Tears clouded my eyes as I stood in our washing room, holding Brett's jeans and shirt full of burn holes.
Tired and defeated, I 21 to the floor. The clothes were just one more thing Brett had 22 . He often got almost everything in the house out of 23 . Many windows in our house needed repair due to his breaking 24 to steal money when he chose to live on the street. Yet none of this could compare to the emotional 25 Brett had done to our once quiet home.
Brett came to live with us when he was 12 years old. During the next few years I had dealt with Brett as 26 as possible, but inside I was shouting,"I don't want him in my house another day, Lord! I just can't 27 him!" Having wiped my tears, I continued 28 him as before.
When Brett was nearly 18, he landed again in Juvenile Hall(少管所). After that, my husband and I had to send Brett to a boarding school for helping 29 teens.
At the 30 ceremony, each graduate held a white rose to give to the person who had 31 the most to him or her.
Brett spoke 32 to his parents and then spoke to me, "You did so much. You were always there, no matter 33 happened. My mom and dad, I was their kid. But you, 34 troubled enough by me, always 35 me such love. And I want you to know I love you for it."
36 , I stood as Brett placed the white rose in my hand and hugged me 37 .
At that moment, tears 38 in my eyes again, this time not for disappointment but for 39 . Although I had struggled with silent 40 toward my stepson, Brett had seen only my actions. Love is action. We may not always have positive feelings about certain people in our lives, but we can love them.
21. A. sat B. sank C. bent D. dropped
22. A. ruined B. lost C. torn D. broken
23. A. danger B. place C. trouble D. order
24. A. off B. in C. up D. away
25. A. pain B. injury C. damage D. suffering
26. A. patiently B. willingly C. strictly D. rudely
27. A. forgive B. educate C. stand D. control
28. A. parenting B. pardoning C. comforting D. feeding
29. A. lazy B. troublesome C. disappointing D. careless
30. A. opening B. official C. victory D. graduation
31. A. afforded B. meant C. supplied D. owed
32. A. lovingly B. sadly C. proudly D. nervously
33. A. where B. how C. what D. who
34. A. unless B. although C. because D. when
35. A. cost B. lent C. taught D. showed
36. A. Astonished B. Puzzled C. Encouraged D. Interested
37. A. surely B. roughly C. tightly D. fiercely
38. A. fell B. flowed C. moved D. gathered
39. A. pity B. happiness C. luck D. success
40. A. love B. anxiety C. anger D. care