I was now five, and still I showed no much interest in things except with my toes(脚趾). I could not look after myself,1my father took care of me. I used to lie on my back all the time in the kitchen. I was2, imprisoned(监禁) in a world of my own, unable to communicate with others.
Then, suddenly, it happened on the afternoon of a cold December day. All the family were gathered round the big kitchen fire. Mona and Paddy were drawing funny animals, using a bright piece of yellow chalk. It was the chalk that3me so much. I had never seen anything like it before.
Suddenly, I wanted to do what my sister was doing. Then without thinking or knowing exactly what I was doing, I4out and took the chalk out of my sister’s hand, with my left foot. It is a puzzle(迷惑)to many people as well as to5. I held the chalk tightly between my toes and made a wild scribble(乱涂)with it on the board. Next moment I stopped, not knowing what to do with the chalk next, hardly knowing how it6there. Then I looked up and realized that everyone was looking at me7. My mother came in. Her eyes looked from my face down to my8, then she took another piece of chalk from Mona, and drew the single letter “A” on the floor in front of me. “Copy that, Christy.” She said. I tried to do the same action, but I9. “Try again, Chris.” she whispered in my ear. I tried another two more times. I drew one side of the letter, then the other. It looked ugly, but I10to make it finally. I had done it! True! I couldn’t speak with my mouth, but now I would speak through something more11than spoken words. That one letter was my12to a new world, my key to mental freedom.

1My father went to the post office to pick up the letter____.