3 . I have had no interest in football for as long as I can remember. While my classmates played, I _________ to stay in the library. I never _________ the passion for the game and would throw away the sports section of the newspaper, as if it _________ the rest of it. As I grew up, I proudly wore my _________ .

But occasionally, whether in a taxi or when meeting a friend's father, I found myself faced with a _________ opener like, “Terrible season we’re having, eh?” or simply, “Who do you support?” My heart sank, knowing my response would unavoidably _________ them, despite their good intentions.

I realized that my _________ had closed off many conversations, outings, and even potential friendships I might have _________ enjoyed. Although I couldn't change the fact that I found football boring, I began to regret being a(n) _________ .

Then I became a father. I didn’t want my boy to __________ this valuable social experience, so I took him to watch the Lions play. During those matches, we sat close to the field, surrounded by families who had a genuine __________ with the players. My kid’s questions kept me somewhat __________ in the game. Slowly, I started to__________ for the Lions.

During one victorious match, we even met David, the Captain, who happily __________ for a photo with my son. __________, I had an answer to the question,“Who do you support?”

4 . My mother has always been one of those rare people that sees the good in everyone and does good things. She’s had her ups and downs but has always_______a positive, sunny outlook on life and been very_______to people.

One day, my little sister fell and hurt her ankle, desperately needing a_______to the hospital emergency room. My mother immediately_______into crisis mode, packed my sister into the car, and drove to our local hospital. In such a_______, my mother didn’t call to tell my father. When she got to the hospital, she realized she needed to_______with my father immediately.

While waiting for my sister to be examined, my mother_______her way to the pay phone to place her call. She put her coin in, called my father and told him everything. After she hung up, the phone_______several additional coins that Mom wasn’t owed.

Realizing that the phone was_______, my mother decided to leave the________coins by the phone. She told us that in a crisis, people might not remember to bring________with them to make that emergency call.

I’ve often thought about her________from an adult’s perspective. I realize that someone seeing the money by he phone may have________taken it because not everyone was as________as my mother. But I like to believe that my mother’s faith was ________and that someone who needed them found the coins waiting there.

5 . I was angry with my sixteen-year-old son Anthony, and stormed out of the house. Standing on the front porch (门廊), I ________ deeply. I saw my elderly neighbor, Clara, working in her garden. Seeking ________, I walked across the street.

“Anthony again?” Clara asked. “It’s his hair again,” I replied. “Have you seen him? All that mass of messy curls ________ over his shoulders! But just mention a haircut, and he gets that same ________ look in his eyes I’ve seen a million times before.”

Clara smiled, “It’s only hair, Liz.” She spoke slowly, ________ each word, “It’s … only… hair!” Then her smile disappeared, and her expression became ________. “I learned years ago when my husband died, leaving me three young kids. I had to put everything in perspective if I were to ________. I learned how to say, ‘But it’s only…’ But it’s only a bad day. Tomorrow will be better.” She nodded her head firmly. “You ________ it, don’t you, honey? Everybody has enough ________ in their lives without wasting ________ on the ‘it’s only ’ things that come their way.”

After returning to my house, I baked some cookies, and carried them to Anthony’s room. “Can I come in, honey?” “Not if you’re going to ________ about my hair again.” I pushed the door open and held out the cookies. “Not one word. I ________.” He stared at the plate of cookies greedily, but there was still a glint of ________ in his eyes. “Not one word about my hair?” He looked at me challengingly.

“It’s only hair,” I said. “It’s your hair. Not mine.” Anthony smiled broadly, saying, “Thanks for ________ understanding me, Mom. And thanks for the cookies.” Now I’ve learned to let go of the “it’s only” ________, and Anthony is more willing to listen to me.

9 . My daddy was a do-as-I-do kind of guy. In his book, ________ training was much preferred to mere verbal explanation. He was into ________ whenever and wherever possible.

Take tire (轮胎) changing, for instance. When I was a teenager, Daddy taught me how to change a flat tire on the family car. A few years later, when I was able to drive, Daddy _______ flattened a tire when he knew I was planning to _______ the house and challenged me to change it out for the ______. Alone. Quickly. I did.

A big man, Daddy had the ______ of a best-selling novelist. He put it to good use at those times when ______ his baby girl for life had to extend beyond demonstration.

In our house, T.F. ______ a little wood nymph (仙女), who was described to me by Daddy as wise and particularly fond of green trees. Daddy and I ______ her whenever a problem arose that I could not solve.

At the age of 13, I asked Daddy how to ______ T.F.’s “real” name. Daddy answered with a sort of riddle, “It’s pronounced ‘Fear-a-lie’ but spelled any way you wish.” A few years later I _______ a message in my father’s elegant handwriting that mentioned “Fear-A-Lie.” Only then, with a flash of insight, did the pieces ________.

_______, I left home to launch a career as an investigative reporter, often speaking truth to power.

Looking back, I understand that Daddy’s life lessons－about doing the _______ thing even when faced with high risk一took root just as he _______.