(2019·福州质检)Growing up, I always hid my thumbs (拇指) in my fists because of their unusual shape. __1__ they do look more like big toes (脚趾) __2__ thumbs. And from an early age, my thumbs __3__ another name “toe thumbs”．
In high school, I served as a cashier in a grocery store. One day, I was __4__ the bill of a sweet little old lady and as I __5__ her change back to her, she suddenly took my hands and said in a thick Polish __6__， “You are Polish! Look at those __7__ Polish thumbs! They match mine！” She raised her hands and __8__ her thumbs to me that __9__ weathered and wrinkled, looked exactly like mine! She __10__ my hands again and said, “Be __11__ of those thumbs！”
I'll never forget that 30second __12__ with a stranger that forever __13__ my view of a part of me I once was __14__ at and now accept. As I was eating dinner with my son, Samuel, that night, he looked down at my hand __15__ on the table next to his and said, “Mommy! Our thumbs __16__！” I smiled and answered, “Yes, they do, buddy! Those are strong Polish __17__ you have! Take pride in them! Maybe someday you'll have a little boy or girl who will have the same thumbs！” I __18__ my son never hides his thumbs like I did. I hope he'll be proud of their “unusualness” and the __19__ behind them. He inherits a(n) __20__ part from me and that for me will always be beautiful!
