MysisterandIhavebeenaheadacheformymother,becausemyfatherwasinthearmy,hewasnotaroundtoooften.__21__,mymotherbroughtusupalmostsingle-handedlyanditmusthave__22__realstrengthofmindtobringupsuchnaughtyandstubbornchildrenwhogotoutfromonetroubleonlytogetintoanother.
BonusandIweren’tscholarseither.__23__,wehatedstudyingfromtheverybeginning.Wewere__24__tospendtimewithourschoolbooks---outofthefearofMum’sscolding.Ialmostdidnotmakeitto10thgrade.ThatentiresummerMum__25__thatIreadmyschoolbooksfromtheveryfirstchaptertillthelast.
Ileft__26__collegeat18.Inmysecondyearofcollege,whileIwasstudyingformyfinalexams,IgotaphonecallfromMum__27__mysisterhadfailedher9thgradeexams.Mumwasheartbroken.MymotherwasanEnglishteacherinafamousschoolinthecityanditwasa(n)__28__forher.
Thenstartedanother__29__formyMum.Therealwaysseemedtobepeoplewhowouldcomeandtalkabouthowwelltheirchildrenweredoing__30__mymotherwouldbehavingatoughtimemakingsurewestayedontherightpath.Mumwas__31__thatwewoulddowellforourselves.Sheneverletmysisterandme__32__thatwehadlostoutonsomethingandalwaystoldus:“Letthisbealesson.Wearegoingtoworkreallyreallyhard...__33__willchange.”
Thingsdidchange,butveryslowlyand__34__,onelittlestepatatime.LastyearIfinishedwithlawschoolandstartedworking.Mymother’sbeliefinme__35__.AndjustafewdaysagoIgotaphonefromBonus.Shehad__36__theexamwithhonorsandwas__37__tothebestuniversityinthecountry.Iwasintears.LaterthatnightI__38__Mum:“Mum,yourtwolittlefailuresdidn’tdoasbadlyaseverybodythought.”Mum__39__andsaid:“YouaremydaughtersandIknewyouthebest.Ialwaysknewthatyouwouldsucceed.Itwasjusta__40__oftime.”