Sometimes people and things around you can remind you of yourself. I was 1 to my writing group with a book to read on the journey. Because it was an old book I didn't want to "dog-ear" the pages, I 2 in my pockets for something to use as a bookmark. I placed a ten pound 3 between the pages.
Sitting on the bus I took the book out and was about to read but a young woman 4 me who was speaking on her cellphone drew my attention. She was talking to her brother. She wanted to know where he was, why he wasn't where he was 5 to be, why he had 6 their mother again and whether he know that their mum had 7 in tears that morning because of him.
She kept it quiet but she didn't pull any punches (留情) with him. She let him know exactly what she 8 him but I could 9 there was love under all the 10. She tried so hard to 11 this young man to come see his mother, but I got the 12 she was fighting a losing battle.
When she left the bus, I 13 behind her and 14 out the note in the book. "Excuse me," I said. "Do me a 15, would you? Take this money and buy your 16 a box of chocolates or a bunch of flowers. And tell her a 17 man said that being a mother is the 18 but most important job in the world."
Then I turned around and walked on, 19 if in some way I was saying a thank-you to my own mum. But I hoped I had raised a smile on the face of a mother 20 for her child.
