“Hi, Mom, happy fiftieth birthday!”I heard my son, Brian, say as 1 as if he were sitting next to me． 2 he wasn't．Brian was on the USS Kitty Hawk on maneuvers(大规模演习) 3 between our U．S．shore and the Persian Gulf．
My party-loving friend, Denise, had 4 me out for a quiet fiftieth birthday celebration dinner．When we 5 at the restaurant, I scanned(扫视)the sea of 6 , but didn't recognize anybody．
A wave of 7 washed over me, and tears welled in my eyes when 8 I heard Brian in my head．“Hi, Mom, happy fiftieth birthday．”“What's wrong?”Denise asked when she saw me dabbing(轻轻擦)at my 9 ．
“I think I've had too much wine．I keep 10 Brian wish me a happy birthday,”I said．She gave me a(n) 11 smile．“Our table is ready,”she said, leading me toward the stairs．
I'd hardly sat down in the chair of honor when a 12 entered the room, carrying a sheet of cake．The firefighter 13 the cake on the table in front of me so I could 14 the fifty blazing candles．Once again I heard Brian speak,“Mom, be sure to 15 me a piece of cake．”This time he 16 very far away, but it seemed that he was just in front of me．I 17 in my chair．Was I losing my mind?
“I'll have some 18 as soon as I get this helmet(头盔) 19 ,”the firefighter said．Every drop of blood in my veins flowed to my feet．He 20 his uniform and quickly pulled the helmet from his head．