I remember a teacher of mine used to make fun of the way I smiled and laughed.

If I was near him and he heard me laugh, he would lean over stick his face close to mine and mimic my laugh.

It was pretty embarrassing. I hated him for a long time for doing that to me.

I was a Mortician’s apprentice when I saw him again.

He was now a minister and he was officiating the funeral I had directed.

Of course he didn’t recognize me. I was older, darker and taller.

After the service we were walking out of the chapel to the parking lot when he thanked me for my work I had done on the young man who had attended his church and died in a terrible auto accident  and I said,

” I hope you’ll call on me again.”

Then I smiled and when I did he pulled back a little. He flinched and then he said my

name and he said in recognition, ” it’s you, isn’t it. ”

I let his comment pass, then I put my hand on his arm and said with conviction, ” I’m looking forward to seeing you

again. ”

He pulled his arm away and tried to stride off, but he stumbled just a little and that little slip of his did my heart good.