It was a cold winter afternoon before Christmas.
It
was
a
cold
winter
afternoon
before
Christmas
.
My parents and I sat on the bench in Washington, D.C. Union Station, waiting for the train.
My
parents
and
I
sat
on
the
bench
in
Washington
,
D.C.
Union
Station
,
waiting
for
the
train
.
Inside the waiting hall were many people.
Inside
the
waiting
hall
were
many
people
.
A boy sat nearby.
A
boy
sat
nearby
.
His worn jacket, pale face, dirty hands all seemed to tell me that he was homeless.
His
worn
jacket
,
pale
face
,
dirty
hands
all
seemed
to
tell
me
that
he
was
homeless
.
"He must be cold and hungry.
``
He
must
be
cold
and
hungry
.
Maybe I should help him," I said to myself.
Maybe
I
should
help
him
,
''
I
said
to
myself
.
Just at that moment, a well-dressed young couple walked towards him.
Just
at
that
moment
,
a
well-dressed
young
couple
walked
towards
him
.
"Excuse me," the man bent down.
``
Excuse
me
,
''
the
man
bent
down
.
"My wife and I bought two meal boxes but one was enough for us.
``
My
wife
and
I
bought
two
meal
boxes
but
one
was
enough
for
us
.
We hate to waste good food.
We
hate
to
waste
good
food
.
Can you help us out and put this to use?"
Can
you
help
us
out
and
put
this
to
use
?
''
he handed the boy a meal box.
he
handed
the
boy
a
meal
box
.
The boy thanked them and opened the box with joy and care.
The
boy
thanked
them
and
opened
the
box
with
joy
and
care
.
Suddenly he stopped.
Suddenly
he
stopped
.
In the direction to which he looked, I saw an old man in rags- in a worn sweater, worn trousers and open shoes, entering the hall.
In
the
direction
to
which
he
looked
,
I
saw
an
old
man
in
rags-
in
a
worn
sweater
,
worn
trousers
and
open
shoes
,
entering
the
hall
.
Putting the meal box aside, the boy stood and helped the old to his seat.
Putting
the
meal
box
aside
,
the
boy
stood
and
helped
the
old
to
his
seat
.
He took off his jacket and covered it on the old man's shoulders, saying, "A gentleman brought me this warm meal but I just finished eating.
He
took
off
his
jacket
and
covered
it
on
the
old
man
's
shoulders
,
saying
,
``
A
gentleman
brought
me
this
warm
meal
but
I
just
finished
eating
.
I hate to waste good food.
I
hate
to
waste
good
food
.
Can you help me out?"
Can
you
help
me
out
?
''
He placed the still-warm meal box in the old man's hands without waiting for an answer.
He
placed
the
still-warm
meal
box
in
the
old
man
's
hands
without
waiting
for
an
answer
.
"Sure, son, but if only you share that sandwich with me.
``
Sure
,
son
,
but
if
only
you
share
that
sandwich
with
me
.
It's too much for a man at my age."
It
's
too
much
for
a
man
at
my
age
.
''
We were all touched.
We
were
all
touched
.
Dad went away and soon returned with cups of hot chocolate and a big pizza.
Dad
went
away
and
soon
returned
with
cups
of
hot
chocolate
and
a
big
pizza
.
Mum and dad went up to those rags, "Excuse me ..."
Mum
and
dad
went
up
to
those
rags
,
``
Excuse
me
...
''
I rushed into a KFC and took out my pocket money.
I
rushed
into
a
KFC
and
took
out
my
pocket
money
.
It was so cold that afternoon but I felt much warmer than I had ever thought possible.
It
was
so
cold
that
afternoon
but
I
felt
much
warmer
than
I
had
ever
thought
possible
.
It was a cold winter afternoon before Christmas. My parents and I sat on the bench in Washington, D.C. Union Station, waiting for the train. Inside the waiting hall were many people.  A boy sat nearby. His worn jacket, pale face, dirty hands all seemed to tell me that he was homeless.  "He must be cold and hungry. Maybe I should help him," I said to myself.  Just at that moment, a well-dressed young couple walked towards him.  "Excuse me," the man bent down. "My wife and I bought two meal boxes but one was enough for us. We hate to waste good food. Can you help us out and put this to use?" he handed the boy a meal box.  The boy thanked them and opened the box with joy and care. Suddenly he stopped. In the direction to which he looked, I saw an old man in rags- in a worn sweater, worn trousers and open shoes, entering the hall.  Putting the meal box aside, the boy stood and helped the old to his seat. He took off his jacket and covered it on the old man's shoulders, saying, "A gentleman brought me this warm meal but I just finished eating. I hate to waste good food. Can you help me out?" He placed the still-warm meal box in the old man's hands without waiting for an answer.  "Sure, son, but if only you share that sandwich with me. It's too much for a man at my age."  We were all touched. Dad went away and soon returned with cups of hot chocolate and a big pizza. Mum and dad went up to those rags, "Excuse me ..."  I rushed into a KFC and took out my pocket money. It was so cold that afternoon but I felt much warmer than I had ever thought possible.