Last year, two days before Christmas, my friends called, telling me their kitchen caught fire____ (destroy) everything in it. I drove to their house, taking all the food that I had. They were so happy to see me, but felt____ (embarrass) having nothing to give me in return.

    I went home, very upset____ (actual), I was also in a hard place financially and unable to do____ (much) for them. I called a friend of____ (I) about this, who responded, "These people mean a lot to you and I want to help them." Since he had never met them, he requested me____ (go) to the grocery store, all on him. At the check-out, I noticed him lacking money, so that I had to have some items taken back.

    We were walking away____ I heard a voice behind me asking the clerk, "How much are those things? I decide to pay for them." I turned around,____ (thank) the kind man and told  him everything. He explained that he understood as he had lost his job the year before but now was working again.____ tears in our eyes, all of us went away. It was such ____ wonderful feeling to see folks step up when someone needed help, even a total stranger.