Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. The people do not exist except in my mind. This work is copy written and I ask that you do not copy, post or electronically download without my express permission. If you are too young to be in here or it is illegal in your state then please leave as I do not wish anything to happen to you.
Lives Changed Chapter one-C
During the week, which felt very long for Patrick and the other student, Patrick had learned when Malcolm's court date was and he asked one of the bus drivers if he would take him and a bunch of students to the court on that morning. Getting an okay from him Patrick went off and sat with the other students. To say that the Principle and English teacher were mad was an under statement, they had never had to put up with something like this before. For the next two weeks the students sat in the hallway, some just talked while others read. The school board had come in and seen what was going on and decided that they were going to hold an emergency meeting. The teachers who were supporting Patrick learned of this and told Patrick, who them told his parents and asked if they could take him to the meeting. The Day of the meeting came and Patrick with his parents, other students and their parents gathered and walked into the meeting.
"What is the meaning of this?" The chairman spoke up, mad that his meeting had been interrupted
"Sir, it is my understanding that these meeting are open to every one and I would like my son to be able to speak to the board members here." Patrick's dad spoke up.
"What does a child have to say to us that is important enough to interrupt our meeting?"
"Well everyone, I think what I have to say is important. Folks I am Patrick Jacobs, the school I go to, has allowed it's students to be bullied, without doing anything about it, though students have complained, to them it is nothing. This year one student stood up and fought back only to be expelled and charged, he fought back when they tried to attack him from behind. I and my family and other students believe this was wrong so we have stage a strike, to bring this to the attention of everyone, but now it seems like you all think the same way as the principle does. I just ask that you all think about what your children will have to go through if bullies are allow to run wild. Thank you for your time." Patrick spoke with anger and conviction in his voice.
The rest of the meeting was taken up with other students talking. The parents of the three boys stood and tried to defend there sons, saying that they were not bullies and that they were the ones that were attacked. The meeting broke up at nine that night with no firm decision made. Patrick went home feeling that everything was lost. He was again staring out his window when his dad knocked and came in.
"Son, I am very proud of you, your standing up for a friend and trying to make a difference."
"It feels hopeless dad, it's been two weeks and nothing has happened, Malcolm goes on trial next week and I feel like he is going to lose."
"Son no matter what happens next week, you will have made a difference, look at what you already have done, you got the other students helping you, even some of the parents are on your side, just don't give up. I don't think Malcolm would."
"Your right, he wouldn't."
"There you go, now off to bed, you have to get ready for next week."
Monday morning Patrick met up with the students again at the school. "Everyone I am going to the court house to be with Malcolm, so please keep this going for him."
"Patrick we are all going with you. There are enough buses to take us all." One of the students spoke up
"WHAT." Patrick yelled.
"That's right we are going with you." another student hollered.
"Okay, then lets get on the bus and get moving. Malcolm needs us."
The buses parked in front of the court house and with Patrick leading the way the students started walking up the steps. Half way up they were stopped. "Kids this isn't a school, it is a court house, so turn around and go back to your school." A police officer spoke up. The officer was the same one that a lot of the students had spoken to the day of the fight. He was also the one that was helping the principle.
"We are here to help a friend, and the court house is a public place so we are allowed to enter." Patrick spoke up.
"Young man, you don't understand, I am ordering you to go back to school." The officer spoke again with more authority in his voice.
"No." Patrick snapped
"Officer what is the problem here?" An elderly man spoke.
"These kids think they can enter the court house to help a friend of theirs Judge Spencer." The officer answered.
"Young man, what is your friend's name?" asked the Judge.
"Malcolm Daniels, sir."
"I see very well officer let them in."
"Sir I have orders that no student is allowed in?"
"From whom did these orders come from?" Judge Spencer asked.
"They came from the Mayor and then the chairman of the school board." The officer replied
"I see they run the court house now do they?"
"Well, no sir."
"Then let these students in."
With all the students in the court room there were no seats left for anyone else. Soon Judge Spencer entered the room and everyone grew silent.
"Court in now is session the honorable Judge Spencer presiding." The sheriff called out.
"Call the first case." Judge Spencer spoke from his seat.
"Malcolm Daniels, docket number seven fifty nine dash one three seven."
"Bring in the defendant."
Patrick watched as Malcolm was brought in. even in the orange coveralls he still looked good, a smile on his face and a sparkle in his eyes. "He isn't a normal boy." thought Patrick.
"Mr. Edwards are your ready?"
"We are your honor."
"Mr. Stillman are you ready."
"We are sir."
"Very well, sheriff read the charges."
"Malcolm Daniels is hereby charged with three counts of aggravated assault causing bodily harm."
"Mr. Daniels, how do you plead to these charges?" Judge Spencer asked.
"My client pleads self defense, your honor."
"Very well, Mr. Edwards state your case."
"Yes your honor, it is claimed that Mr. Daniels did on the fifth of November this year assaulted three boys in school who were minding their own business, he ended up putting the three boys in hospital for two weeks with broken bones. In talking with the principle and Mr. Daniel's English teacher we have learned that he is disruptive in classes and has little regard for adults. Quite a few times he has basically called his English teacher a liar right in front of other students. Your honor I call as my first witness Principle Marshall to the stand." Mr. Edwards spoke
"Bring in Mr. Marshall." The judge ordered."
Everyone watched as the principle walked down the aisle a smile on his face. "Please state your name for the record." Mr. Edwards asked.
"Maurice Marshall." The principle answered.
"Mr. Marshall. Do you recall the events on the fifth of November of this year?" Mr. Edwards asked.
"I do." The principle replied.
"Please tell the court what you recall."
"Well there was a fight between four boys in the hallway when it was over three had to go to the hospital."
"What was the fight over?"
"I am not sure what it was over."
"What happened to the fourth boy?"
"He is sitting there."
"Let the records show that Mr. Marshall has identified the defendant."
"Mr. Marshall did you talk with any of the students about what happened?"
"Yes I did, they all told me that Mr. Daniels attacked the three without reason."
"That is a lie." Patrick yelled, from the back of the court room."
"Sit down young man, out bursts like that will not be tolerated." Judge Spencer spoke a slight smile on his face.
"Sorry sir." Patrick said hanging his head in shame.
"Mr. Marshall did you take notes."
"I did and you have them."
"No further questions?"
"Mr. Stillman your witness." Mr. Edwards spoke.
"Mr. Marshall do you feel that Mr. Daniels is a violent person?" Mr. Stillman asked.
"Yes I do." Mr. Marshall smugly answered.
"Yet everyone I have spoken with has told me that he is the opposite, how do you explain that?"
"I can't, they didn't see what he did to the three boys?"
"In your notes, which I have copies of I notice that there is no mention of Mr. Daniel's giving the three boys a chance to back off. Why is that?"
"There was no warnings given."
"Are you sure about that?"
"Yes I am."
"Well I have here in my hands just over one hundred statements saying that Mr. Daniels did give the three boys three warnings. Explain that to the court please?"
"I can't, except that they are wrong."
"No more questions."
"Mr. Edwards, your next witness please." Judge Spencer spoke.
"I call Mrs. Rogers. Mr. Edwards called out
"Very well swear her in."
"Mrs. Rogers is it true that Mr. Daniels is one of your students?"
"Yes he is."
"How would you describe him?"
"He is a smart young man, but lacks respect for his teachers and for authority."
"Has he ever disrupted your class?"
"Quite a few times."
"Can you explain one of those disruptions?"
" Well it was over a poem, he told me and the class that I could never know what the writer was thinking at the time, and that he wasn't going to listen to me trying to say that say that the writer had found his love, and that I never knew the writer and that he did."
"Is it because he was the writer?"
"I doubt very much."
"Do you think Mr.. Daniels is capable of hurting three boys like he did?"
"Very much so."
"No more questions."
"Mr. Stillman your witness."
"Mrs. Rogers do you dislike Mr. Daniels?"
"I think he is an arrogant boy, and I feel that he has no place in our school."
"Why is that?"
"Well look at him, sitting there like he doesn't have a care in the world, his long hair makes him look female. He, well he just doesn't belong."
"No more questions."
The rest of the day was spent listening to witness after witness. Patrick was frustrated and feeling mad when they all boarded the bus to head back home. "Don't give up Patrick; it is just the first day. Soon you will have a chance to speak along with the rest of others." His older brother spoke.
"Yeah right the judge won't listen to us, we're just trash."
" No we aren't so give up that idea."
The next day the three bullies took the stand and told there stories, claiming that Malcolm had attacked them for no reason; they also told the courts how they often saw Malcolm picking on others and had tried to stop him. After they had finished Mr. Edwards rested his casr and turned everything over to Mr. Stillman. "Your honor I have to ask that we break for lunch as I have a list of witness's that will take up the next three days."
"Very well court is in recess till one o'clock."
Lunch over the court room was packed once more. The judge was back and Malcolm was sitting there watching as his lawyer stood. "Your honor, we seem to be faced with a few problems here, one is the fact that my client is charged with assault, and the other seems to be that he does not conform to what teachers expect. We all have the right to be individuals, but that in itself is not the point here. What we have is the right to defend oneself when attacked. The school system does not feel that is the case, they feel that the system should allow bullies to pick on those under them, and when one stands up to them they are expelled while the bullies are allowed to stay. Your honor as my first witness I wish to call Patrick Jacobs." Mr. Stillman spoke with a glint of humor in his eyes.
"Very well Sheriff summon Mr. Jacobs." Judge Spencer said.
When the judge saw Patrick walk down the aisle he was surprised, for it was the same boy that stood up to the police at the start of the week.
"State your name."
"Patrick Jacobs." Patrick answered.
"Mr. Jacobs do you know why your here today?" Mr. Stillman asked.
"Sure it is to tell the truth and have my friend come back to school."
"Were you there the day that your friend assaulted the three boys?"
"Yes in fact I saw it all."
"Please tell the court what happened."
"Yeah sure, there are three bullies at school and they were always picking on me and a lot of other students, calling us names and smacking us around. Then Malcolm, well the first time he heard this, he just told them to back off, and well I got away that day, he heard them, that is the bullies calling me trash and stuff like that, it hurt big time. The day he kicked their butts they were again calling me names, they even said I was dead meat. Malcolm told them to back off before they regretted it. When he said that they turned on him and well I don't know what he did but the next thing I saw was the three were on there butts, which caused everyone there to laugh. Then Malcolm was walking to his locker when they tried to attack him from the back. Well I guess Malcolm flipped out, but all he did was defend himself."
"What happened next?"
"Well he was taken to the office and the three bullies left to go to the hospital. The cops talked to us and so did the principle."
"You heard the principle on the stand here, was what he was saying the truth?"
"No, it wasn't."
"What about what the English teacher, Mrs. Rogers did she speak the truth?"
"Yes to a point, Malcolm did tell her off, but there was no way he was rude about it."
"I see; do you feel you know Malcolm well enough to know if he has a bad side."
"Sir we all have a bad side, least my dad tells me that, and yes I think I know him well enough." Patrick laughed a bit as he said this.
"No more questions."
"Mr. Edwards?"
"No questions."
For three days the defense put on witnesses galore. The last was Maggie the waitress from Michael's place.
"Miss Maggie, where do you work?"
"I am a waitress at the restaurant called Michael's place."
"Have you ever met Mr. Daniels there?"
"Every morning for the past two years."
"I don't understand."
"Malcolm comes in for breakfast every day before school starts."
"During the time that you have known Mr. Daniels have you ever seen him hurt some one?"
"Never, in fact I have seen him go out of his way to help those who are in need."
"Do you think he would stand up to bullies to protect others?"
"I don't think. I know he would."
"No more questions."
"Your witness Mr. Edwards."
"Miss Maggie. You say you have known Mr. Daniels for two years and that he would go out of his way to help others. Does that include hurting others."
"Like I said he would never hurt anyone."
"But you heard that he beat those three bullies."
"Yes I heard about that, and I feel that he did what he had to."
"Do you think it was right?"
"I don't think it was right, but I know that something has to change to stop bullies, and if Malcolm stood up to them and gave them a chance to back off like I know he would do, then I know he did the right thing."
"No more questions."
"Miss Maggie you may step down." Judge Spencer spoke. "Court is dismissed and will resume again on Monday at nine am. Would Patrick Jacobs please come to my chambers?"
"Now what did I do?" Thought Patrick.
In the chambers the judge was sitting behind his desk when the sheriff brought Patrick in. "Come in Patrick, have a seat." Judge Spencer called out.
"Yes sir." Patrick replied.
"Patrick I have listened to everything and I am a bit confused. You have only known Mr. Daniels just since school started this year, and yet you seem to be able to call him a friend, and I want to know why?" Judge Spencer asked.
"Well sir the first day I met him he knocked me on my butt, sir I think Malcolm has been kicked out of a lot of schools just because he is different, the fact that he kicked the bullies butts, and has long hair does not mean that he is any different than you or me. I am not a fighter sir, and one thing my dad always told me is that I am not trash. Malcolm made me feel like I was some one, sir he came over to the streets where I live and he never said it was trash."
"Son I believe that you found a true friend in Mr. Daniels. Come to the court house on Monday and let's see what happens."
"Yes sir, what about the other students?"
"I think we can make room for them also."
"Thanks sir. I just hope that Malcolm is free."
"Go home son and have a good weekend."
"I'll try."
For Patrick the weekend went slowly time seemed to drag. He tried not to think about Monday and what would happen. His dad spent time watching movies with him, telling him that he was proud of the way he stood up for what was right. He even got to tickling Patrick making him laugh and forget for a while the problems he was having.
Monday morning Patrick was up and dressed by seven, in the kitchen he could hear his mom making breakfast so bouncing down the stair he walked into the kitchen. There he saw his mom dressed up and his dad in a suit. "What's this, don't you have to work today dad?" Patrick asked a surprised look on his face.
"No Patrick, The office gave me the day off, so I, well your mother and I thought we would join you at the court house." Patrick's dad answered as he finished his coffee.
"Wow wicked, thanks dad, mom you're the greatest."
"Come on Pat, eat we have to get going, your brothers promised to have the others there, but we are going on our own." Patrick's mom spoke up a hint of laughter in her voice.
"Do you think any of the other parents will be there?"
"I don't know, but I know your friends will be."
"I prayed that the judge lets Malcolm free."
"Well even if he doesn't, at least Malcolm knows he has friends out here that care."
"Yeah, but the system is wrong."
"You have done your best to make some changes, now it is up to the judge and the school board."
The court room was standing room only when the Judge came in. Sitting behind his bench he looked over the crowd. "Looks like I should have moved this to a bigger room, but well since we are here let's continue. Mr. Edwards are you ready to close?"
"I am your honor."
"Very well get started."
"Your honor; we have heard how Mr. Daniels attacked three boys at school with out provocation, beating them bad enough that they had to spend time in the hospital. Through the three boys we have heard how they tried to stop Mr. Daniels from picking on other students. We have also heard from the principle and teacher, who both say that Mr. Daniels is arrogant and disruptive in class. The police reports also state very clearly that Mr. Daniels is always looking for fights and throws his weight around when ever he can. Your honor I ask, no I plead with the courts to find Mr. Daniels guilty as charged. Thank you." Mr. Edwards finished and sat down a look of assuredness on his face.
"Mr. Stillman, are you ready?" Judge Spencer asked.
"I am your honor." Mr. Stillman answered as he rose.
" Very well let's try and wrap this up before lunch. I am sure that Mr. Daniels would appreciate that."
"I am sure he would sir, Now I agree that Mr. Daniels can be disruptive as some of his fellow students and friends have said, I don't agree that Mr. Daniels is arrogant or a bully, as the crown is trying to make him out to be, We have all heard through students, teachers and others how Mr. Daniels does go out of his way to help those in need, we have heard how he gave the three boys a chance to back off, and they didn't, nor did they stop when they were knocked onto there backsides, no they instead stood up and tried to attack Mr. Daniels when he wasn't looking. Under the law, any person who gives an attacker three chances to back off is entitled to defend him or herself. We heard that Mr. Daniels did give the three, a fair chance by warning them not once, but three times, and so anything he did after that was in self defense. Your honor I ask that you find Mr. Daniels not guilty and I further ask that his record be expunged. Thank you."
"Very well Mr. Stillman, Mr. Edwards, we have all listened to both sides, we have heard from various students, teachers and people that know Mr. Daniels, how ever through it all I have asked myself time and again just what I would do in this situation. Mr. Daniels I was wondering if you had anything to say to the courts."
"Sir I have lots to say, however you have asked that this be concluded before lunch, so I will try and be brief. Sir history is riddled with people who have been persecuted for being different, and in a thousand years from now people will still be persecuted the same way, I have long hair, I stand up for what I feel is right, am I to be sent to jail because of that. Teachers are people, which we as students are suppose to look to for help when we are having problems, we have all heard, how the system ignored those cries, from some of the students. They allowed the bullying to continued. Sir since I was old enough to start school I have been expelled time and again, why because I refuse to have the system tell me that I have to have short hair. When I started in this school I thought and prayed that things would be different. I saw the bullying, I stopped it when I could, sir I knew that sooner or later something was going to happen, I didn't want it to. The first time I knocked the three on their butts I figured that would be it, they could see that some one wasn't going to be pushed around. When they attacked me the second time I defended myself. Sir I am sorry that those boys ended up in hospital, I am sorry they got hurt, but I am not sorry for standing up to them or for defending those who can't defend themselves. Sir if I had to do it over again, I do not know what would happen, maybe I would just turn around and walk away, let the bullies beat the tar out of some one just because they think he or she is trash, but my heart says that I could no more turn my back on something like that, than I could stop myself from breathing or eating. That is all I have to say, thank you for the time sir."
"Well Mr. Daniels, I have to admit that I am surprised by your words. If I didn't know better, I would say you had some one write them for you, but since I heard you speaking them, without paper or other means of help I sincerely believe that you mean every word you have spoken.
Your words, give us all something to think about, do we turn our backs on those unable to fight, or do we stand up for them, our armed forces do that every day. Our police do it, so why can't a young man such as you do it. Over the last week I have listened to everyone concerned with this case, but not one has ever come close to saying I am innocent or guilty at the same times as you have young man. Now I have one question for you Mr. Daniels, what if I did find you guilty?"
"Sir; it really wouldn't matter if I am found guilty or not, nothing is going to change, because no one wants it to, they are so stuck on the old ways, that any new idea is out of the question. What I mean sir; is if I walk out of here free, nothing changes, if I go to jail nothing changes. Do you understand me?"
"I do understand you Mr. Daniels and your right in that no one wants change. However there comes a time in ones life, when changes have to be made. If no one has anything more to add then I suggest we all break for fifteen minutes and have a coffee. Court is in recess."
Out in the hallway Patrick was smiling. "Dad did you hear him, I mean Malcolm he was awesome." Patrick spoke.
"That he was son, and I feel that what he said came from the heart, it's like he has been hurt and persecuted since he was a young boy." Patrick's dad replied
"Yeah, I bet the teachers are gonna hate him more now especially if he walks free."
"We won't know till we go back inside and hear what the judge has decided."
Those fifteen minutes seem to take forever, Patrick and his family all had a soda, and had just chucked their cans in the recycle bin when it was time to go back in. The judge hadn't come back yet, so Patrick moved up and sat right behind the seat that Malcolm would have. The moment the judge was there and Malcolm was sitting in front of him.
"Gentlemen, I have tried to come up with a decision that would be fair to all. If I send Mr. Daniels to jail, I send the message to all that it is okay to be bullies, and to pick on anyone they feel like. If I don't then, I say that is okay to put bullies in the hospital. However I have decided that change is going to come and Mr. Daniels has started it. Therefore I am ordering the school board to change its policy on bullying and in that policy I want to see the punishment to fit. With expulsion as a last resort. Mr. Daniels please stand. Young man I do not condone fighting, however there are times when one must stand up and face the problem, you seemed to have done that, there for I find you not guilty of the charges, Your file will be expunged. You are free to walk out of here. And Mr. Daniels I really do hope that I will not see you in here again."
" I will try not to sir." Malcolm spoke with a calm voice.
The court room erupted in laugher, cheers and applause as Malcolm sat down. Patrick reached over and clapped Malcolm on the shoulder. "See you in school tomorrow dude?" Patrick laughed.
"I doubt that, the school won't let me back in now, not after this." Malcolm answered.
"You at least gotta try." Patrick stated.
"Okay then I'll meet you at Michael's place for breakfast?"
"Okay and you still owe me a week of home work."
"I know."
The rest of the day was a party day for the students at the school everyone was happy. Patrick was the center of attention, everyone saying that he was a hero for standing behind his friend. His brothers and sisters where there with him, and everyone was dancing. Then the Principle came out and stood on top of the stairs. "Okay students it is time to get into class the strike is over." The principle stated.
"Does that mean that Malcolm is allowed back into classes?" Patrick asked.
"No, he was expelled and he will remain so." The principle snapped as he glared at Patrick.
"Then we will not be going back to class."
"Patrick Jacobs you are expelled also, so leave the school property."
"Fine."
"The rest into class now."
"I am sorry sir, but we stand with Patrick. If you expel him and keep Malcolm out then we will stay out also." Patrick's older brother spoke up.
"Then all of you off the hell off school property. I won't have a bunch of kids here who won't do as they're told."
With that all the students left joining Patrick on the sidewalk. "Everyone, we lost, you can all go back if you want, I won't hold it against you."
"No Patrick, you started this, and we all agreed to help, sure Malcolm is free, but he isn't back in school. So the fight isn't over yet."
"Well then I think we should really start fighting, let's get some posters made, and see about getting some one to help, by donating drinks and sandwiches.
Email me if you wish me to continue. Thewriter1@live.ca