Robby was 10 for his first piano lesson in my class．Much as he tried，he
(1) even the basic rhythm．However，he dutifully reviewed the pieces that I required．
Over the months he tried and tried while I
(2) and encouraged him．At the end of each lesson he'd always say，"My mom's going to hear me play some day．"
(3) it seemed hopeless．
I only knew his mother from a
(4) as she waited in her aged car to pick him up．Then one day Robby stopped coming．I was secretly
(5) that he stopped because of his lack of ability．
Weeks later I informed the students，including Robby，of the coming recital（独奏）．To my
(6) ，Robby asked me if he could be included．I told him he really did not qualify because he had
(7) out．He said his mom had been sick and unable to take him to lessons but he was still
(8) ．
"I've just got to play!"he
(9) ．Something inside me let me allow him to．
Then came the recital night．The gym was
(10) with parents．I put Robby up
(11) ，thinking that I could save his poor performance through my"curtain closer（谢幕）．"
The recital went off smoothly．Then Robby came up on stage．His clothes were wrinkled and his hair was
(12) ．"Why didn't his mother at least make him comb his hair for this special night？"I thought．
Robby pulled out the piano bench and began．I was not
(13) for what I heard next．His fingers were
(14) on the keys．Never had I heard Mozart played so well by people of his age．After he ended，everyone was
(15) their feet in wild applause．
In
(16) I ran up on stage and put my arms around Robby．"I've never heard you play like that，Robby!How did you
(17) it？"
Robby explained，"Well，Miss Hondorf…remember I told you my mom was sick？…
(18) she had cancer and passed away yesterday．She was born deaf，so tonight she could hear me play in heaven．I wanted to make it special．"
There wasn't a
(19) eye in the house．That night I felt he was the teacher and I was the pupil，for it was he who taught me the meaning of perseverance and
(20) ．