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
hispapers 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Teddy's fourth grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is withdrawn and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."
By now, Mrs. Thompson realized the problem and she was
ashamed of herself. She felt even worse when her students
brought her Christmas presents, wrapped in beautiful ribbons
and bright paper, except for Teddy's. His present was
clumsily wrapped in the heavy, brown paper that he got from
a 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 perfume.
But she stifled the children's laughter when she exclaimed
how pretty the bracelet 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 one of
her "teacher's pets."
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, 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 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."