Miss Thompson

I found this sweet, inspirational story in a small book entitled Moments For Teachers by Robert Strand.  I pray that I may be able to give my students the love and understanding they need as Miss Thompson did.


     Teddy Stallard certainly qualified as "one of the least". . .disinterested in school, musty, wrinkled clothes, hair never combed, one of those kids with a deadpan face, unfocused stare.  Unattractive, unmotivated, and distant, he was just plain hard to like.
     Even though his teacher said she loved all in her class the same, she wasn't completely truthful.  She should have known better, she had Teddy's records and she knew more about him than she wanted to.  The records showed that while Teddy was a good boy, he had little help from home.  His mother was dead and his father was disinterested.
     Christmas came and the boys and girls in Miss Thompson's class brought Christmas presents.  Among the presents was one from Teddy Stallard, wrapped in brown paper and Scotch tape.  When the teacher opened it, out fell a gaudy rhinestone bracelet with half the stones missing and a bottle of cheap perfume.
     The other children began to giggle. . .but Miss Thompson put on the bracelet and some of the perfume on her wrist.  Holding up her wrist for the children to smell, she said, "Doesn't it smell lovely?"  The children ooohed and aaahed, taking the cue from their teacher.
     When school was over that day, Teddy lingered behind.  He slowly came over to her desk and said softly, "Miss Thompson. . . Miss Thompson, you smell just like my mother. . .and her bracelet looks real pretty on you, too."
     The next day the children had a new teacher; Miss Thompson had become a different person, no longer just a teacher, but now and agent of God.  She truly loved them all. . .but especially the slow ones and particularly Teddy.  Soon Teddy showed dramatic improvement!
     She didn't hear from Teddy for a long time.  Then this note: Dear Miss Thompson; They just told me I will be graduating first in my class.  I wanted you to be the first to know.  Love, Teddy Stallard.
     And four years later:  Dear Miss Thompson; As of today, I am Theodore Stallard, M.D.  How about that?  I wanted you to be the first to know that I am getting married next month on the 27th.  I want you to come and sit where my mother would sit if she were still alive.  You are the only family that I have now; Dad died last year.  Love, Teddy Stallard.
     Miss Thompson went to that wedding and she sat where Teddy's mother would have sat!