Some years ago on a hot summer day, a little boy decided to go for a 1 in the lake behind his house. In a hurry to dive into the 2 water, he ran out of the back door. He flew into the water, not3 that an alligator （鳄鱼）was swimming toward the 4. His mother in the house was 5of the window and saw the alligator  6 it got closer and closer. In fear, she ran toward the water, yelling to her son as 7 as she could.

    Hearing her voice, the little boy became 8 and made a return to swim to his mother. It was too9.Just as he reached her, the alligator 10him. From the shore, the mother grasped her little boy by the arms just as the alligator grasped his legs. The alligator was much 11 than the mother, but the mother was much too struggling to let the boy go. A farmer happened to drive by, heard her 12raced from his truck, took aim and13the alligator.

    14 after weeks in the hospital, the little boy15 His legs were scarred by the animal and, on his arms, were 16scratches where his mother's fingernails scratched. A newspaper reporter, who 17 the boy, asked if he would show him his18 The boy lifted his pant legs. And then, with obvious 19 he said to the reporter, “Bot look at my arms. I have great scars on my arms, too. I have them because my mom wouldn't let me go. They are my mother's 20 for me.”