Thereisastorymanyyearsagoofanelementaryteacher.HernamewasMrs.Thompson.Andasshestoodinfrontofher5thgradeclassontheveryfirstdayofschool,shetoldthechildrenalie.Likemostteachers,shelookedatherstudentsandsaidthatshelovedthemallthesame.Butthatwasimpossible,becausethereinthefrontrow,slumpedinhisseat,wasalittleboynamedTeddy.

　　Mrs.ThompsonhadwatchedTeddytheyearbeforeandnoticedthathedidn’tplaywellwiththeotherchildren,thathisclothesweremessyandthatheconstantlyneededabath.AndTeddycouldbeunpleasant.

　　AttheschoolwhereMrs.Thompsontaught,shewasrequiredtorevieweachchild’spastrecordsandsheputTeddy’soffuntillast.However,whenshereviewedhisfile,shewasinforasurprise.

　　Teddy’sfirstgradeteacherwrote,“Teddyisabrightchildwithareadylaugh.Hedoeshisworkneatlyandhasgoodmanners...heisajoytobearound.”

　　Hissecondgradeteacherwrote,“Teddyisanexcellentstudent,well-likedbyhisclassmates,butheistroubledbecausehismotherhasaterminalillnessandlifeathomemustbeastruggle.”

　　Histhirdgradeteacherwrote,“Hismother’sdeathhasbeenhardonhim.Hetriestodohisbestbuthisfatherdoesn’tshowmuchinterestandhishomelifewillsoonaffecthimifsomestepsaren’ttaken.”

　　Teddy’sfourthgradeteacherwrote,“Teddyiswithdrawnanddoesn’tshowmuchinterestinschool.Hedoesn’thavemanyfriendsandsometimessleepsinclass.”

　　Bynow,Mrs.Thompsonrealizedtheproblemandshewasashamedofherself.ShefeltevenworsewhenherstudentsbroughtherChristmaspresents,wrappedinbeautifulribbonsandbrightpaper,exceptforTeddy’s.Hispresentwasclumsilywrappedintheheavy,brownpaperthathegotfromagrocerybag.Mrs.Thompsontookpainstoopenitinthemiddleoftheotherpresents.Someofthechildrenstartedtolaughwhenshefoundarhinestonebraceletwithsomeofthestonesmissingandabottlethatwasonequarterfullofperfume.Shestifledthechildren’slaughterwhensheexclaimedhowprettythebraceletwas,puttingiton,anddabbingsomeoftheperfumeonherwrist.

　　Teddystayedafterschoolthatdayjustlongenoughtosay,“Mrs.Thompson,todayyousmelledjustlikemyMomusedto.”Afterthechildrenleftshecriedforatleastanhour.

　　Onthatveryday,shequitteachingreading,andwriting,andarithmetic.Instead,shebegantoteachchildren.

　　Mrs.ThompsonpaidparticularattentiontoTeddy.Assheworkedwithhim,hismindseemedtocomealive.Themoresheencouragedhim,thefasterheresponded.Bytheendoftheyear,Teddyhadbecomeoneofthesmartestchildrenintheclassand,despiteherliethatshewouldloveallthechildrensame,Teddybecameoneofher“teacher’spets.”

　　Ayearlater,shefoundanoteunderherdoor,fromTeddy,tellingherthatshewasstillthebestteacherheeverhadinhiswholelife.

　　SixyearswentbybeforeshegotanothernotefromTeddy.Hethenwrotethathehadfinishedhighschool,secondinhisclass,andshewasstillthebestteacherheeverhadinhiswholelife.

　　Fouryearsafterthat,shegotanotherletter,sayingthatwhilethingshadbeentoughattimes,he’dstayedinschool,hadstuckwithit,andwouldsoongraduatefromcollegewiththehighestofhonors.HeassuredMrs.Thompsonthatshewasstillthebestandfavoriteteacherheeverhadinhiswholelife.

　　Thenfourmoreyearsp