Beloved teacher

When she faced her fifth graders for the first time, Mrs. Thompson told them a lie. Like most teachers, she said she treated everyone the same. But that was impossible. Because there was a little boy in the front row. Teddy Stoddard.

Mrs. Thompson had noticed Teddy the previous year. He didn't play much with other children, his clothes were dirty and he constantly needed a bath. His behavior was also unpleasant.

As time went on, she almost took pleasure in correcting his work with a broad red line, marking crosses and putting a big "F" for 'missing' at the top of his homework.

At this school, every teacher had to look through their pupils' school files. Madame Thompson suppressed Teddy's file until the last moment. When she finally opened it, she was upset.

His first-year teacher had written: "Teddy is a brilliant child with an infectious laugh. He works neatly and shows good manners.... He is a real ray of sunshine."

The second grade teacher commented: "Teddy is an excellent student who is appreciated by his peers. But he is worried: his mother is seriously ill and life at home is hard."

Then in third year: "His mother's death has affected him deeply. He does his best, but his father pays little attention to him. If he doesn't get help, it will have consequences for him."

Finally in his fourth year:

"Teddy is withdrawn, he takes little interest in school. He has almost no friends and sometimes falls asleep in class."

As she read these words, Mrs. Thompson understood everything. Deeply moved, she regretted her behavior. Her unease grew when Christmas came and her pupils gave her presents. They were beautifully wrapped, all except for the teddies: Somewhat roughly wrapped in brown paper, in a grocery bag.

She opened the present immediately. Some of the pupils burst out laughing when they discovered a rhinestone bracelet with several stones missing and an almost empty perfume bottle. But she silenced the mockery by enthusing about the beauty of the bracelet, immediately putting it on her wrist and dabbing a few drops of perfume on her neck.

That day, Teddy stayed in class long enough after the bell rang to whisper to her:

"Mrs. Thompson, you feel like my mother today..."

When he was gone, she cried for an hour.

That day she stopped just teaching reading, writing and arithmetic. Instead, she began to teach the children and herself about life. She paid special attention to Teddy. As she encouraged him, his spirit seemed to awaken too.

The more she believed in him, the faster he learned. By the end of the year, Teddy had become one of the best students in the class. And despite the lie on the first day, he became her favorite student.

The following year, Mrs. Thompson found a letter from him. Teddy wrote that she was the best teacher he had ever had.

Another letter arrived 6 years later: he graduated brilliantly from high school. And she remained the best teacher of his life in his eyes.

Another letter 4 years later. He told her that he persevered despite the exams and would soon graduate with highest honors. He confirmed that she was still his favorite teacher.

Another 4 years passed. Another letter arrived. This time he announced that he had decided to continue after his bachelor's degree. He had signed his name:

Dr. Theodore F. Stoddard, M.D.

But the story doesn't end there. One spring, Mrs. Thompson received a final letter. Teddy wrote her that he had met a woman and was getting married. Since his father had died a few years earlier, he hoped she would take the place traditionally reserved for the groom's mother. Naturally, she accepted.

She wore the bracelet and the perfume and was the happiest teacher on earth.