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, and that she would treat them all alike.

And that was impossible, because there in front of her, slumped
in his seat in the third row, was a little boy named Teddy
Stoddard. Mrs. Thompson had watched Teddy the year before and
noticed that 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 making the F at
the top of the paper the 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. She put Teddy's off until last. When
she opened his file, she was in for a surprise. His first-grade
teacher wrote, "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 wrote, "Teddy is an excellent student
well-liked by his classmates, but he is troubled because his mother has
a terminal illness and life at home must be a struggle." His
third-grade 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Teddy's fourth-grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is withdrawn and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 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 when she exclaimed how pretty the bracelet was, putting it
on, and dabbing some of the perfume behind the other wrist. Teddy
Stoddard 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. On that
very day, she quit teaching reading, writing and speaking. Instead,
she began to teach children. Jean Thompson paid 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 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 of 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 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 college with the highest of 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 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.

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 Rhine stones missing.
And I bet 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 in your venture through life. Time is of little essence. As
life continues on, take time to remember the little things, which
can sometimes have a far greater impact than we think.