1 . When I was a baby, my parents gave me anything I wanted. I would play with a toy for a while, get ________ and ask my parents for a new one. ________ my dad died when I was 2. My mom continued to treat me to ________ I wanted until I was 7 and my world ________.

That was when the real estate market (房地产) crashed. My mom had thought buying houses was a good idea as a way to invest her money to ________ us, but all of money was gone. After the crash, I would ask for a new toy or bike, or even to watch a movie. My ________ would say “I’m sorry, honey, but we really can’t ________ that right now.” My mom had grown up in a family where ________ was never a problem, so this change was as big for her as it was for me. My constant ________ for toys and video games deepened her concern about our financial ________.

Then ________ happened that would change my way of thinking forever. My mom had been working really hard all year, just to ________ the necessities, like our house rents, water and power bills. When she asked me what I wanted for my ________, I said that I wanted a new video gaming system. I didn’t know that it was ________.

On my birthday, I started opening presents, believing that I would get what I asked for. As I ________ opened the last gift box, however, I found nothing other than a pair of jeans. All at once I frowned and then burst into tears. My mom could tell how ________ I was and she started crying. I hugged her harder than I had ever hugged anyone before. I ________ came to realize how hard she was working to ________ me and cover our expenses and that she couldn’t afford to give me anything I didn’t need.

The feeling of having ________ earned something was one of the best feelings in the world. Meanwhile, I was also ________ to my mother, who had given me all she could give.

2 . I was nine when my father first sent me flowers. I had been taking tap-dancing lessons for six months, and the school was holding its yearly ______. As a member of the beginners’ chorus line, I was ______ of my lowly status. So it was a ______ to have my name called out at the end of the show along with the lead ______ and to find my arms full of red roses. I can still feel myself standing on that ______, blushing and gazing out at the audience, seeing my father’s grin as he applauded ______.

As the years passed, other ______ ―birthdays, awards, graduations—were ______ with Dad’s flowers. Dad’s flowers ______ his pride, and my success. When I ______ from college, I was embarking on a new career and was engaged to be married.

As my fortunes grew, my father gradually became ______, but his gifts of flowers continued ______ he died of a heart attack a few months before his 70th birthday. I covered his coffin ______ the largest, reddest roses I could find.

Often in the dozen years since, I have felt a(n) ______ to go out and buy a big bunch to fill the living room, ______ I never did. I knew it would not be the same.

Then one birthday, the doorbell rang. I was feeling ______ because I was alone. My son, Matt, had run out earlier with a “see you later”, never mentioning my ______. So I was surprised to see his large frame at the door. “Forgot my key,” he said, shrugging. “Forgot your birthday too. Well, I hope you like ______, Mom.” He pulled a bunch of daisies from ______ his back. “Oh, Matt,” I ______, hugging him hard, “I love flowers!”