ASimpleThank

Ihavebeenintheteachingprofessionmorethanthirtyyears, andoneofthebestteachersIhaveeverknownwasMr.Rowe.Iwasluckyenoughtoco­teachthefourthgradewithhim.

Mr.RowehadinfinitepatienceandunderstandingandIlearnedsomuchfromwatchinghim.Hecouldperformmiracles, liketheoneheperformedwithSteven, oneoftheunhappiestkidsIeversaw.Stevencouldn'tstandschool.Hedidn'tlikebeingpickedlastforkickball.Hedidn'tlikethekidswhoraisedtheirhandsandknewalltheanswers, andmostimportantly, hedidn'tlikehimself.

ThefirstdayhewalkedintoMr.Rowe'sclassroom, heignoredtheotherstudents, lookingangryandannoyed, andslidintohischair, knockingacoupleoftextbooksontothefloor.

Mr.RowewalkedovertohimandtouchedSteven'sshoulder, butStevenpulledaway.Nevertheless, Mr.Rowewelcomedhim: “Hi, Steven. I'm happy you are in my class. We are gonna have a great year.”StevenlookedaroundtheroomasifMr.Rowemustbemistaken.NoteacherinhisrightmindwouldwantSteventobepartofhisclassroom.

So, whileMr.Roweseemedcheerfulandrelaxedthatdayofschool, itseemedlikeStevenwasangryandconfused.

Thatdayafterclasses, Mr.RowechoseSteventopitchthekickballatrecess.“Hey, Steven£¬”Mr.Rowecommented, “You are good at pitching. Let me show you my secret trick.”Mr.RowetaughtStevenoneofthetricksthatnotasinglekidcouldperform.Stevenlearnedfastanddidquitewell! Everyonecheeredforhim!

Afterthekickball, StevensatasclosertoMr.Roweinclassesashecould.Whenaquestionwasasked, Stevenlitup; heknewtheanswer! Heraisedhishands.Whenheansweredthequestion, hisvoiceshook.However, hegottheanswerright!Hesaid, withMr.Rowe, hisdaysofthefourthgradepromisedwonderful.

Thatisnottosaythateverydaywentsmoothly, butitwasevidentthatStevengrewtoloveMr.Rowemoreandmorewitheachpassingday.