In 1973, I was teaching elementary school. Each day, 27 kids1“The Thinking Laboratory.”That was the2 students voted for after deciding that “Room 104” was too3.
Freddy was an average4, but not an average person . He had the rare balance of fun and compassion（同情）. He would5 the loudest over fun and be the saddest over anyone's6.
Before the school year7, I gave the kids a special8, T-shirts with the words “Verbs Are Your9 “ on them. I had advised the kids that while verbs（动词）may seem dull , most of the10 things they do throughout their lives will be verbs.
Through the years, I'd run into former students who would provide 11 on old classmates. I learned that Freddy did several jobs after his12 from high school and remained the same 13person I met forty years before. Once, while working overnight at a store, he let a homeless man 14in his truck. Another time, he15a friend money to buy a house .
Just last year, I was16 a workshop when someone knocked at the classroom door. A woman17 the interruption and handed me an envelope. I stopped teaching and 18 it up. Inside were the “Verbs” shirt and a 19 from Freddy's mother. “Freddy passed away on Thanksgiving. He wanted you to have this.”
I told the story to the class. As sad as it was, I couldn't help smiling . Although Freddy was taken from us, we all20something from Freddy.
