一个清冷的早晨，Kate离开伊利诺伊州美丽的湖边小屋，去繁忙的芝加哥医院工作。其实她不愿离开这个宽敞明亮、甚至还能在房中看到湖景的地方。Kate离开时在门外的信箱里留下了一封信，希望小屋的下一个住客能转交她的信件，还顺便解释说前门擦不掉的爪印早在自己搬进的时候就已存在，希望不要介意……

Kate：Dear new tenant¹, welcome to your new home. As the previous tenant, let me say, I hope you'll like living here as much as I did. I filed the change of address with the post office but, you know what a crapshoot that can be. So if anything slips through, would you do me a favor and forward my mail? I'd appreciate it. My new address is below. Thanks in advance. P.S.:

Alex：Sorry about the paw prints by the front door. They were there when l moved in. Same with the box in the attic³. Paw prints? What the hell is she talking a bout²?

Kate：Hey, baby girl. Hi. Hi. Hey. Fix the light. Get dog food, huh? Get human food.

注释：

1. tenant：n. 房客

2. crapshoot：有风险的事业。这里指Kate担心邮局会出错，仍然把她的信寄到旧的地址。

3. do me a favor：帮我一个忙。

4. I'd appreciate it.：这句是在美国口语里经常用到的表示“感谢、感激”的话。

5. in advance：提前，预先

6. attic：n. 阁楼，顶楼

7. what the hell：(用以加强语气或咒骂)究竟，到底，也是口语里常用的。