Mystutter(口吃)hadalwaysbeenmuchofaproblem.I'dhadsomanyspecialistsfor

Mystutterhadalwaysbeenmuchofaproblem.I'dhadsomanyspecialistsformyspeechovertheyears.Aslwalkeddownthehallwaytomeetanewone,memoriespoppedinmyheadofhowpainfulbeingakidwhostuttershadbeen.Itstillhurt.“Hello!I'mMrs.Claussen.Ihearyou'refromTexas!"“Ye-Ye-Ye-Yesm-m-m-m-m-m-m-aamIam…”Myheartfeltlikeitwaspoundingthroughmychestandmyhandsweredrippingwet.Ireallyblewthatintroduction.“Well,"shesaidwithakindsmile.“I'vealwayslikedTexas."SheturnedouttobethebestspeechspecialistI'veeverhad,notlikethosewhotoldmetoclapmyhandswhilespeaking.Shewasdifferent.Shespentthefirstseveralweeksjusttalkingtome-askingmeallkindsofquestionsaboutmyself,especiallymyfeelings.Andshelistened.Shethenbegantoteachmeaboutthespeech.Notjustaboutmyspeech,butabouteverybody's.Isanginmyoldschoolandwasaprettygoodtenor,butIlearnedthatthenewschool'ssinginggroupwasallfilledup.Itwassuchbadnews,forIthoughtthatwastheonethingIcouldreallydowell-andIcoulddoitwithoutstuttering.SomehowMrs.Claussenfinallygotmeinthegroup.Ifeltlikeshereallycaredaboutmeasaperson,notjustaspeechstudent.Duringthenexttwoyears,myspeechdidn'tgetmuchbetter-exceptwithher.WhenIwasincollege,thingsgotworse.IonceevenwonderedifIwouldeverbeabletocommunicate!Itwasaverydepressingtime,andIoftenfeltalone.WhenIwasfeelingreallysorryformyself,IrememberedMrs.ClaussenhadtoldmewhetherIcouldchangemyspeechwasalluptome.Shehadtoldmenottofightforperfectspeech,justbetterspeech.Shewasrightaboutthat.Ifinallyimprovedmyspeechgreatly.Manyyearshavepassed,butIthinkofherfromtimetotime,wonderingifshehadasmuchinfluenceonherotherstudentsasshehadonme.Iliketothinkthatshedid.HernamewasMrs.Claussen...andshecared.I'IIneverforgether.