Last summer my son, Eric, left for university in another country. Our once lively house became quiet and _______. I missed him so much that I started sending him messages on the phone, mainly to say _______ or to give him a word of warning.

One of my messages says, “So you told me you _______ your credit card (信用卡). If you don’t try hard to mend your careless ways, one day you’ll _______ and find your brain missing.”

I did get Eric’s messages, but most of them were about _______ .They were no different from the notes he used to leave on the white board when he was at home.

“I bought a new pair of shoes. They cost me $90. Please help!”

“Money is running short because I’ve bought some books for my research paper. Help me please!”

Recently, however, Eric begins to send me all kinds of articles: some funny, some touching and some worth _______. He says they will help me understand young men better and keep up with the times.

I read the articles slowly, like a _______ student, with mixed feelings as well—my kid, who followed me around not long ago, has now become my _______.

So I write back. “I’ve read all those articles. I’ll take them as a loving son’s expectations towards his mother. He must be thinking that his mother is still young enough to accept new things. That makes me feel proud. What we parents lack (缺乏) most is the ability to learn and _______ in both body and mind. Thank you, my son.”

In this way we share ideas and _______ each other, with a gentle and beautiful language we seldom use. Every time I read those messages, I feel my heart filled with warmth.