Page 11 - Arrow Publications Pvt. Ltd.

time went on, 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.

He had become the teacher’s pet. A year later, she
found a note under the door from Teddy telling

her that she was the best teacher he had ever had
in his life.

Six years passed by and to her surprise, another
note came from Teddy. He wrote that he had

finished high school, came third in his class and
that she was still the best teacher he had ever had
in his whole life. Four years later, another letter

came, saying that while things had been tough
at times, he stayed in college and stuck with it

and that he had graduated from college with the
highest of honours. He assured Mrs Thompson
that she was still the best teacher, he had ever

had. The letter was signed Theodore F. Stoddard
MD.

The story doesn’t end there. There was one final letter that spring. Teddy said that he had
met a girl and that he was going to get married to her very soon. He explained that his father

had died a couple of years ago and he was wondering if Mrs Thompson might agree to sit in
the place, at his 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
also made sure she was wearing the perfume that Teddy remembered his mother wearing on
their last Christmas together.

After the wedding, they hugged each other as Dr. Stoddard whispered in Mrs Thompson’s

ear. “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 until
I met you.”

–Elizabeth Silance Ballard

9 Arrow - English Plus-8