Page 136 - ENGLISH 8

Mrs Thompson felt even worse when her students except Teddy brought her
beautiful Christmas presents. Teddy brought a gift that was clumsily wrapped in the
heavy brown paper. Mrs. Thompson opened it in the class. Some of the children
started to laugh when she found a second-hand rhinestone bracelet and perfume;
however, she exclaimed how pretty the bracelet was. She put the bracelet on and
dabbed the perfume on her wrist. After school, Teddy said, "Ma'am, you smelled just
like my mom."

After Teddy went, Mrs Thompson cried for an hour. Then, she quit teaching
subjects, but started teaching the children. She paid her special attention to him. He
brought radical change in him, his studies and behaviour. He had become one of the
smartest children in the class within a year.

***

One day, Mrs. Thompson found a note under her door. The note revealed that she
was the best teacher he ever had in his whole life. The note came to her from Teddy.

Six years later, she again got a note from Teddy that said, 'she was still the best
teacher he ever had in his life.'

Eight years later, she again got a note 'she was still the best and favourite teacher he
ever had.' The note was signed by Theodore F. Stoddard, MD, a little longer name.

***

In the spring, she got another note that said Teddy had met a girl, was going to be
married… his father had died a couple of years ago and … if Mrs Thompson might
agree to sit at the wedding in the place that was usually reserved for the mother of the
groom, 'it would make him very happy.’

Mrs Thompson agreed in a moment. She wore the bracelet and dabbed the perfume
that was given to her by Teddy at Christmas many years before. Then she went to
Teddy’s wedding.

They hugged each other, and Dr. Stoddard whispered in her ear, “Thank you ma'am
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 did not know how to teach until I met you.”

***

134 Grade 8/English Book