Teddy

This is a story about a teacher, Mrs. Thompson, who taught elementary school many,
many years ago, and one special student. As she stood in front of her new 5th grade
class on the first day of school, she told her class a lie.
 

She looked at her students and told them how special all of them were to her.
But that was impossible, because right 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.
His clothes were messy and he always seemed to need a bath. He was loud and unpleasant.

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. As she began reading his file, she became
more and more absorbed, until she was totally immersed in Teddy's world.

Teddy's first grade teacher had written, "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 class-
mates, but he is troubled because his mother has a terminal illness and life at home must
be a struggle."

His third grade teacher penned, "His mother's death has been hard on Teddy. 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Teddy's fourth grade teacher; "Teddy is withdrawn and doesn't show much interest in school.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 early in December, when her students brought her beautiful Christmas presents. All of
them were wrapped in colorful paper and tied with shining ribbons, except Teddy's. His
present was clumsily wrapped in heavy, brown paper that he had gotten from a grocery bag.
Mrs. Thomspon 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 of perfume that was one quarter full. But she stifled the
children's laughter when she put the bracelet on, and exclaimed how pretty it was. She
dabbed on a drop of perfume and said, "ummmm!!" closing her eyes and smiling with delight.
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. Her statement to the class about all of
the children being special had indeed become true. Teddy had earned a her love, and a
permanent place in her heart.

Three years later, she found a note under her door from Teddy. He had written a thank you,
telling her that she was the best teacher he had ever had. Four more years went by
and she received another note from Teddy. He wrote that he had finished high school, third
in his class, and she was still the best teacher he had ever had. Four years after that,
she got another letter, saying that while things had been tough at times, he'd stayed in
school, stuck with it, and would soon graduate from college with the highest of honors.
He assured Mrs. Thomspon that she was still his best teacher.

Yet four more years passed and 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 teacher he had 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 a girl and they were going to be married. He explained that his father had
died a couple of years ago and 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. She wore that bracelet, the one with several rhinestones
missing. She made sure she was wearing the same perfume scent 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."