The greatest joys that we can know
The wonder in a child's bright eyes
A friendly note across the miles
by Mary Alice Michaels
A store owner was tacking a sign above his door that
read "Puppies For Sale." Signs like that have a way of
attracting small children and sure enough, a little boy
appeared under the store owner's sign. "How much are you
going to sell the puppies for?" he asked.
The store owner replied, "Anywhere from $30 to $50."
The little boy reached in his pocket and pulled out
some change. "I have $2.37," he said. "Can I please look at
them?"
The store owner smiled and whistled and out of the
kennel came Lady, who ran down the aisle of his store
followed by five teeny, tiny balls of fur. One puppy was
lagging considerably behind. Immediately the little boy
singled out the lagging, limping puppy and said, "What's
wrong with that little dog?"
The store owner explained that the veterinarian had
examined the little puppy and had discovered it didn't have
a hip socket. It would always limp. It would always be lame.
The little boy became excited. "That is the little puppy
that I want to buy."
The store owner said, "No, you don't want to buy that
little dog. If you really want him, I'll just give him to
you."
The little boy got quite upset. He looked straight into
the store owner's eyes, pointing his finger, and said, "I
don't want you to give him to me. That little dog is worth
every bit as much as all the other dogs and I'll pay full
price. In fact, I'll give you $2.37 now, and 50 cents a
month until I have him paid for."
The store owner countered, "You really don't want to
buy this little dog. He is never going to be able to run and
jump and play with you like the other puppies."
To this, the little boy reached down and rolled up his
pant leg to reveal a badly twisted, crippled left leg
supported by a big metal brace. He looked up at the store
owner and softly replied, "Well, I don't run so well myself,
and the little puppy will need someone who understands!"
By Dan Clark
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 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 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 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 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, and 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 rhinestones 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.
Author unknown.
You are guest #
"The Simple Things"
are often found in simple things,
The beauty of a summer's day
and the song a wild bird sings.
and a mother's tender smile,
A hand to hold and a loving word
help to make our lives worthwhile.
with special memories to recall,
All help to make the simple things
the sweetest things of all.
"Puppies For Sale"
"Teddy"
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. And that was impossible because there
in front of her, slumped in his seat on the third row, was a little boy named Teddy Stoddard.
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Terri's Country Corner
Last updated April 1, 1999 by
Terri
terriscorner@geocities.com to visit this page since September 24, 1998
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