Me encantaba su sonrisa.

Me llamo Teresa Candón y fui profesora de español de Max en Cádiz. Como todos los que escribís aquí, siento mucho su pérdida. Max era tan simpático y atento... Guardo un grato recuerdo de él. Acabo de ver las fotos que habéis puesto en la página web. He necesitado algún tiempo para verlas, porque soy muy sentimental y con nada lloro.

Me encantaba su sonrisa. Era de esas sonrisas que se te quedan grabadas en la mente. Por las fotos que habéis puesto se nota que era un chico alegre y cariñoso. Y que tenía un millón de amigos.

Recuerdo que en clase siempre estaba atento y si yo preguntaba algo a todo el grupo y nadie respondía, él levantaba la mano y respondía a mi pregunta para que no me sintiera incómoda. Los profesores agradecemos que haya alumnos así, que te escuchen y te respondan, porque nos hacen sentir que lo que explicamos les interesa. Era muy buen alumno.

Max era muy educado y correcto, pero también divertido, gracioso; a veces te miraba con cara de pillín. Por eso sentimos su pérdida, porque no hay muchos como él. Siento no haber salido más y no haber compartido más momentos con él en las plazas y calles de la ciudad.

Quiero manifestar a su familia mi más sincero pésame y decirles que aquí en Cádiz sus profesores y amigos siempre recordaremos con cariño a Max, al chico con la sonrisa más bonita del mundo.

Un fuerte abrazo y besos para su familia y para todos sus amigos. Teresa.

P.D: I'm sorry, but I don't know how to write in english very well. Thank you for the translation!!

And apologies from Seamus for taking so long to put up this translation:

I loved his smile.

My name is Teresa Candón and I was Max’s Spanish teacher in Cadiz. I feel as sad as all who are writing here and feel your loss so much. Max was so funny and polite… I retain a pleasant memory of him. I just saw the photos you all posted on the web site. I needed a little bit of time to see them all, because I am a very emotional person.

I loved his smile. It was one of those smiles which remain imprinted on your mind. I can tell from the photos that he was a happy and sweet guy. And I can see that he had a million friends too.

I remember he was always attentive in the class. If I asked something to the group and nobody answered he used to put his hand up and answer the question, so as not to let me feel uncomfortable. Teachers are very grateful for pupils of this kind, who listen and answer you. They make us feel that what we are explaining is of interest to them. He was a great pupil.

Max was very polite but also funny and amusing; sometimes he looked at you with a cheeky face. That’s why we feel so sorry for this loss, because there are not many pupils like him. I feel sad because I didn’t go out with him more and I didn’t share more moments with him in the squares and streets of this city.

I would like to express to all his family my sincere condolences and tell them that here in Cadiz his teachers and friends will remember Max with love. We’ll remember the guy with the most beautiful smile in the world.

I send you a huge hug and kisses, for all his family and all his friends.

Teresa