It was very cold and I had been watching a homeless man make himself comfortable in a "shelter" on the river bank. His "shelter" was a tarpaulin   tied to rocks to keep the wind from blowing it away. He had been living there for over a month. I never saw him with warm clothing or food. I knew what I wanted to do. When I told my parents what I wanted to do they were _ . They said I could be putting myself at risk, taking a box to a homeless person at night! But I knew, in my deep heart, that I would be safe. I got a box. My parents watched as I added warm gloves, a heavy blanket ... into the box until it was full! Then, I put a Christmas card on top. It said, "Even though we hardly know each other, I want to wish you a Merry Christmas!" I put ten one-dollar bills inside it as well. My father insisted he went there with me as it was 10 pm on Christmas Eve. I said he could drive me but he had to stay in the car. He agreed. I took the box and walked towards his "house". I called, "Sir, I have a Christmas box for you!" "Go away!" he shouted. "Sir," I repeated. "Go away!" he shouted. "Why?" I asked him. He walked over and I expected to see an angry face. Instead I saw two of the most beautiful, gentle, blue eyes I have ever seen. "Merry Christmas!" I said. "Why are you doing this?" he asked. "Because you matter to me," I said. With that I gave him the box. Tears came to his eyes and he thanked me. I got back to the car and watched him carry the box like it was filled with gold. I didn't want to embarrass   him by watching him any more so Dad and I left. Why did the author ask his father to stay in the car?
Because he wanted to prove he was brave. Because he believed the homeless man was bad. Because he wanted to protect his father from being hurt. Because he didn't want the homeless man to feel bad.