After a few minutes, she led me to the corner and placed my nose to the wall. She left me there until my classmates had all left, then sent me to get dressed and go to lunch.
I left the gym that morning certain that the heat rising from my bottom could warm the whole city in the middle of winter. Three days would pass before I could sit without squirming.
I also left feeling very loved and cared for. I knew she understood what I was going through, and also knew she was not going to let me drown in the chaos of my life. She was only one of several teachers who adjusted my attitude via my bottom during that school year and I will never forget the care I felt from all of them as I found my way through a very difficult and painful time.