“Remember, your father is only one year      (old) than you.” That was Mum’s usual excuse when Dad said the wrong things or did something     (fool).
Dad quitted drinking exactly one year before I was born. He joined a group of other people. He said they  (stop) drinking, too. I loved my dad    I hated the way his weekly meetings took him away     me. It seemed that they were more important to him than I was. But with my birthday coming up I thought Dad would make an    (except). “Can’t you miss it just this time? Saturday is my birthday!” I begged him but     (refuse). He said “I am chairing the meeting this Saturday. We will have your party on Sunday.”
Saturday evening I sat on my bed,   (feel) sorry for myself. Dad started to leave, then paused and said, “Why not come with me together tonight? It’s an open meeting. All are welcome”.     would I do at a meeting? But maybe I needed to see why something Dad every week mattered so much.
After we arrived, Dad announced the theme of the meeting was going to be gratitude. He told his story about giving up smoking. Later, a man     (call) Dave also told his story. Only then did I know it was Dad that saved his life from drinking. Showing up week after week and meeting with people, Dad was changing lives. Shame washed over me.