或是遭人遗弃的猫。
我把他放在地上，很显然，这猫的腿受伤了。他的后位不能承受任何重量，这让我进退两难。我经济困难，正住在父母的家里，还带着两只猫，一起由我父母照顾。我父亲勉强接受了我的那两只早就养着的猫，他一定会强烈反对我再把一只受了伤的流浪猫带回家。
我把这只猫带到兽医那里，想着能把他的腿治好。兽医给猫注射过麻醉剂，然后做了X光检查，发现他的骨盆破裂。我到处张贴启事，盼望有人会认领或收养这只猫。
与此同时，我家里的反应很迅速、很坚决：绝不再收留猫！父亲坚持让我立即把猫送到慈善协会，我却说那里会把猫杀死。幸亏我妈妈及时干预这件事，她说猫有伤，没有人愿意领养。我们可以留下他，直到他腿上的伤长好，然后他必须要离开——没有回旋余地。
无论如何，奥斯卡一定清楚他当时的处境。他好像在观察另外两只猫，研究这两只猫和我父亲之间相互是怎么交流的。现在我们怀疑奥斯卡当时在贿赂唐纳——我们家里长着金色毛的拾獚：奥斯卡把餐桌上的剩饭叼过来给拾獚，想让拾獚交给他一些礼仪。而那两只猫却反应冷淡，所以奥斯卡自己就非常留心。只要我们一叫，他就马上跑过来，还会一转身仰面躺着，让我们给他挠肚子。他的伤开始长好了，他会纵身跳上父亲喜欢的椅子旁边的那个软垫凳子，最终，跳进父亲的怀里。一开始，父亲会把奥斯卡推开，但是奥斯卡还是这样，他的坚持取得了成效。不久，奥斯卡和嘟嘟囔囔的父亲一起坐在他的椅子上。
吃饭的时候，奥斯卡会过来和我们坐在一起。他蹲在父亲座椅旁边的地板上，时而举起一只爪子，轻轻拍拍父亲的膝。刚开始，这会让父亲恼火，会招来父亲尖声，却是有趣的咒骂。但是奥斯卡不愿被拒绝，他还是会时不时地拍拍父亲的膝盖。这样次数多了，父亲也会半掩饰地把好吃的东西拿给奥斯卡。
每天早上奥斯卡都在楼梯上向父亲致以问候，每天晚上会在门口等候父亲回家。有时父亲对奥斯卡不理不睬，有时父亲会走向奥斯卡，嘴里却一直嘟嘟囔囔。奥斯卡开门的技艺非常纯熟：用爪子勾住门下端，来回地转动门，直到门打开。很快，他晚上就睡在主卧里床脚的地方了。父亲非常反感，可是他阻挡不了这只猫在他们睡觉的时候偷偷地溜到床上。最后，父亲放弃了。
不久，总希望吃饭的时候能在餐桌上有自己一席之地的奥斯卡，开始跳到我怀里。只要他的头一直保持不伸到桌子上，他就得到允许可以呆在餐桌那儿。当然了，他会时不时地举一下爪子，以提醒大家他在场。
三个月后，兽医告诉我奥斯卡的伤已经痊愈，又是一只健康的猫了。我的心却碎了。我怎么舍得把充满爱心的精灵送走呢？我们的家早已成了他的家。我怎么舍得把他从他所信任的人身边带走呢？我带着奥斯卡回到家，心里很难受。我告诉父母亲那本应该会让他们高兴的消息：奥斯卡的腿伤好了，他很健康。“按照我的承诺，我会把他带到慈善协会，”我干巴巴地说。
当我转身去把奥斯卡放在车里，准备往慈善协会走的时候，父亲说话了，只说了三个字，三个神奇的字：“Not my cat（别把我的猫送走）！”
奥斯卡留在了我家里。餐桌上有了属于他的椅子，他睡在——还能是哪里？——主卧，在父亲和母亲中间。现在他是我父母认可的“孙子”，同时，他是活生生的证明：尽管人各不相同，但在内心深处，所有的人都喜爱猫。
你知道吗
“芝麻街”
Sesame Street“芝麻街”是一个在美国很受欢迎的儿童节目。这个节目于1969年10月10日在美国的国家教育电视台上（National Educational Television）首次播出，并于当年底转到公共电视台（Public Broadcasting Service）播出。迄今为止，“芝麻街”节目是获得艾美奖最多的一个儿童节目（曾经获得109个艾美奖），远远超过其他电视节目。
最为人熟悉的是，这个节目综合运用了木偶、动画和真人表演等各种表现手法向儿童教授颜色、字母、数字、阅读、算术等基本知识，有时还教一些基本生活常识，例如，怎样安全过马路、讲卫生的重要性等等。有关布偶是由著名木偶师Jim Henson创造。节目中许多的滑稽短剧和小栏目都已成为其他电视节目竞相模仿的典范。孩子们甚至家长们特别喜爱看这个节目，它伴随了一代又一代的孩子成长。
讲述故事外的事
Background Knowledge
“芝麻街”里的两个人物
小梅子（LITTLE PLUM）
小梅子不太注意打扮，头发经常乱七八糟的，不过据她说，她家人的头发，也都是这个模样。她打起呼噜还特别响。她充满好奇心，做事容易分心，但她面对问题时特别冷静。有时很受不了呼呼猪帮助她时的过度热情，但因为他是好朋友，只好忍受他。
奥斯卡（OSCAR THE GROUCH）
有点古灵精怪的奥斯卡，在芝麻街上是个脾气较坏的居民，喜欢藏在一个可以容纳几头大象的垃圾筒里孤独地生活，但为人善良。
词汇寻解
New Words
scavenge vt。打扫；排除废气；以……为食vi。清除污物；打扫
例句：You can often scavenge nice bit of old furniture from skip。
从废物堆里往往能捡到一些挺好的旧家具。
etiquette n。礼仪，礼节，成规
aloof adj。冷淡的；远离的；冷漠的adv。远离；避开地
provoke vt。激怒；煽动；驱使；惹起
例句：His speech provoke the crowd and cause a riot。
他的演说煽动了群众且引起一阵骚动。
expletive a。填补的（补足的，附加的，多余的）n。填补物；咒骂语
harsh adj。粗糙的；刺耳的；严厉的；严酷的；刺目的
例句：I can see your point but I feel the law is too harsh。
我了解你的观点，但是我觉得这项法律过于严厉了。
morsel n。一口，少量，一片
T
考考你
est Yourself
1.Multiple Choice Questions
1）Our establishment sat directly behind an apartment complex……
A。确立B。企业；机构C。法规D。统治集团
2）Our establishment ……an apartment complex，and unsupervised ……were common。
A。复合体；综合体B。体系
C。情结D。络合物
3）……but persistence paid off。
A。还清债务B。付清工资解雇（某人）
C。清算旧账D。得到好结果；取得成功
4）Oscar，however，refused to be put off。
A。关掉B。推迟；拖延
C。离岸D。敷衍；把……搪塞过去
5）Dad barely tolerated the two established felines
A。已被确认的B。定居的
C。查明的D。已建立的
6）Repetitive knee taps soon led to semi covert handouts of choice morsels。
A。选择；抉择B。上等的；精选的
C。被选中的东西（或人）D。爱惜的
7）I was moving back home to my parents'house-with two cats already in tow。
A。跟在后面B。被拖
C。在一起；受到照管D。紧随其后
2.文中出现的dilemma是什么意思？你知道关于它的短语吗？
Keys：
1.1）B2）A3）D4）D5）A6）B7）C
2.dilemma：（进退两难的）窘境；困境
be（be caught）in a dilemma：处于（陷于）进退两难的境地