“Remember, your father is only one year     1     (old) than you.” That was Mum’s usual excuse when Dad said the wrong things or did something     2     (fool).

Dad quitted drinking exactly one year before I was born. He joined a group of other people.He said they     3     (stop) drinking, too. I loved my dad     4     I hated the way his weekly meetings took him away     5     me. But with my birthday coming up I thought Dad would make an     6     (except). “Can’t you miss it just this time? Saturday is my birthday!” I begged him but     7     (refuse).

Saturday evening I sat on my bed,     8     (feel) sorry for myself. Dad said, “Why not come with me together tonight?”     9     would I do at a meeting? But maybe I needed to see why something Dad did every week mattered so much.

After we arrived, Dad told his story about giving up smoking. Later, a man     10     (call) Dave also told his story. Only then did I know it was Dad that saved his life from drinking. Shame washed over me.

My father and I haven’t met for a few days.     1    is because the horrible COVID-19    2    (break) out that we can see each other only through phone video calls. Although my father is not a soldier, he is a “warrior”    3    (dress) in white in the war for the virus. My father told me the ward is his battlefield, and that he is duty-bound to fight    4    the virus and protect as many    5    (patient) as possible.

Today I    6    (chat) with my father again    7    (wear) a blue medical cap and a pair of transparent    8    (protect) glasses. His nose and mouth were covered by thick white mist. I could only see his eyes through glasses. The eyes were full of love, tears,     9    (strong), power and courage. I know he was in a dangerous situation,     10    his eyes seemed like they were saying “I’m fine”.