At six feet, seven inches tall and weighing 253 pounds, Father was a quiet giant(巨人)who only roared when he was angry. He would work long days, often 1 when I was already in bed. My two younger sisters and I both loved and feared him. Hearing the words, "Just wait until your father comes home," would guarantee the three of us would start 2immediately. I was seven years old the night the "giant" became a person, and my 3. All it took was the 4of a tiny, dirty kitten.
I 5 to the sounds of my father coming home from work. I slipped out of bed and moved quietly towards the living room in hopes of spending a few precious minutes6 with my parents without my annoying sisters around.
I heard mum say, "We cannot 7 it." What was the "it"? The giant saw me and 8 I should sit down near him. I was at a loss, although 9 might be a better word, for I had never seen or heard of a giant crying before. Unshed(满眶) tears 10up in his eyes. His cheeks were 11 from the ones he had cried earlier.
The giant reached into a cardboard box and brought out a dirty young cat and 12 it on my lap. I was soon 13, as the giant shared a story with mum. As he spoke, with shaking shoulders caused by 14and at times sorrow, he transformed from a giant to a man who became my hero.
He 15 that he was on his way home when he heard two men laughing and talking. As he rounded the corner, he heard the most terrible scream of pain. He couldn't 16 what he saw. The men had thrown a kitten into a furnace（火炉）. He yelled and ran up to them but it was too
17. He couldn't save the kitten. The men had run away and he was about to run after them when he saw another kitten at his feet.
"We have to 18 it; we have to keep it!" said the giant.
"It needs a 19," said mum.
"I can help, Mommy!"
Reminded of my presence, mum and my hero sent me off to bed. As I fell asleep, I heard mum running some water.
We named the kitten Cinder and it joined our family. I never saw "the giant" again; I only saw my hero and a man whose heart was 20 than he was.
