Fill in the blank Tom was asked to help __ Sacha after school. Sacha’s friends were planning a surprise party and wanted him to arrive home later than usual. “Come on, Tom, I’m ___ and need to get some water,” said Sacha. Sacha had been in a bad mood lately, thinking that his feelings of friendship were _. After all, they had forgotten his birthday, hadn’t they? Tom was ___ trying to keep Sacha at school, but his efforts were wasted as Sacha raced home. Tom was just in time to see Sacha gazing ___ at the crowd of friends gathered in his living room. “Thanks,” he said with a gulp. “I thought you forgot all about me.”

parched, unrequited, detain, intently, vainly