Word choice

In each of the five blanks, the given answer is the former. Is it the only answer? Do you have enough reason to dismiss the other choice as wrong?



What would I do for Carol’s 50th birthday? It was ___( clear, unusual)that she didn’t want a party, certainly not a surprise party (that was an agreement at our marriage—no surprise parties ever).



“How about a small dinner with(friends, children)?” I asked.



“No,” she said, “I hate being the center of attention.”



Still, the milestone had to be marked. I wasn’t going to let her get away with a Stouffer’s frozen dinner and a movie video, ___(and, for) this was all she claimed she wanted.



I thought and thought, and ___(before, after) making my decision, I sent a letter to her friends, asking them for photos, poems, notes, cards, letters. “Carol doesn’t want a party in person...but I’m hoping to give her a party in a book.” I bought an album with a friend’s advice, and the tributes poured in. For a few minutes at the end of every workday, I would pull out the marking pens and double-sided tape—who knew there were so many scrapbooking items?—and assemble the book, Carol’s book.

Photos of her in junior high, pictures of us with the boys, original songs, witty verse, fond reminiscences and one haiku in Japanese. It made me grateful for all the years we’ve had together. The gift wasn’t the album, it was the friendship and love she’s given to me and to our kids and to all her friends and family. You could read it on every page.



I wrapped it up and took it home. “Happy birthday, sweetie,” I said. “It’s not a frozen dinner or a video, but it’s what you deserve.” She cried. She doesn’t ____( really, normally)like to cry, but I think she likes the book. She’s said so many times. And every time I remind her that putting it together was a gift to me.



When I give, I always receive, thanks be to God.