I never know how well Mother could keep a trust until I was going through her things after

I never know how well Mother could keep a trust until I was going through her things after she died. I discovered something I had    36  forgotten, something that happened to me as a child.

One night, as I lay in bed   37  my sister and I had said our prayers, I recalled the events of the day and how   38  I had behaved towards Mother. “I must make things right before going to sleep,” I thought.

Quickly I  39  out of bed and picked up a pencil and paper, then tiptoed into the hall. The   40  from the living room shone dimly. I knew Mother was downstairs mending socks.

I quickly   41  a note asking Mother to forgive me for being so   42  . I didn’t want my brothers and sisters to know our   43   so I added a postscript: “Please don’t let anyone see this. ” Then I quietly moved   44  my parents’ bedroom and put the letter under Mother’s pillow.

The next morning, when I   45  my bed after breakfast, I unexpectedly   46 a note under my pillow. Mother wrote that she loved me and   47  me.

This became my   48   of apologizing whenever I talked back or disobeyed. Mother always left a note, but she never  49  our under-the-pillow messages in front of the family. Even when we were   50  , she never mentioned them when we brothers and sister recalled our childhood.

When Mother  51  , I had to go through her personal belongings. In her desk was a bundle of notes tied with a faded ribbon（布条）. On top was a message in her handwriting. It read, “In the event of my death, please   52  these. ”

I   53  the packet and glanced at the handwriting on the bottom. To my surprise, I   54  my childish writing, “P. S. Please don’t let anyone see this. Love, Edie. ”

I gently placed the unopened bundle in the   55   along with other things for the rubbish burner. “Lord,” I prayed, “make me like my mother. ”

36-40 ABDDB     41-45 CDBCC       46-50 CDAAC      51-55 BADAB