INSPIRATIONAL STORIES.

Mrs. Thompson
 Jean Thompson stood in front of her fifth-grade class on
 the very first day of school in the fall and told the children
 a lie. Like most teachers. She looked at her pupils and said
 that she loved them all the same, that she would treat
 them all alike. That was impossible because there in front
of her, slumped in his seat on the third row, 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 unkept and that he constantly needed a bath. 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 marking the F
at the top of the paper biggest of all.
 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 put Teddy's off until last. When she opened his file, she was in for a surprise. His
first-grade teacher wrote. "Teddy is 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
wrote, "Teddy is an excellent student well liked by his classmates, but he is troubled be-
cause his mother has a terminal illness and life at home must be a struggle." His third grade
teacher wrote, "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 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is withdrawn and doesn't show much interest in school.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 sleeps in class. He is tardy and could become a problem."
 By now Mrs. Thompson realized 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 on Teddy Stoddard. Her children brought her presents,
all in beautiful ribbon and bright paper, except for 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 presents. Some of the children started to laugh when she found a rhine-
stone bracelet with some of the stones missing, and a bottle that was one quarter full of
cologne. She stiffled the children's laughter, when she exclaimed how pretty the bracelet
was, putting it on, and a dabbing some of the perfume behind the other wrist. Teddy Stod-
dard stayed behind just long enough to say, "Mrs.Thompson, today you smelled just like my
mom used to." After the children left she cried for at least an hour.al
 On that very day, she quit teaching reading, writing, and speaking. Instead, she be-
gan to teach children. Jean Thompson paid particular attention to one they called "Teddy".
As she worked with him, his mind seemed to come alive. The more she encouraged him, the
faster he responded.
On days where there would be an important test, Mrs. Thompson would remember
that cologne. By the end of the year he had become one of the smartest children in the
class and ...well, he had also become the "pet" of the teacher who had once vowed to love all
her children the same. A year later she found a note 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, had stuck
with it, and would graduate with the highest of honors. He assured Mrs. Thompson she was
still his favorite teacher of all time.
 Four years after that, she got another letter, saying that while things had
been tough at times, he'd stayed in school, had stuck with it, and would graduate from col-
lege with the highest honors. He assured Mrs. Thompson she was still his favorite teacher.
Then four more years passed and yet another letter came. This time he explained that she
was still his favorite teacher, but now his name was a little longer. The letter was signed,
Theodore F. Stoddard, M.D.
 The story doesn't end there. You see, 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.. well, if Mrs. Thompson might agree to sit in the
pew usually reserved for the mother of the groom. And guess what, she wore that bracelet,
the one with several rhinestones missing and I bet that on that special day, Jean Thompson
smelled just like ... well, just like the way Teddy remembered his mother smelling on their
last Christmas together.
The Moral: You never can tell what type of impact you may make on another's life by your
actions or lack of action. Consider this fact as you teach your children each day.