My no-named strategy proved a dismal failure, however. Long before the pup was weaned, the kids secretly began calling him Scampy, and before I knew it he had become as much a fixture as the fireplace. And just as immovable.

• 但是，我的不取名策略结果是彻底的失败。早在小狗断奶之前，孩子们已经偷偷地管它叫“小淘气”；我还没有明白过来，小狗已经像我们家壁炉似地永远固定在那儿，成为家庭不可分割的一员。