It was half an hour before midnight on December 24th last year. I was a ticket-counter supervisor(主管)for a major airline and was looking forward to the 36 of my shift (轮班)at Stapleton International Airport in Denver. My wife was waiting up for me at home so that we could 37 our gifts for Christmas.
Just then, a very 38 gentleman went up to me. He asked how he could get to Cheyenne, Wyoming. He had just arrived from Philadelphia and 39 his connecting flight. I pointed him to the ground transportation area, where he could rent a 40 . And then I called my wife to let her know I would be home 41 .
About fifteen minutes later, the gentleman 42 and informed me that all the buses were full and there were no cars 43 . I told him that he had to stay for a night at the airport. Hearing that, he burst into 44 .
I tried to make him calm down. He explained that his name was Tom, and that his only son was 45 ill at home and was not expected to 46 another year. He expected that this would likely be the 47 Christmas with his son.
I told Tom to 48 his luggage and wait for me at the gate. I was driving to Cheyenne. I called my wife Kathy, telling her about it and not to wait up for me. I drove fast 49 and we arrived in Cheyenne around 2:30 a. m.
Kathy was still 50 me when I got home in the early morning. We traded gifts and then our conversation 51 Tom. For Kathy and me, there was no 52 that driving Tom to Cheyenne was the 53 choice.
A couple of days later, I 54 a Christmas card with a picture of Tom and his family. In it, Tom thanked me for the special 55 he had received that holiday season, but I knew the best gift was mine.