阅读下面短文，从短文后所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中选出能填入相应空白处的最佳选项。
When I was 5 or 6 years old, I was a naughty (调皮) boy. One day, I tried to steal gum from the drugstore when my 1 took me shopping. I stood in front of the gum shelf, waiting for the right moment. After about 30 2 , I finally made my move, just as my mum was calling me to 3 . As we walked away, a store worker walked up to my mum and told her that I had taken a pack of gum.
My mum was really angry and insisted that it was 4 for me to do so. She thought her son was honest, good, and 5 lied or did anything bad. However, the store worker explained that all the workers, from the very beginning, had been watching me for half an hour. It was challenging for them to wait so long before I 6 did it. To prove they were wrong, my mum searched me, checked my pockets, and found 7 . The man was surprised, and my mum was proud and even scolded (责备) him.
Seeing the man's face turn red, I felt very sorry. I had to make a choice. As he started to walk away, I 8 my cap, reached inside, and offered the pack of gum to him. I said 9 with all my heart. Both the man and my mother were shocked, for different reasons.
Though I was punished, I felt less guilty because I 10 becoming a worse person. Better late than never.