阅读下面短文，从短文后各题所给的四个选项(A、B、C和D)中，选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。 My father was raised in a fatherless home at a time when the family of five struggled to survive, which caused my father to be extremely tightfisted(吝啬)with money． When we children became 1 that other children got pocket money from their parents, we made a(n) 2 to ask our father from some．Immediately his face turned stone-cold, and he said, “If you’re old enough to ask, you’re old enough to 3．” And we had to seek odd jobs about the neighborhood． He didn't 4 his attitude as we grew into adulthood．There was a time when 5 of us had a car, so we had to ride a 6 whenever we came home．Though the bus stopped about two miles from home, Dad never met us, 7 in bad weather．If someone 8 (and my brothers did a lot), he'd say in his 9 father-voice．“That's what your legs are 10 !” One spring morning I was on the bus home from 11．Tests and long hours in labs had 12 me exhausted．As other students were 13 at their stops．I looked silently out of the window．Finally, the bus came to a 14 at my destination, and I 15 , carrying my suitcase to begin the long journey home． The row of privet hedge(树篱)came into 16 , which lined the driveway that climbed the hill to our house．I stopped to put a book in the suitcase．When I stood up, I saw something gray 17 along the top of the hedge toward the house． It was the top of my father's head．I 18 then, each time I came home, he would stand behind the hedge, watching, 19 he knew I had arrived safely．I held back my tears．He did care, 20． Upon reaching home, I found my father innocently in his chair．“So! It's you! ” he said, his face lengthening into surprise． | 
