学进去

Yesterday is Father’s Day. Many things happening between my father and me crowded my mind. But one thing made a deep impression on me.

It was a Sunday morning, and I was in a _______ mood(情绪). Two of my friends had gone to the movies the night before and hadn’t invited me. I was in my room _______ ways to make them sorry when my father came in. “Want to go for a ride today, Beck? It’s a beautiful day.”

“No! Leave me alone!” Those were the _______ words I said to him that morning.

My friends called and _______ me to go to the mall with them a few hours later. I forgot to be _______ with them and then went with them. When I came home, I found a _______ on the table. My mother put it where I would be sure to see it. “Dad has had an _______. Please meet us at Highland Park Hospital.”

When I reached the hospital, my mother came out and told me a car hit my father and his injuries were extensive(大面积的). “Your father told the driver to leave _______ alone and just call 911, thank God! If he had moved Daddy, …”

My mother may have said more, but I didn’t hear. I didn’t hear anything _______ those terrible words: Leave me alone. My dad said them in order to ________ himself. He didn’t want to be hurt more. How much had I hurt him ________ I shouted out those words at him earlier in the day?

It was several days later that he was ________ able to have a talk. I held his hand gently, afraid of hurting him.

“Daddy … I am so sorry …”

“It’s okay, sweetheart. I’ll be okay.”

“No,” I said, “I mean about ________ I said to you that day. You know, that morning?”

He looked at me and said, “Sweetheart, I remember ________ about that day, not before, during or after the accident. I remember telling you good night the night before, though.” He managed a weak smile.

My English teacher once told me that words have great power. They can hurt or they can heal(治愈). And we all have the power to choose our ________. I am going to do that very carefully from now on.