Flowers for Miss Benson
Miss Benson was the kindest, sweetest, most beautiful person on the earth in my mind. She was my second-grade 1 Early in the term, I started asking my mother to put an extra apple in my lunch for Miss Benson.2I never quite worked up the courage to hand my gift to her3. Each day it found its way unobserved to the corner of her desk. And each day the response was the same:
Miss Benson would come in and sit down. “Good morning, children. Why, how nice!” She would pick up the4 of the day, and then look around the room. “What 5little boy or girl brought me this?”
No one6the honor, least of all me. I kept my head down, looking at my desk.
“Can it be that I have a secret admirer?” she would ask.
I would feel the7rising in my face. I was certain that everyone was looking at me, and I would sigh with 8 when Miss Benson started the lesson after putting the fruit away.
One fall morning, the class was boiling with 9. As was said, the next day, Friday, was Miss Benson's birthday. Everyone wanted to get her a present. My heart gave a jump; at last I could give her something 10. That afternoon was spent combing the fields for wild flowers.
In the morning I hung back as others 11their gifts. Finally I went to the desk and gave the flowers to Miss Benson. My reward was a smile and a pat on the head.
The next Monday, Miss Benson didn't 12. Later on, I was asked to go to the principal's office. He, clearly and slowly, told me that because of the poison 13I gave her, Miss Benson was in hospital.
I 14 all the way home because of the tragedy to my loving teacher. I begged my mother to take me to visit Miss Benson.
Miss Benson was sitting up in bed when we arrived. Her15was covered with bandages. Only one eye was showing.
“I didn't know they were poison flowers,” I burst out. “I didn't 16to make you sick. I only wanted to give you something.....” I stopped talking and swallowed hard.
Miss Benson 17me with the eye. “You wanted to give me something 18 didn't you, Paul?”
I nodded.
“All those 19 were from you, weren't they?”
Again I nodded.
“I'll tell you a great big secret, Paul,” she continued, “When I am married, if I have a son, I would like him to grow up just 20you.”
I wasn't certain that I saw tears in her eye as Mother led me out of the room.
