A Special Teacher.

Post 237 - - - - Friday, 22nd June, 2007.

Hi Everyone ~~ The end of another week again. They sure
go by quickly, if you don't keep an eye on them. I hope you
are all doing well and enjoying your lives. I am OK, still have
the sniffles etc, but I will be fine in a day or so.
I even went out (by taxi) and posted a parcel to Peter that I
bought at the Craft market. I hope he likes lace doillies!!!

Tonight's story is called "A Special Teacher." Author Unknown.

Jean Thompson stood in front of her fifth-grade class on that
first day of school in the Fall and told the children a lie.

Like most teachers, she looked at her pupils, saying she loved
each one of them the same, that she would treat them all alike.

But that was impossible for there in front of her, slumped in his
third row seat, was a little boy named Teddy Stoddard.

Mrs. Thompson had watched Teddy the year before and noticed
he didn't play well with the other children, that his clothes were
unkempt and that he constantly needed a bath. And Teddy was
unpleasant. It got to the point during the first few months that
she would actually take delight in marking his papers with a
broad red pen, making bold X's and then highlighting the "F"
at the top of his paper.

Because Teddy was a sullen little boy, no one else seemed to
enjoy him either. At the school where Mrs. Thompson taught,
she was required to review each child's records and delayed
Teddy's until last. She opened his file, and found a surprise.

His first grade teacher had written, and I quote, "Teddy is a
bright, inquisitive 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 had penned, "Teddy is an excellent
student, well liked by all his classmates, but is troubled
because his mother has a terminal illness and life at home
must be a struggle."

His third grade teacher had noted, "Teddy continues to work
hard but his 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."

Teddy's fourth grade teacher had commented, "Teddy is very
withdrawn and doesn't show much interest in school. He
doesn't have many friends and often falls asleep in class. He
is tardy and could become a more serious problem."

By now Mrs. Thompson realized the extent of the problem, but
Christmas was coming fast. It was all she could do, with the
school play and all, until the day before the holidays began and
she was suddenly forced to focus again on Teddy Stoddard.

Her children brought her presents, all in beautiful ribbon and
bright paper, except Teddy's which was clumsily wrapped in the
heavy brown paper of a scissored 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
a rhinestone bracelet with some of the stones missing, and a bottle
that was one quarter full of cologne. She stifled the children's
laughter as she exclaimed how pretty the bracelet was, putting it
on, and dabbing some of the perfume behind her wrist.

Teddy Stoddard stayed behind after class 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 that very
day, she quit teaching Reading, Wriring & Speaking. Instead she
began to teach children. Jean Thompson paid very particular
attention to one they all called "Teddy." As she worked with him,
his mind seemed to come alive. The more she encouraged him,
the faster he responded. On days when there would be an important
test, Mrs. Thompson would remember that cologne.

By the end of the year he had become one of the highest achieving
children in the class and, well, he had also somewhat become, the
"pet" of that teacher who once vowed to love all her children exactly
the same.

A year later, she found a note under her door from Teddy, telling her
that of all the teachers he'd had in elementary school, she was his
favorite.

Six years went by before she got another note from Teddy. He then
wrote that he had finished high school, third in his class, and she was
still his favorite teacher of all time.

Four years later, she got another letter, saying that while things had
been tough at times, he'd stayed at school, had stuck with it, and
would graduate from college with the highest of honors.

He assured Mrs. Thompson she was still his favorite teacher.

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 his favorite
teacher but that now, his name was a little longer. His letter was
signed Theodore F, Stoddard. M. D.

The story doesn't end there, For there was yet another letter that
Spring. Teddy said he'd met this girl and was to be married.

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 pew
usually reserved for the mother of the groom.

And on that special day, Mrs. Thompson wore that bracelet, the one
with the rhinestones missing.

And on that special day, Jean Thompson smelled the way Teddy
remembered his mother smelling on their last Christmas together.
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"How was your date last night, Billy ?" his friend asked.
"Fabulous. We went to the concert, had a bite to eat, and
then we drove around for a while until I found a nice dark
spot to park. I asked her for a kiss, and she said that first
I'd have to put the top down on the car. So I worked for an
hour getting the top down . . ."

"An hour?" interrupted his pal. "I can put my top down in
three minutes."
"I know." said Billy, "But you have a convertible."
<><>

An 85 year old widow went on a blind date with a 90 year
old man. When she returned to her daughter's house later
that night, she seemed upset. "What happened Mum,"
the daughter asked.
"I had to slap his face three times."
"You mean he got fresh ?"
"No", she answered, "I thought he was dead."
<><>

A Cockney asked a Roman Catholic colleague's help in
choosing a bride, "I'm torn between Betty and Maria."
" 'ow do you Catholics make decisions ?"

"I go to church, " said his pal."Then I look up and pray, and
the answer comes to me."
Next day the Cockney was all excited. "I did what you told
me, mate, and the answer was given to me."
"What happened ?"
"I went to your church, knelt in prayer, looked up and there
it was. Written in gold, 'igh above a stained glass window."
"What did it say?"
"It said, 'ave Maria."
<><>

The judge was trying to change the mind of a woman filing
for divorce. "You're 92 and your husband is 94," he said.
"You've been married for 73 years, Why give up now ?"

"Our marriage has been on the rocks for quite a while, " the
woman replied. "but we decided to wait until the children
died."
<><>

Over breakfast one morning, a woman said to her husband,
"I bet you don't know what day this is ?"

"Of course I do," he answered indignantly, going out the
door on the way to his office.

At 10 am the doorbell rang and when the woman opened the
door, she was handed a box containing a dozen long stemmed
roses. At 1 pm a foil wrapped, two pound box of her favorite
chocolates arrived. Later a boutique delivered a designer dress.

"First the flowers, then the chocolates and then the dress." she
exclaimed, " I've never spent a more wonderful April Fool's
Day in my whole life !!"
<><>

Bye for now - - time to go to bed. Hope your weekend will
be wonderful for you all. Love and best wishes, Merle.

Post 237 - - - - Friday, 22nd June, 2007
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