He stood on the comer looking a lot like Santa Claus, a smile on his face and a cup outstretched in his hands. I smiled 1 and asked if he was 2, "Would you like to go somewhere and share a sandwich?" He 3 with a bigger smile and a resounding（夸张的）YES.
His name is Aed. We went together to a comer bakery and then 4 the next hour, he very slowly ate his sandwich, 5 with deep delight on each bite as he 6 his story with me.
He was one of the few hand pruners（修剪树枝者）still trying to work. He spoke lovingly and with deep 7 about all sorts of plants and trees and how to properly 8 them. Much like humans, each one required kindness and 9.
He spoke of his time 10 in Vietnam and how the war forever 11 him. He spoke about a pathway diverged（分开）but then 12. He spoke about his philosophy on life that we all have gifts to 13 and we all have the 14 to be happy even without a place to call home. His blue eyes 15 brighter and brighter.
I asked if I could hug him. 16 resounding YES. And then we hugged a second and third time，each one a bit 17 and a bit more joyful.
Aed gave me a gift that day. It was the gift of his story. We 18 in touch now and again via email; he is a(n) 19 man. So, the next time you see someone on a comer with an outstretched hand, 20 out and gently take it. You may receive the bigger gift.
