The last

school year of the millennium has begun and, though the

story has been told many times, I want to tell it again:

Mrs.

Johnson stood before her fifth grade class on the first

day of school and made the usual comments about her

expectations for the coming year. As always she promised

to love all her students equally. Even as the words

rolled off her lips she knew that would be impossible

because there sat disheveled little Tommy right in the

front row, slumped down in his seat, the very picture of

indifference.

As the days

passed Mrs. Johnson observed how Tommy would not play

well with others. His clothes were seldom clean and he

frequently needed a bath. Being around Tommy was

unpleasant.

In only a

few weeks, Mrs. Johnson began taking pleasure in the X's

she boldly marked on his papers and even greater pleasure

in the big F she so often wrote at the top of his work.

It's just one school year, she thought. I can do anything

for nine months.

Every year

teachers at the school were required to review each

child's past records. Mrs. Johnson put off looking at

little Tommy's records until last.

It was

after Thanksgiving before she finally opened his file to

find the following:

First

grade: Tommy is a bright child. Neat and mannerly. Does

his class work well and plays well with others.

Second

grade: Tommy is an excellent student. Well-liked by all.

His mother's illness is starting to take its toll though.

He is struggling.

Third

grade: His mom's death has been hard on Tommy. He is

still trying to perform well, but his father takes little

interest. I am concerned.

Fourth

grade: Tommy is withdrawn. He has few friends. Shows

little interest in his assignments and frequently sleeps

in class.

Mrs.

Johnson laid the file aside and hung her head in shame.

How wrong she was to have made her judgement without

having more information. The holidays were approaching

and she began to wonder what she could do for him.

But it was

Tommy who would do for her.

On the last

day of school, before the holiday break, the kids brought

presents to their teacher. All were festively wrapped

except Tommy's. She released the string from the clumsy

brown grocery bag paper that held his offering to find a

rhinestone bracelet with missing stones and a half empty

bottle of perfume.

She hastily

stifled the laughter of the other children by exclaiming

how beautiful the bracelet was. She put it on and held it

out for all to see, then dabbed on a bit of perfume as

little Tommy glowed. He stayed after school that day to

say, "Mrs. Johnson, today you smelled just like my

mom used to smell."

When he was

gone the teacher cried. On that unforgettable Friday Mrs.

Johnson resolved to stop teaching reading, writing and

arithmetic, and teach children instead.

After the

holidays Mrs. Johnson followed her resolution. She had

tried to ignore Tommy during the first semester, but now

she would give him extra attention. By year's end he was

her star pupil.

Twelve

months later as another summer vacation approached, Mrs.

Johnson found a note under her door, "I did good

again this year, but you are the best teacher I ever

had."

Six years

later she heard from Tommy again, "I graduated from

high school with honors. Thank you for being the best

teacher I ever had."

Four years

passed before she would read the next note, "It's

been tough, but I finished college with the highest of

honors. Thanks again for being the best teacher I ever

had."

Still

another four years passed. This time the note simply

stated, "You are still the best teacher I ever

had." It was signed, Thomas. J. Smith, M.D.

Later that

same year there was a phone call from Dr. Smith. He

called to tell his favorite teacher about his plans to be

wed. He spoke of his dad's recent death and asked if she

would attend his wedding and sit in the pew of honor

where his mom would be if she had lived.

Mrs.

Johnson showed up at the wedding smelling like little

Tommy's mom used to smell, and wearing the most beautiful

bracelet she had ever owned. When the ceremony was over

the groom hugged his former teacher and said, "You

believed in me. You made me feel important. Thank you for

being the best teacher I ever had."

With tears

in her eyes she whispered, "Tommy, it is I who

should thank you. I did not know how to teach until I met

you."