I was at the grocery（食品杂货） shop picking up last-minute thing for dinner. When I was about to leave, I 1 noticed from the corner of my eye some flowers. They were the most 2 flowers I had ever seen. They were, as I later learned, peonies（牡丹）.
I was going to buy myself flowers that I'd never done this before. On the way home, I wondered 3 I had never really been attracted （吸引） by any flowers before.
Growing up in England, my immigrant（移民） family never regarded flowers as 4 since being alive was the most important to us. Our small garden was filled with 5 , as Mom and Dad often said, "These will keep us alive if we can't get them from the shop, 6 flowers won't."
Though Mum was badly ill, she would also make flatbread. The 7 of the bread really comforted us. The taste of the flatbread 8 the pressure of our life. All these let us live in England 9 .
When Mother's Day came, Mom would say, "Why not avoid 10 money on flowers? They'll just die. Buy shoes or coats instead." So, we kids made food for her at home.
My mother passed away years ago after a long 11 . I was trapped in great pain. If she were still alive today, she'd probably 12 her head when she saw me buying flowers. She wouldn't come back. But still, I wish I'd had the chance to 13 her this beautiful flower and buy it for her on Mother's Day.
"Look, Mom," I raised my voice. "I bought myself a peony. Thank you 14 giving up your home and life to come to this country. Because of that, I could have chances that 15 never had, and so I could give myself these unnecessary but beautiful flowers."
