'Assume the position' those words echoed in my ear as I stepped back. There was no possible way this could be going on. This was all a mistake. Daisy had defended me, he had taken up for me. He should have been hailed as a hero and here they were treating him like a common criminal.

Daisy took a deep breath and reached into his pocket. A moment later he was pulling out his wallet, his phone, and a string of beads, prayer beads. He handed the items to me. I don't know why but he did and with trembling hands I took them.

“Here. Keep these for me, I don't want them to get damaged.” He said as he walked into the middle of the hallway. As he passed Jamie he smiled and gently he patted her on her shoulders. I heard him whisper to her. “We all have a job to do. Do your job cousin.” He said as he took a deep breath.

As he released his breath he bent over and took hold of his ankles. Jamie looked pale as a sheet, she seemed to be shaking. Slowly she stepped forward and in a strained voice, a strained and hollow voice she called out.

“James Donald Bell. Sophomore, has been found guilty of fighting, drawing attention to himself, and being rude to a member of staff. And showing disrespect to a prefect. His sentence is nine strokes with the cane. To be carried out in public, a warning to all. I, Jamie Sarah Potter, a Junior and appointed perfect. Have been charged with carrying out the sentence. James Donald Bell, do you have any last words?”

Daisy shook his head.

“Very well.” Jamie said as she stepped toward Daisy. She seemed on edge, she almost seemed to be trembling as she drew back the thin cane. A moment later I heard the cane come whistling through the air. It made a horrible cracking sound as it smashed into Daisy's bottom. Dozens of students turned their heads to the side, dozens of more hissed.

“One!” Daisy shouted through the grit of his teeth as he clutched his ankles for support.

A few seconds passed before another stroke of the cane came sailing through the air. Again it smashed into Daisy's bottom sending another fiery crack into his frail body. I watched in horror as I watched the boy shiver and forced out a cry.

“Two!” He bellowed as he tossed back his head.

Jamie now looked as pale as a ghost. Her hands started to tremble. She drew the cane back again and as she closed her eyes, she brought the cane into his bottom. Sending a third stroke rolling into the back of his trousers. Daisy stumbled forward and tossed his head back as a shrill cry of.

“Three!” Escaped his lips.

All of this had happened because of me, because I'd been the target of some transphobic bully. I wanted to cry, instead I just clutched Daisy's wallet, phone and prayer beads to my chest.

Jamie, still pale as a ghost, drew the cane back again and closing her eyes tight she let the cane fly, sending it cracking into Daisy's bottom. Sending I'm sure another burning wave of sting and burn into the boy's bottom. A cough followed, followed by a gasp. And a few seconds later a weak and pitiful cry escaped his lips. 

“Four.” Escaped Daisy.

The crowd at this point was horror stricken. The crowd that had been chanting for them to keep fighting was now looking in shock, shell shock I want to say it. Because I think then the truth was starting to dawn on them. This could have been any of them, any one of them could be called up and given six, seven, eight, hell even nine strokes of the cane.

Jamie at this point seemed to be on the verge of tears as she drew the cane back and struck hard at Daisy bottom. The thin little cane came whistling through the air and caused a hissing sound as it struck home again. This time Daisy stumbled forward and nearly lost his footing.

“Five!” Daisy crooked as his breathing started to quicken.

Jamie blinked and tears ran down her eyes. I saw the tears run from her eyes, down her face and drip off her chin. Before they splashed on the floor. She cleared away the tears with the sleeve of her uniform blouse before drawing back the cane and once more she drove on the sixth stroke.

“SIX!” Daisy bellowed as he once more stumbled forward. His voice once so full of life, bold and heroic now seemed hollow and dead. As that tone of voice reached my ears, I felt my heart lurch and my head shake.

Jamie seemed trembling as her hands trembled as she reached out and drew the cane back and struck his bottom again. Sending another hissing crack into the seat of his trousers. This time he did stumble over. Now, even the strongest man can be brought down by six strokes of the cane. To be given seven was truly horrible.

“Add another stroke for breaking form Ms. Potter.” The head said grinning. “A shame you were so close. Break form again Mr. Bell and we will have to start over again. Or I'll just add another stroke. Depends on how I feel at the moment.”

“Yes ma'am.” Jamie said, swallowing hard.

I mummer ran through the crowd. I felt my soul shatter, another stroke? They were going to beat the boy to death. I felt like Mary standing at the foot of the cross. That boy had risked life and limb to save me! He had come to my defense, he had only seen me once! He had already suffered so much! So much and now his suffering seemed to be never ending.

“For God's sake Daisy.” Jamie mutters. “Stay strong.” She said as she stepped back and cracked his bottom again. A little lighter this time, it still sounded cruel and still caused Daisy to toss his head back and howl. His howls echoed down the long hallway and seemed to make the glass panes in the windows shake.

“Redo that stroke Ms. Potter. And let this be a lesson to you. When you waver others pay the price. If I see you going light on him again. I will have no choice but to discharge you and remove you from the cheerleading squad. Do I make myself clear Ms. Potter.”

Jamie only nodded her head and trembling like a slender sapling in the face of the cold breath of December, she stepped toward Daisy, pushed her foot down and swung the cane like she was swinging a baseball bat. The cane cracked across Daisy bottom and another resounding howl filled the hallway.
“Seven!” Daisy bellowed as he clutched his ankles, tears were now falling down his cheeks. His body was quivering like a leaf. The crowd had grown silent. Mute was more like it.

Even the most callous of us were shocked and this sadistic display of power. Driving home the point was at any time any one of us could be given this very same treatment. I clutched Daisy's prayer beads in my hand and started to mutter a prayer.

“Eight!” Cried Daisy as Jamie struck his bottom again.

“NINE!” He cried a few seconds later.

“TEN!” His voice broke and a few seconds later he fell face first down upon the floor. Jamie fell down too and slowly she dropped and she cane on the floor. She then placed her hands in her face and started to weep.

“Right back to class everyone! Show over!” Called the head.

I was shocked and heartbroken. What had I just seen? I quickly rushed toward Daisy, not minding the milk splashing around in my bra, or the smell of English Pea's staining the front of my blouse. I just wanted to hold the boy. I rushed to his side, and turned him over. His face was pale, his breathing shallow. His eyes glazed over and I swear for a moment I saw a trickle of blood run down the corner of his mouth.

“Why?” I asked as I pulled him close to my chest. “You don't even know me, you've only seen me once? Why? Why James Donald Bell? Answer me?”

Daisy coughed and looked me dead in the eye.

“Because you're worth it.” He said drawing in a deep breath. “Nobody should be bullied because of what they are inside. Nobody should be bullied. Yes, the fight is often lost.” Daisy said as he forced himself to stand up. He fell back down. “But we are gaining ground, inch by inch and one day we will be free. If the meek shall one day inherit the earth. Then somebody has to go around to keep them safe until God decides he's had enough and comes down and shorts this mess out.” He said as he closed his eyes and then either from pain or emotional strain he passed out.

It was at that moment I fell in love with him. Such a noble creature, the noblest all to ever walk this earth. Who had endured so much not only for me, but for what he deemed was right. It was the finest example of Southern manhood I had ever seen displayed. It dawned on me then and there, that resting in the crook of arms was the man that I wanted to marry one day.

And that is how this part of my life ends. I had indeed been 'Saved by the Bell'. And I'm forever grateful for it.