Good Heart to Lean on
More than I realized, Dad has helped me keep my balance.
When I was growing up, I was embarrassed to be seen with my father. He was severely disabled and very1 and when we walked together, his hand on my arm2 balance, people would stare at us. I would feel uncomfortable at the unwanted3 if he ever noticed, he never 4 that he knew.
It was 5 to coordinate(协调一致) our steps—his hesitant, mine impatient—and because of that, we didn't say much6 we went along. When we started out, he always said, “You set the pace. I will try to 7you.” Our usual walk was to or from the subway, which was 8 he got to work. In my memory he went to work in spite of 9 or bad weather, and he never missed a day and would 10 it to the office even if others could not. He never talked about himself as an object of 11 nor did he show any envy of the more fortunate. What he 12 for 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 his idea is a proper 13 by which to judge people, even though I14don't know exactly what a “good heart” is. But I know the times I don't have one myself.
He has been gone many years now, but I think of him often. I wonder if he 15 I was unwilling to be seen with him during our 16now I'm sorry that I never told him how sorry I was for feeling 17 to be with him in public. I think of him when I complain (抱怨) about something unimportant, when I am 18 of another's good fortune, and when I don't19 a “good heart” At such times I put my hand on his arm to 20 my balance, and say, “You set the pace. I will go behind you.”