I had worried myself sick over Simon's mother coming to see me. I was a new1 and I gave an honest account of the students' work. In Simon's case, the grades were awfully low. He couldn't read his own handwriting. But he was a bright student. He discussed adult subjects with nearly adult comprehension. His work in no way reflected his2.
So, when Simon's mother entered the room, my palms were sweating. I was completely3 for her kisses on both my cheeks. "I came to thank you," she said, surprising me beyond speech.4 me, Simon had become a different person. He talked of how he5 me, he had begun to make friends, and for the first time in his twelve years, he had recently spent an afternoon at a friend's house. She wanted to tell me how 6 she was for the self-respect I had nurtured (培养) in her son. She kissed me again and left.
I sat there,7 , for about half an hour, 8 what had just happened. How did I make such a life-changing difference to that boy without even knowing it? What I finally came to remember was one day, when some students were9 reports in the front of the class. Jeanne spoke 10, and to encourage her to raise her voice, I had said. "Speak up. Simon is the expert on this. He is the only one you have to convince, and he can't hear you in the11of the room." That was it. From that day on, Simon had sat up straighter, paid more attention, smiled more, and became happy. And it was all because he12 to be the last kid in the last row. The boy who most needed13 was the one who took the last seat that day.
It taught me the most14lesson over the years of my teaching career, and I'm thankful that it came15and positively. A small kindness can indeed make a difference.
