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The Perfume . . .
As she stood in front of her 5th grade class on the very first day of
the school, she told the children an untruth. Like most teachers she
looked at her students and said she loved them all the same. However
that was impossible, because there in the front row, slumped in the
seat was a little boy named Teddy Stoddard.
Mrs. Thompson had watched Teddy the year before and noticed that he
did not play well with the other children, that his clothes were
messy, and that he constantly needed a bath. In addition, 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 student past records
and she put Teddy's off until the 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, "Teddy's 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 are not
taken."
His fourth grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is withdrawn and doesn't show
much interest in school. He doesn't have many friends and he
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 beautifully in bright ribbons and paper, except for Teddy's,
whose present was clumsy and wrapped in heavy brown paper, the he
would have 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 the rhinestone
bracelet with some of the stones missing and a bottle of perfume that
was only one quarter full. 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 on
after school that day just long to say, " Mrs. Thompson, today you
smelled just like my mom used to." After the children left, she cried
for at long time
On that very day, she quit teaching reading, 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
class. And, despite her lie that she loved all the children the same,
Teddy became one of her "pets".
A year later, she found a note under her door, from Teddy, telling
her that she was still the best teacher he had ever had in his life.
Six years went by before she got another letter 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 is whole life.
Four years after that she received another note saying that while
things had been tough at times, he still stayed in school, had stuck
with it, and would soon graduate with the highest honors. He assured
Mrs. Thompson that she was still the best and most 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
most favourite teacher he ever had in his whole life. But now the
name was little longer ... the letter was signed, Theodore F.
Stoddard, MD.
The story does not end here. There was yet another letter that
spring. Teddy said the he met this girl who was going to marry.
He explained that his father had died a couple of years ago and he
was wondering if Mrs. Thompson would agree to sit at the wedding in
the place 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. Moreover, she also
remembered to wear the perfume that Teddy's mother wore on the last
Christmas they spent 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, "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 till I met you."
You could have a Teddy standing in front of you and yet not realize it . . .
Warm someone's heart today. Pass this along. I love this story so much. I
cry every time I read it. Just try to make a difference in someone's life
today, tomorrow.. Just do it. Random acts of kindness I think they call it . . .
( Thanks "Aparna", for sending this poem & Contribute to 4MintesPerDay . . .)
Story by - Unknown
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