‘Thank You’ My Teacher

By Manoshi De Silva

Lishen looked around, worried for not knowing how to write the words their teacher was dictating. A few weeks ago, his class teacher who taught them English, asked the class to study the spellings of words underlined in their text books. Lishen didn't bother to study and when their teacher held a test to check their spellings, he wasn't sure of the spellings of even one word.

The next day, the teacher handed over the marked answer papers. Out of the entire list of words Lishen hadn't got even one correct. He quickly hid his answer paper inside a book after seeing it. "Lishen, meet me after the class," said his teacher with a stern look.  

The teacher shook her head in disappointment when Lishen met her later. "I gave the class enough days to study. You are the only one who didn't get even one answer correct," said the teacher.

"I forgot to study," said Lishen, but the truth was that he was too lazy to study. "Well, I am giving you a few more days. Next Monday I want you to stay back after school and take the test again," said Lishen's teacher.

"Oh! Not next Monday after school. I have my swimming class," said Lishen. But his teacher was not willing to change anything. "I will talk to the swimming coach and have you excused. Come prepared for the test," she said walking away. "That's so unfair! Now I have to miss my favourite swimming class and study for a silly test," muttered Lishen.

The next Monday, Lishen came prepared for the test, but he was very angry with his teacher. He studied all the words because he didn't want to repeat the test again and miss another swimming lesson. After school his teacher kept him back and dictated words for him to write down. Once the test was over, Lishen handed in his answer paper and walked off feeling very angry.

The next day, Fahim the class-monitor addressed the class, "Teachers’ Day is coming soon. Let's contribute a small amount and buy our teacher a gift and a card." Everyone agreed to contribute their pocket money except Lishen. He didn't say anything but secretly decided not to contribute any money because he was angry that his class teacher made him stay back and do the test, instead of going for the swimming class.   

The next few days everyone handed over money. "I forgot to bring any money. I'll give it tomorrow," Lishen lied every day, Making sure that he didn't contribute. "Today's the last day to handover the money. We have to buy the gift today. You are the only one who hasn't contributed still," reminded Fahim.

"Oh no, I forgot!" lied Lishen. "If I had any spare money, I would have put it in on behalf of you. But I don't. So I guess we'll have to buy the gift with what we have. Otherwise we won't have enough time to give it to her on Teachers' Day," said Fahim.

That afternoon when coming home, Lishen's friends were talking about the new stroke they had learned at the swimming class on Monday. Lishen was very disappointed and sad. "I can't believe that I had to miss it for a silly test," he thought. Even when he came home, he was still in a bad mood.     

"Aiya, look at your rose vine that had all those little buds," shouted Lishen's sister as soon as he came home. Lishen looked at the rose vine that he planted in their garden. He had cared a lot for it and watered and fertilized it often. It had its very first bunch of roses fully bloomed. Lishen smiled, "I waited so long to see this," he said.

On Teachers' Day, every student went and wished their class teacher. Then Fahim as the class-monitor handed her the small gift and card from their class. The teacher was very happy and she thanked everyone. When the period was over, she collected her books to leave. "Lishen, meet me outside the class," she said.  

"What now?" wondered Lishen. "Did she find out that I avoided contributing money for her gift? But how would she know? Fahim is my friend and he'd never tell her that," Lishen walked out feeling nervous that his teacher might know his secret.

But when Lishen walked up to his class teacher, she smiled and handed him a paper. "Take a look at it," she said. It was Lishen's spelling test paper. There was a big red A+ on it. "You got all the answers correct," smiled the teacher. "I knew you could do it! Now you'll get good marks for the final exam too. I am so proud of you!"

"I also spoke to the swimming coach. He said he'll take extra time next Monday to teach you the new stroke he taught the others last Monday," smiled the teacher. Lishen felt very happy at first. He wanted to hug his teacher and thank her for making him study and repeat the test and also for talking with the swimming coach to help him to catch up on the lesson he had missed.

But then Lishen felt sad for being angry at his teacher and for not contributing for her gift. "I did a horrible thing by not giving money for her gift. I should have never done that," he thought feeling sorry and ashamed. "I have to correct my mistake!"

So the next morning Lishen cut the stem of his very first rose bunch, that he loved so much. As soon as he went to school, he gave it to his teacher, apologized to her and told her how thankful he was. "I know that teachers are sometimes tough on us but now I understand that it is for our own good. I appreciate the trouble you took to improve my studies. Thank you so much my teacher!"