Like
most teachers, she looked at her students and said that she loved them all the
same. But that was impossible, because there in the front row, slumped in his
seat, was a little boy named Teddy Stoddard. Mrs. Thompson had watched Teddy
the year before and noticed that he didn’t play well with the other children,
that his clothes were messy, and that he constantly needed a bath. And Teddy
could be unpleasant.
*
* *
It
got to the point where Mrs. Thompson would actually take delight in marking his
papers with a broad red pen, making bold X’s and then putting a big
"F" at the top of his papers
At
the school where Mrs. Thompson taught, she was required to review each child’s
past records and she put Teddy’s off until last.
However,
when she reviewed his file, she was in for a surprise. Teddy’s first grade
teacher wrote, "Teddy is a bright child with a ready laugh. He does his
work neatly and has good manners... he is a joy to be around."
*
* *
His
second grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is an excellent student, well liked by
his classmates, but he is troubled because his mother has a terminal illness
and life at home must be a struggle." His third grade teacher wrote,
"His mother’s death has been hard on him. He tries to do his best but his
father doesn’t show much interest and his home life will soon affect him if
some steps aren’t taken."
Teddy’s
fourth grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is withdrawn and doesn’t show much
interest in school. He doesn’t have many friends and sometimes sleeps in
class."
*
* *
But
she stifled the children’s laughter when she exclaimed how pretty thebracelet
was, putting it on, and dabbing some of the perfume on her wrist Teddy Stoddard
stayed after school that day just long enough to say, "Mrs. Thompson,
today you smelled just like my Mom used to."
After
the children left, she cried for at least an hour. On that very day, she quit
teaching reading, and writing, and arithmetic. Instead, she began to teach
children.
Mrs.
Thompson paid particular attention to Teddy. As she worked with him, his mind
seemed to come alive. The more she encouraged him, the faster he responded.
*
* *
By
the end of the year, Teddy had become one of the smartest children in the class
and, despite her lie that she would love all the children the same, Teddy
became her teacher’s pet."
A
year later, she found a note under her door, from Teddy, telling her that she
was still the best teacher he ever had in his whole life.
Six
years went by before she got another note from Teddy. He then wrote that he had
finished high school, third in his class, and she was still the best teacher he
ever had in his whole life.
*
* *
Four
years after that, she got another letter, saying that while things had been
tough at times, he’d stayed in school, had stuck with it, and would soon
graduate from college with the highest of honors.
He
assured Mrs. Thompson that she was still the best and favorite teacher he ever
had in his whole life. Then four more years passed and yet another letter came.
This time he explained that after he got his bachelor’s degree, he decided to
go a little further. The letter explained that she was still the best and
favorite teacher he ever had. But now his name was a little longer — the letter
was signed, Theodore F. Stoddard, MD.
*
* *
The
story doesn’t end there. You see, there was yet another letter that spring.
Teddy said he’d met this girl and was going to be married.
He
explained that his father had died a couple of years ago and he was wondering
if Mrs. Thompson might agree to sit in the place at the wedding that was
usually reserved for the mother of the groom.
Of
course, Mrs. Thompson did. And guess what? She wore that bracelet, the one with
several rhinestones missing. And she made sure she was wearing the perfume that
Teddy remembered his mother wearing on their last Christmas together.
*
* *
They
hugged each other, and Dr. Stoddard whispered in Mrs. Thompson’s ear,
"Thank you Mrs. Thompson for believing in me. Thank you so much for making
me feel important and showing me that I could make a difference."
Mrs.
Thompson, with tears in her eyes, whispered back. She said, "Teddy, you
have it all wrong. You were the one who taught me that I could make a
difference. I didn’t know how to teach until I met you."
