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“Teddy is an excellent student and well-liked by his classmates. But he’s 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. His home life will soon affect him if 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“Teddy is withdrawn and doesn’t show much interest in school.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 he even sleeps in class.”

By now, Mrs Thompson realized what the problem was 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 heavy brown paper that he got from a grocery bag.

Mrs Thompson found it difficult 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 only one-quarter

full of perfume. But she stifled the children’s laughter when she explained
how pretty the bracelet

was while putting it on and
then dabbing some of the
perfume on her wrist. Teddy

Stoddard stayed after school
that day just long enough to
say, “Mrs Thompson, today

you smell just like my mom
used to.” After the children
left, she cried for at least an

hour.

On this very day, she quit
teaching reading, writing,

and arithmetic and instead
she began to teach children.
Mrs Thompson began to

pay close attention to Teddy
as she worked with him. As

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