To Mrs. Jefferson
#7 of Stuff for others
She was one of my favorite teachers, and she sadly died from cancer a few years ago. She cared a lot about other people.
I was walking to school one day and I had to wait for the crossing signal to wait and tell me I had the right to cross. She stopped at the red light and saw me, and told me to get in, though I really didn't want to at first, because when I looked into her eyes, I felt like she was peering into my very soul, one of which has many secrets. I did not like the feeling of her unraveling my secrets I had hidden from many people, except a few friends, but I got into her car because I didn't want to hurt her feelings. For some reason, I told her of my secret about how I don't like sleeping in my room at night with mirrors, and she had asked me why. I told her I see scary creatures in the dark, and she asked me if I knew they weren't real. Of course I knew they weren't real, but when I wake up from a nightmare, and tired enough, logic goes out the window. I don't remember if I told her that, but she kept that a secret between us. As we came to a stop in the school's parking lot, we got out, and I helped her carry stuff into the classroom where she taught english for grades 11 and 12. We continued to talk until she had an errand to run, but that she would return, and she did; however, that was after it was time for class.
In class, we were reading a book called "Of Mice and Men", a book that I enjoyed reading. I had asked her if we could read ahead, and her answer was yes, so I took the liberty of reading ahead, but when I told her, she got mad at me. I felt really bad, but it was too late. I already knew what was going to happen next in the book, and there was nothing left to be done. After all, what is seen cannot be unseen. After we finished reading the book, and watching the movie, it was nearly time for Christmas break, a time where first semester ends. We had a little party to celebrate, and our good teacher had brought food. She had cooked the food at the school, as well as some baking, and her food was scrumptious, and I wanted more. I do not remember the food, but I remember bacon. Must be the bacon phase I went through. Nonetheless, I had a great time in her class, and second semester was just as great. We ate during class.
During the second semester, she had us do comprehensive reading, something I excelled at beyond her belief, simply because, I don't read a lot. She, a few teachers of mine, my mom, and I were at a meeting at the school, and she asked me how much reading I did at home. I told her I don't read often, and she looked at me in disbelief. She pulled out my scores for the comprehensive reading and asked me how I managed to score so well, since I scored almost perfects scores on almost all of them. I do not remember what I told her, but I said something, though she had to leave, I think.
Well, she was a patient teacher, and not just in temperament, but a patient to the doctors as well.
Once a week, the mentally disadvantaged students would collect recycle from the classrooms, but there was one she enjoyed. I do not know him personally, but whenever he came to collect the recycling, he would say something, or he would put the recycle bin back the wrong way on purpose, as if it were a game. She would tell him "That's not how it was. Come one, put it back the right way please," and every time he left, she would say she didn't understand why teachers would lock their doors. I could, but she really did care about others.
The teacher made my sister eat some food, even when she wasn't hungry. It wasn't force feeding purse, but it was so my sister wouldn't be malnourished. We have food to eat, but my sister and I don't eat breakfast. She was there to listen our woes in life, and she'd help if she could, as long as the law didn't require her to (if the law required her to take action, she would of course, and it is because of her kindness that I am writing this. I do not know if this was during lunch or before school, but I know this happened
I had found out some days ago that she had died because of cancer. She had taken chemo for it and did whatever it was she needed to do, and though she didn't like it, she did it anyway. I will always remember how she gave me that ride to school, how she was surprised I knew a lot of words in the comprehensive reading materials, and how she would care about others. She didn't look as old as her husband did, and if they were the same age, she had the looks. I am not sure if she were a wig, or whatever that thing is called now a days, but it was nice, and she had a fantastic smile. Her voice was friendly, even when she was trying to get you to do something and you refused.
Her's to her,a great teacher who was fun and caring, who touched others and greatly loved.