The Best Teacher

 She was the teacher in charge of the fifth grade and in the new year she stood in front of her class and told pupils a lie that every teacher usually tells. That's she loves all the children in the class alike well and they are all the same to her. The closest reason for the statement to be a lie was a very little boy named Teddy was sitting in the front row of the class. 

Everyday the boy came to school wearing dirty clothes that were bigger than his body and he was profusely sweating probably because he didn't take a bath everyday. He had no friends. While the other children were playing during the interval, Teddy was alone looking after him. At first the teacher had only a slight dislike for him but over time it grew and finally it developed into a subtle hatred for Teddy. She took great pleasure in checking his exam answer papers and cutting out his wrong answers with a red pen and putting a big "f" on the top of the answer paper. His report was placed at the bottom of the report pile because of the hatred with him. But when she finally checked Teddy's past records she was amazed to read the note that Teddy's first year teacher had left in the report. That note read like this. " Teddy is a very bright student who is always smiling. He is very good natured child who completes the work assigned to him well and clearly. It is a pleasure to have a student like Teddy in the class." The second year teacher's note read like this. "Teddy is and excellent student. He stands out among other children in the class. He is well liked by others but towards the end of the year it appears that he very traumatised by his mother's sickness.  The teacher of the third yearhad left a note like this. "His mother's death has had a great impact on him and although he is trying hard to get back to normal, it appears that his father is not extending a supporting hand to him. I feel that if this situation is not addressed quickly his education and future would be disrupted. The fourth year  teacher's note also checked and it went like this " He has minimal interest in school work and often sleeps in the classroom. He is often lonely and has no friends. 

The present class teacher who read Teddy's past records understood his situation and felt great shame for her. When the first school term nearing close she regretted being so late in reading his past records between the days. 

According to the tradition of the school on the last day of the first term every student should donate small gift to the class teacher and when Teddy handed his gift her heart felt very sad for him. It was arranged but Teddy's prize was characteristically wrapped in a rough brown paper envelope. In from of the other children she opened the parcel and some of the students saw the old fashioned bead necklace and the half empty perfume bottle and laugh to make fun of Teddy. She didn't forget to appreciate the gift and apply some scent on her saree and said in front of the class that it was the best gift she ever received in her life.

At the end of the school, after the other students left Teddy came to the teacher and said in a soft voice I feel mother's scent from you today. At that moment she realized that he had donated the bottle of perfume that his mother was using. 

From that day the teacher paid special attention to Teddy and little by little his usual talents began to appear. As she encouraged him more and more his abilities become more and more polished and by the end of the year Teddy managed to become one of the most talented students in the class and at the end of the year the teacher was transferred to another school. 

Time went by. But at the end of one of the later years a letter she received from Teddy stated that she was the best teacher he had ever met in his life. In another letter after some times he had said his school time was over and he had not forgotten to mention that she was the best teacher he had ever met in his life. 

In the next letter  he had noted that he was now a student at the university. In another letter received after a few years he had said that he had completed his digree in science and was continuing his education. In that letter too he had not forgotten to repeat that she was the best teacher he had ever met in his life. In the next letters that followed he had mentioned about the  life partner he met and marring her next month. He had also said that his farther  died last year and before his death he asked him to invite the teacher to  attends the wedding instead of his parents.

"Are you coming madam? Aren't you." He had asked. 

He had not forgotten to say that she was the best teacher he had met ever. By that time he was Dr. Teddy. 

Teacher attended the wedding and she didn't forget to wear the bead necklace and apply some perfume that Teddy had donated her at the fifth grade. Seeing the teacher Teddy felt like his mother has come to his wedding. Embracing her he whispered into her ear

"Thank you so much for changing my life at the fifth grade. Thank you for making me realize that I am an important person by appreciating me in front of the class when I gifted my mother's bede necklace and the half empty perfume bottle used by my mother that was the most important day of my life.

You are the best teacher I have ever met in my life "