It was lovely in the country. Here there once was a mother who was raising three boys. They were Jace, Jed and Joxer. Joxer was the last born and therefore the youngest. He was different from the other boys. While Jace and Jed were outgoing and good looking, Joxer tended to keep to himself because he believed he was ugly. Other children would laugh at him. He had big feet and often tripped over them. He was clumsy and awkward. His brothers were dashing and skilful.
Their mother would take them outside for walks. She made sure her little boys stayed together and she was very proud of her family. As they walked down the street together, everyone stopped to admire the young family. They could hear comments.
"My, what a lovely family."
"Aren't they cute together?"
"Just look at how well behaved they are."
The three boys would smile at them, but usually Joxer would trip over his feet and clumsily bump into his brothers. The comments changed.
"Oh, look at that clumsy idiot."
"How silly he looks."
"He can't possibly be a part of that family."
So Joxer got his nickname of Joxer the Ugly. Their mother took them into the market place. She showed them the grand old lady who oversaw everything. Her name was Miss Prissly and she had class and distinction over all the others.
"See that silk scarf she wears? That's a sign of royalty." Their mother told them. They had to bow down when they passed her and as they passed her, Joxer bowed too low and fell on his face. The others laughed at him.
They passed a group of children playing. One boy jumped out at Joxer to scare him. Joxer was taken aback so much he ran into his brothers, who pushed him away.
"He's gawky. Look at him run." They laughed at him.
"He's so awkward, he can't run worth a hoot."
"He looks funny. He's different."
His mother would reply to the comments that he's just as good as the others. She said that his looks would improve in time and he will be stronger and less awkward eventually. He'll be alright, she told them.
But he was still jostled and teased by everyone. It grew worse and worse until he was just the laughing stock of the town. He hated them and one day he just ran away into the woods. All the animals scattered.
"It's because I'm ugly." He said, but really it was because he scared them by running suddenly into the woods. He came across two hunters named Hercules and Iolaus.
"Come with us. We are hunting monsters." Hercules told him, so Joxer joined them. They came across a fire breathing dragon. The dragon roared and fire came spewing out of his mouth. He bent down to gobble the three hunters up. Hercules and Iolaus ran as fast as they could, but Joxer was so scared he didn't know what to do. The dragon looked at him, tilted his head to one side and decided he didn't want any lunch, so he turned away and left.
"Even the dragon doesn't want to eat me because I'm so ugly." Joxer said. The evenings were getting cold. Joxer came across a shack. He knocked on the door and an old blind lady called Xena came . Xena let him come in because she needed help. Xena's friend Gabrielle looked him up and down and didn't like him. Their cat hissed at him. Gabrielle wanted to get rid of him.
"Go away. I don't like you. I don't need anyone else here. Go away. I don't like your looks. What use are you anyway? You aren't pretty like me. You can't fight like I can. Go away!"
Joxer was upset and decided to go out in the world. He saw other young men with women, laughing and telling stories. He wished he could be like them.
Winter was coming on and soon Joxer just sat in the forest, cold and miserable. He wanted to die. The kings men found him there and took him to the palace to be a servant, but Joxer got away from them and kept running and running, as fast as he could.
Finally he ran into Aphrodite. She was a goddess and was looking for something interesting to do. She was bored at this moment. Joxer got down on his knees.
"Oh, please goddess, please kill me and take me away from this miserable life. Hades would be better than this." Joxer pleaded.
"Oh, my little man. I am the goddess of love not death. How could I do that, duh!" Joxer bent his head and cried.
"Oh, come on, now. Don't be such a dummy." Aphrodite didn't like to see him crying. "Well, I suppose I could do something for you."
"Oh, please help me! I would be forever grateful."
"Yeah, yeah, right. That's what they all say. Just stop crying and stand up." Joxer got up slowly. "Come on, now. Stand up straight." She help her hand up in the air and golden stars came from it and seemed to land on Joxer. He was amazed. He felt different. She produced a bell and rang it.
"From now on you will be Joxer the Mighty, a very brave, handsome warrior." She stopped the bell from ringing. Joxer smiled and bowed.
"At your service my lady. You are a beautiful sweet smelling rose in the garden of life and I wish to sample your fragrance."
"OK, alright now. Just get going along now."
"Your skin reminds me of cream ..." And so Aphrodite left him and Joxer the Ugly had turned into a handsome, mighty warrior, who went about saving ladies, wooing them and charming them with his wit and his skills.
THE END
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