ForIrisGraceHalmshaw,theworldwasalonelyplace.世界对于艾里斯·葛瑞丝来说一直都是孤独的。Theautisticfive-year-oldstrugglestospeak,isunnervedbyotherchildrenandisfrequentlythrownintopanicbytheworldaroundher.Shefillsherdayswithpainting,andissotalentedthatherworkssellforasmuchas£1,500.Butnothingcouldquiterelieveherisolation.Until,thatis,acatcalledThulacamealong.Thepairarenowinseparable–andIris'sparentscreditthegentleMaineCoonwithhelpingtheirlittlegirlbecomemoretactileandaffectionate,aswellasinfluencingheralreadymuch-acclaimedworksofart.Thehome-educatedyoungsterhasbeenproducingastonishingMonet-stylelandscapessinceshewasthree,whenmotherArabellaCarter-Johnsondevisedartsessionstohelpherwithherdaughter'sconcentrationandspeech.ButsinceThulaarrived,MissCarter-JohnsonandherhusbandPeter-JonHalmshawsaytheyhavenoticedIrisaddingbrushstrokeswhichresembleacat'seyesornose.Initially,theythoughtitwasjustacoincidence,butnowbelieveIrisisexpressingherloveforThulathroughherpainting.'WhenIrisispainting,Thulaistoldbyherto'sitcat'ifshejumpsupontothetable,'saidMissCarter-Johnson.'ShestaystherewatchingIriswithgreatinterest,occasionallywantingtoplaywiththebrushes,butmostlyjustpatientlywatching.'Andthepair'sbonddoesn'tendthere.ThulaisatIris'ssideforeverypartofherlife,rightdowntoherbath,whenshewillevenshareashampooandsoak.Whenthefamilygooutinthecar,ThulawillsitonIris'slap,andsheismorethanhappytodonherredharnessandgoforawalkonherlead.Thepair'sclosenessishavinganeffectonIris'srelationshipswithothers,too,andherparentsfinditeasiertoencouragehertospeakwhenThulaisaround.AfterresearchingthebenefitsofanimaltherapyforautisticchildrenthecouplehadtriedintroducingIristohorses,dogsandevenothercatswithnosuccess–buteverythingfellintoplacewhenThulacametolivewiththefamilyinMarketHarborough,Leicestershire,inFebruary.Withinweeks,thekittenwashelpingtosoothethelittlegirlinofstress.MissCarter-Johnson,33,said:'Eversincewecamehomewiththisprecious,magicalkitten,shehasbeencastingaspelloverIris.Itwasasiftheywereoldfriendsfromthedaytheymet.'ThankstoThula,newdoorwaystocommunicationandemotionsareopeningandIrisishappierthaneverbefore.'更多英语学习：外贸英语学习wwspiikers/study-trade
