Random Acts of Kindness!

 

  As she stood in front of her primary 5 class on the very first day of
  school, she told the children an untruth. Like most teachers, she
  looked at her pupils and said that she loved them all the same.

  However, that was impossible, because there in the front row, slumped
  in his seat, was a little boy named Koko Bassey. Mrs. Thompson had
  watched Koko the year before and noticed that he did not play well
  with the other children that his clothes were messy and that he
  constantly needed a bath. In addition, Koko BASSEY could be unpleasant.

  It got to the point where Mrs. Thompson would actually take delight
  in marking his papers with a broad red pen, making bold X's and then
  putting a big "F" at the top of his papers.

  At the school where Mrs. Thompson taught, she was required to review
  Each child's past records and she put Koko's off until last. However,
  When she reviewed his file, she was in for a surprise.

  Koko's primary 1st teacher wrote, "Koko is a bright child with a ready
  laugh. He does his work neatly and has good manners, he is a joy to
  be around." His primary 2 teacher wrote, "Koko is an excellent pupil,
  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 primary three teacher wrote, "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."

  Koko's primary forth teacher wrote, "Koko is withdrawn and doesn't show
  much interest in school. He doesn't have many friends and he sometimes
  sleeps in class."

  By now, Mrs. Thompson realized the problem and she was ashamed of
  herself. She felt even worse when her pupils brought her Christmas
  presents, wrapped in beautiful ribbons and bright paper, except for
  Koko's.

  His present was clumsily wrapped in the heavy, brown paper that he
  Got from a 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 perfume. But she stifled
  the children's laughter when she exclaimed how pretty the bracelet
  was putting it on, and dabbing some of the perfume on her wrist.

  Koko Bassey stayed after school that day 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 arithmetic. Instead,
  she began to teach children. Mrs. Thompson paid particular attention
  to Koko. As she worked with him, his mind seemed to come alive. The
  more she encouraged him, the faster he responded.

  By the end of the year, Koko had become one of the smartest children
  in the class and, despite her lie that she would love all the children
  the same, Koko became one of her "teacher's pets."

  A year later, she found a note under her door, from Koko, telling
  her that she was still the best teacher he ever had in his whole life.

  Six years went by before she got another note from Koko. He then
  wrote that he had finished secondary school, third in his class, and
  she was still the best teacher he ever had in his whole life.

  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 soon graduate from the university with the highest of
  honors. He assured Mrs. Thompson that she was still the best and
  favorite teacher he had ever had in his whole life.


  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 the best
  and favorite teacher he ever had. But now his name was a little
  longer. The letter was signed, Koko A. Bassey, MD.

  The story does not end there. You see, there was yet another letter
  that spring. Koko said he had met this girl and was going to be
  married. He explained that his father had died a couple of years ago
  and he was wondering if Mrs. Thompson might agree to sit at the
  wedding in the place that was usually reserved for the mother of
  the groom.

  Of course, Mrs. Thompson did. And guess what? She wore that bracelet,
  the one with several rhinestones missing. Moreover, she made sure she
  was wearing the perfume that Koko remembered his mother wearing on
  their last Christmas together. They hugged each other, and Dr. Bassey
  whispered in ears. Thompson's ear, "Thank you, Mrs. Thompson for
  believing in me Thank you so much for making me feel important and
  showing me that I could make a difference."

  Mrs. Thompson, with tears in her eyes, whispered back. She said, "Koko,
  You have it all wrong. You were the one who taught me that I could make
  a difference. I didn't know how to teach until I met you." Warm someone's
  heart today, pass this along.