Mother has just taken her temperature—over 38℃. She’s got the bug that’s going around. It’s right after lunch. The older children are at school, and the_________is sleeping. There’s no     _________why Mother cannot go to bed. But first she has a few things to do. Leave a _________for the cleaners.Put in the next load of washing._________the garbage.

At last she_________into bed. Ah-h-h-h! Her aching_________ stretch out comfortably under the cover. Her burning eyes_________. Then, suddenly, the front door bangs open as the children_________ home from school. Without finding their _________mum as usual, they cried out “Mum!” Mother tries to answer but their cries__________out her weak calls. Soon they find her—in bed. “I’m sick,” she says. “I can’t do anything. I’ll just have to __________it all to you.” She sighs. The children then rush out like __________ going into battle. Then father comes back and joins them.

__________in her room, it is clear to mother that the family is eating dinner__________she lies there sick and alone. She feels left out and__________. Then there is a crash and noise until, finally, the children appear, smiling.

“Can we stay with you? And the kitchen is a__________. And nobody knows where the broom is.” “Mum, I sure wish you’d get better.It’s just no__________when you’re sick.” says the boy, “I hope you feel better tomorrow. We miss you.”

__________, mother notices that her aches and pains are gone. So you see how it is with mothers. Other people have the 24-hour bug for 24 hours. But not a mother. If she feels __________enough,she can get over it in 12 hours or __________!