A Good Heart to Lean (倚靠) On
More than I realized, Dad has helped me keep my balance.
When I was young, I didn't want to be seen with my father. He was short and crippled (瘸), and when we 1 together, his hand on my arm for balance, people would look at us. It was 2 to coordinate (协调) our steps, and we didn't 3 much as we went along, just keeping silent 4 as we started out, he always said, "You set the pace (步伐). I will try to stay with you."
In my memory, my father went to work every day, rain or shine. He almost never 5 a day, even if others could not. Meanwhile he had to 6 the unkind laughter from others. When I think of it now, I am surprised at how much 7 it must have taken him to make a living under such 8. Although disabled, my father still tried to take part in activities in his own way. When a baseball team didn't have a manager，he kept it 9. He was a knowledgeable baseball fan and often took me to the 10. He also liked to go to parties, where he could have a good time 11 sitting and watching.
I now 12 that he took part in some things through me, his only son. He 13 me all the time. When I played ball, he "played" too. When I joined the Navy, he "joined" too. He was 14 to spend all his time staying with me.
He never talked about himself as an object of 15, nor did he show any envy (嫉妒) of the more fortunate. What he 16 in others was a "good heart'', and if he found one, the owner was good enough for him. Now that I am older, I believe that is a proper rule by which to 17 people, even though I still don't know exactly what a "good heart" is. Sometimes I wonder if he 18 my unwillingness during our walks. If he did, I am sorry I never told him how sorry I was, and how I 19 it. At such times I would put my hand on his arm to get my 20, and say, "You set the pace. I will try to stay with you."
