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Jean Thompson stood in front of her fifth-grade class
on the very first day of school in the Fall and told the
children a lie. Like most teachers, she looked at her
pupils and said that she loved each of them the same,
that she would treat them all alike. And that was
impossible because there in front of her, slumped in his
seat on the third row, was a little boy named Teddy
Stoddard. Mrs. Thompson had watched Teddy the year before
and noticed he didn't play well with the other children,
that his clothes were unkempt and that he constantly
needed a bath.
And Teddy was unpleasant. It got to the point during
the first few months that she would actually take delight
in marking his papers with a broad red pen, making bold
X's and then highlighting the "F" at the top of
the paper biggest of all.
Because Teddy was a sullen little boy, no one else
seemed to enjoy him, either. At the school where Mrs.
Thompson taught, she was required to review each child's
records and delayed Teddy's until last. When she opened
his file, she found a surprise.
His first-grade teacher had written, "Teddy is a
bright, inquisitive 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 had penned, "Teddy is an
excellent student, well-liked by all 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 had noted, "Teddy
continues to work hard but 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 had commented,
"Teddy is withdrawn and doesn't show much interest
in school. He doesn't have many friends and oftenfalls
asleep in class. He is tardy and could become a more
serious problem."
By now Mrs. Thompson realized the extent of the
problem, but Christmas was coming fast. It was all she
could do, with the school play and all, until the day
before the holidays began and she was suddenly forced to
focus again on Teddy Stoddard.
Her children brought her presents, all in beautiful
ribbon and bright paper, except Teddy's, which was
clumsily wrapped in the heavy, brown paper of a scissored
grocery bag.
Mrs. Thompson took pains to open it in the middle of
the other presents.
Some of the children started to laugh when she found a
rhinestone bracelet with some of the stones missing, and
a bottle that was one-quarter full of cologne. She
stifled the children's laughter while she exclaimed how
pretty the bracelet was, putting it on, and dabbing some
of the perfume behind the other wrist.
Teddy Stoddard stayed behind after class 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 speaking. Instead, she began to teach
children.
Jean Thompson paid particular attention to one they
all called "Teddy." As she worked with him, his
mind seemed to come alive. The more she encouraged him,
the faster he responded. On those days when there would
be an important test, Mrs. Thompson would remember that
cologne. By the end of the year he had become one of the
highest achieving children in the class and, well, he had
also somewhat become the "pet" of that teacher
who had once vowed to love all of her children exactly
the same.
A year later she found a note under her door, from
Teddy, telling her that of all the teachers he'd had in
elementary school, she was his favorite.
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 his favorite
teacher of all time.
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 graduate from
college with the highest of honors. He assured Mrs.
Thompson she was still his favorite teacher.
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 his favorite teacher but
that now his name was a little longer. The letter was
signed, Theodore F. Stoddard, M.D.
The story doesn't end there. You see, there was yet
another letter that Spring. Teddy said he'd met this girl
and was 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 pew usually reserved
for the mother of the groom.
And on that day, she wore that bracelet, the one with
several rhinestones missing. And on that special day,
Jean Thompson smelled just like the way Teddy remembered
his mother smelling on their last Christmas together.
THE MORAL: You never can tell what type of impact you
may make on another's life by your actions or lack of
action. Consider this fact in your venture through life.
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