My father was an ill-humored man. I knew he loved me and his love was deep. He just didn't know
how to   1    it.
     One evening we went out for a night on the town. We were sitting in an elegant restaurant that had
a small but lively    2    . When it played a familiar waltz tune I decided to   3    him for a dance.
     "Dad, you know I've never    4    with you before. I begged you but you   5     wanted to. How
about right now?"
     I waited for the   6     refusal. But instead, he considered thoughtfully and then said, "Let's hit the
floor and I'll   7     you just what kind of moves an old guy like me can still make."
     My father took me in his   8     and I felt overcome by emotion.
     As we danced I looked up at my father carefully but he    9     my eyes.
     "Dad," I finally   10    , tears in my eyes, "Why is it so hard for you to look at me?" At last his eyes
dropped to my face. "   11    I love you so much." he whispered back. I was struck dumb by his 
  12    . It wasn't what I had thought. But it was of course exactly what I needed to   13     . I had
always known that he loved me. I just hadn't understood that his vast emotion had   14     him and
made him silent. "I love you too, Dad!" I whispered back softly. He stumbled (结结巴巴地说) over
the next few words: "I'm sorry that I'm not open. It's   15     for me, but just remember how much I
love you."
     When the dance ended I excused myself to the ladies' room and during my absence   16     changed.
     When I came back, Dad sat in his chair   17     his body leaning forward, very pale. Everything was
really too late. He was   18     .
     That night all I saw was his leaning body and pale face. But it's a totally different scene that I   19    
now. I remember him saying "I love you" and my saying it back. The three words  20     on forever
long after we are gone.