Never Judge A Book By It's Cover

Written by Sharon Maier

	"Jumpin' jackrabbits, Doc!"  Mr. Rogers wailed when he got his first look at the new 
colt Doctor Dan just delivered. Mr. Rogers is a horse rancher around these parts.  He's had 
his ranch for years.  His dad and grandad ran the place years before he did.  It was his hope 
his son Junior would take over when he got too old to carry on.

	"Doc, that young critter doesn't have a tail...just a little nub.  What would cause that?
Mrs. Rogers asked the vet.

	"I'm not sure what causes it, I've seen it before though."  Doctor Dan told him. 
"He may look a little strange but I can assure you he's healthy as a horse."  The doctor joked
trying to put Mr. Rogers' mind at ease.

"All joking aside, Mr. Rogers, he is healthy in every other way.  You'll have to keep his 
sprayed with insect repellent though."  He said.  "That's what the good Lord gave these critters
tails for...swatting flies."

	"He won't be able to swoosh the flies off his back with that little nub so you'll have
to do the job for him."  Doc said.  "So congratulations...what will you be calling him?"  The 
vet asked.

	"Well...I'll tell you...the fancy name I had picked out for this colt somehow now just
doesn't fit him."  Mr. Rogers answered.  "I'll wait until Junior comes home and let him choose
a name Doc, if that's okay?"  Mr. Rogers wondered.

	"That's fine, I'll check back in a few days.  We can get all the paper work done after
I check out the little fellow one more time."  Old Doctor Dan said.

	"What in the world will I tell Junior?"  Mr. Rogers told his wife.

	You see, for some time now Junior had been begging for his very own horse.  One he could
keep and not have to sell once it was weaned from it's mother.  Every time he had to care for a
colt until it was weaned he always got emotionally attached to them.  He wanted one of his own 
to love and care for. 

	Mr. Rogers talked with the missus and they decided Junior was old enough and responsible
enough to now own his own colt.  They had promised this one to him but with this nubby tail...
well, he just didn't know how Junior was going to take the news.  It was nearly time for the boy
to come home from school.  Mr. Rogers would know then what to expect.

	Mr. and Mrs. Rogers were discussing the situation when Junior came running in out of
breath.  He met Doctor Dan on the dirt road leading to their ranch.  The doctor told the boy 
the new cold had arrived.  He decided to let Mr. Rogers tell him about his nub of a tail.

	"Dad...Dad, Dr. Dan said the colt has come...come on, let's go out to the barn...I 
want to see him."  The lad was screaming with anticipation.

	"Hold up now Junior, just hold up.  We need to talk first."  Mr. Rogers said trying to
settle the boy down.

	"It seems the colt was born with a slight birth defect.  Now, before you see him...Dr.
Dan says he's perfectly healthy...he just looks a little strange."  The man told his son.

	"A birth defect?  I don't understand, Dad.  Dr. Dan told us weeks ago the colt seemed
to be doing just fine."  Junior worried.

	"Yes, he still is just fine...he...well...I don't know what more to say.  You'll see 
when we get to the barn."  Mr. Rogers hesitated.

	When Junior walked through the tattered old barn doors he did so slowly, almost afraid
of what he might see.  He carefully moved around the old tractor and made his way around to the
stall where the new colt and his mother were being kept.

The new colt was lying in the fresh hay Mr. Rogers had put out after the birth.  It was hard to
see all of the baby at first.  At a glance he didn't see anything wrong.  The little fellow 
then, wobbly, stood up and he was in full view of Junior.

	"Oh my, Dad...I see what you mean!"  The boy laughingly blurted out.  "He doesn't have
a tail!  I was afraid to look, I didn't know what to expect.  If a tail is all he's missing 
he'll be fine...won't he, Dad?"

	"Yes, Doc Dan assured me he would be, Junior."  The dad told his son.  "We were worried
you might not want this colt when you saw him.  I'm glad you want him.  A lot of young people
wouldn't settle for anything but the best.  I'm proud of you, boy."

	"It's okay Dad, I'll be the only kid in Clayton County that has a horse with no tail.  
Neat, huh Dad?"  Grinned Junior.

	"Well, I guess that's one way of looking at it, boy."  Mr. Rogers laughed with 
relief.

	He and Mrs. Rogers were worried the boy would be disappointed with the colt.  They 
couldn't have sold the colt since he didn't have a tail, nobody would want it.  This way they
weren't actually going to out much money because Dr. Dan donated his time as a gift to Junior.

	Junior was a good boy who had a lot of friends.  He was the kind of kid who would walk 
that last mile for you if you needed him to.  Doctor Dan knew he had his thirteenth birthday 
coming up so this was his birthday gift to him.

	If a young man in these parts didn't have his own horse by the time he reached his teens
it would be a social disaster...at least that's how the young boys saw it.

	Junior climbed inside the stall for a better look at the new arrival.  He carefully checked
him from his head to his tai...well, you get the picture.

	"My, but you're a pretty little thing.  I'll bet you'll be the fastest runner in the county 
won't you, boy?"  Junior said as he was rubbing the colt's long neck and legs.

	"And now...a name...what shall we call you?"  He said.

	"Well, it's no since trying to hide the fact you don't have a tail because I think everyone 
will notice that right off."  He thought to himself.

	"We'll just name you Nubby and act like we were expecting a colt with no tail all along.
What do you think, boy?"  The boy asked.

	The little colt looked up at Junior as if he understood every word he was saying.  There 
was already a special bond beginning with the two youngsters...one that would last for some time 
to come.

	Doctor Dan came a few days later to check out the colt once more.  Again he assured
Junior and his dad the little colt was otherwise fine.  He was perfectly healthy.

	While he was there he showed Junior how to keep the rear end of the colt sprayed with a 
repellent.

	"It's not necessary to cover his entire body with it, just the area he normally would 
have hit with his tail."  The doctor told the lad.  "You keep him sprayed in the summer, keep 
his tummy full, give him a lot of love and I can promise you he will be fine."  He assured the 
boy.

	After hours of begging and pleading from Junior his parents agreed to let him sleep in 
the barn to be near the colt.  There were still a few weeks of school left before the summer 
break and his parents were concerned he would let his homework suffer while he cared for the 
colt.

	They finally agreed with a couple of conditions.  One, that his homework would be done 
inside the house as soon as he comes in from school.  The other condition was all his chores 
would be taken care of before he left for school in the mornings.  This would leave the biggest 
part of the afternoon and evenings  he could be with the colt.  The two youngsters were rapidly 
becoming best friends.

	The next few weeks seemed to drag by slowly.  Junior couldn't wait until school was out so 
he could devote most of his time to Nubby.  Of course he still had a mess of chores to do every day 
but he managed to get them done before breakfast every morning.  Once in awhile Mr. Rogers would 
have Junior help him with repairing fence posts but, for the most part, Junior's day was clear to 
do everything he wanted with Nubby.

	There wasn't a day went by Junior didn't fuss over that colt.  If he wasn't spraying him 
he was brushing him.  It's a wonder Nubby had a coat of hair left.

	Except for his tail he was a fine looking piece of horse flesh.  Junior knew it too and 
he bragged about Nubby to all his friends.  Mr. Rogers thought it would be best for the 
youngsters not to come around until Nubby was weaned.  He didn't want Nubby's mom to get 
excited while she was still nursing him.

	Usually the mare was pretty evenly tempered but you never knew what a mama might do if 
she felt her baby was in danger.  A bunch of rowdy boys was not the best thing to have around 
her right now.

	It seemed like to Junior it took forever until his father thought it was safe enough to 
bring his friends around but the day had come.

	Junior couldn't wait until Rusty, Joey and Mickey saw his most prized possession, Nubby.  
The three boys got their first horses this spring as Junior did.  Junior had seen their colts 
and thought Nubby was the best by far.  He had told the boys about Nubby's tail, or lack of 
it, but I guess the old adage is right.  One picture is worth a thousand words.  Junior wasn't 
prepared for what happened next.

	"What do you guys think of Nubby...isn't he neat?"  Junior asked the trio.

	"Well...I, er...I...I don't know what to think, Junior."  Rusty told him.

	"I think he's kind of weird looking if you ask me."  Mickey volunteered.

	Joey slowly walked around him a few times looking him over then...

	"Well...I'm just glad he's yours and not mine because I think he's the stupidest 
looking thing I've ever seen."

	With this uncalled for remark the three boys roared with laughter and began making 
all kinds of wise cracks about Nubby.

	Junior's feelings were hurt.  He couldn't understand why they were making fun of Nubby 
the way they were.  He had only good things to say about their colts.  Even though Joey's colt 
is too skinny, he was polite enough not to mention it.  Rusty's colt doesn't miss much being 
cross-eyed but he didn't make rude remarks about it.  Mickey's colt has a pot-belly but he 
didn't make jokes about him either.

	"Come on guys...I thought you were my friends.  Why are you acting so rude?"  
Junior asked the youngsters.

	"Oh...come on now, Junior.  You have to admit he is pretty silly looking."  Mickey 
bellowed.

	"Yeah, he looks like a huge Cocker Spaniel."  Rusty said laughing so hard he 
nearly fell off the split-rail fence he was straddling.

	"No Rusty, he doesn't look like a Cocker Spaniel.  He looks like a donkey 
you pin the tail on."  Joey said as tears was running down his face from laughing so hard.

	"Okay...that's it...you've seen enough of Nubby."  Junior told the boys.  "I think 
it's time you went on home now."

	"We haven't seen enough of him yet Junior, when do we get to see his tail?"  
Rusty laughed.

	With these words the boys roared with laughter and started meandering down the dirt 
road.

	It was all Junior could do to choke back the tears that were swelling up inside him.  
He adored Nubby and he couldn't understand how three young men could be so cruel to one of their 
friends.

	"Don't worry boy, they're just jealous that's all.  You're my colt and I love you."  
Sadly Junior told Nubby.

	Junior led the colt out of the training corral and into the barn.  He really was 
disgusted with his friends.  He couldn't believe anyone could be so out and out mean.  He
decided to talk to his father about what had happened.  Maybe he could shed some light on 
why these young boys would act that way.

	"Junior, unfortunately everyone isn't as polite and well mannered as you.  I expecially 
hate it this particular time because they're your friends. You have to overlook cruel remarks
people make about Nubby.  The worst of it is there will probably be many more remarks made by 
other people too.  Let's face it, Nubby is a novelty right now.  Maybe as people get used to 
him they will settle down a little bit."  Mr. Rogers told his son.

	"But Nubby is really smart, Dad.  Did you know he knows how to open the corral gate now?"
Junior asked.  "I think that's pretty smart but I only had to tell him once not to do it 
anymore...and he hasn't."  Junior grinned.

	"I know Son...Nubby is your horse and you don't have to worry about what other people 
think.  Some people just don't know you should never judge a book by it's cover."  He said.

	"Huh...I don't get it, Dad."  The boy told his father.

	"Well, by that I mean...well... for some reason we humans seem to judge people by how 
they look, you know on the outside.  We should be judging them by what's on the inside.  You
can't tell how good a book is going to be to read by just looking at the cover."  His dad said.

	"You mean just because someone is pretty on the outside...doesn't necessarily mean 
they're pretty on the inside.  And just because someone is not so pretty on the 
outside...doesn't mean they're not pretty on the inside."  Right, Dad?"  The boy asked.

	"Well, that's a little wordy, Son, but I think you get the drift of it.  
Your friends see Nubby as funny looking on the outside...what they don't know is how smart 
and talented he is on the inside.  Once they get to know him better, you'll see, they'll 
regret they laughed at him.  This also is a good thing to remember about people too, Son."  
The lad's father said with a wink.

	"Thanks, Dad."  The boy said with a grin.  "I can always depend on you to help me 
understand things.  I'll be glad when I'm grown so I will know everything like you do."  
The boy said.

	"Oh Son...oh my goodness.  That's another lesson, Son.  Nobody knows it all...just 
some folks think they do."  He said laughing so hard he had to hold his stomach. 

	Time has a way of slipping by quickly when you're on summer break.  It seemed like 
just yesterday Doc Dan delivered the colt.  Now he was growing into a beautiful horse...tail or 
no tail.  Junior gave all his time to Nubby that summer and didn't see too much of his 
friends.  He'd nod when he saw them at church services but that was about it.
	
	The first day of school is always fun.  You get to meet new people and see old 
friends.  Speaking of old friends, Junior saw the three laughing hyenas walking toward him 
in the hall.

	"Hey Junior, we didn't see much of you this summer.  Are you still mad because we laughed 
at your colt?  We were just poking fun...you know that, don't you?"  Rusty asked.

	"Yeah, I guess..."

	Before Junior could finish his sentence one of the boys rudely broke in.

	"Oh man...look at that geeky girl.  Yuk!  I don't remember seeing her here last year."

	"Her name is Gayle."  Junior said.  "She and her family moved into the old 
farmhouse down the road from us, so cool it, she's a nice girl."

	"Ha..oh wow...Junior's in love with a geek named Gayle."  One of the hyenas hollered.

	Junior was really embarrassed.  He knew Gayle could hear what he said, it seemed like 
everyone heard it.

	Knock it off guys.  Her dad is a friend of my dad.  He asked me to show her around school 
today.  She doesn't know anyone and she feels a little awkward."  He told the boys.

	I can believe it."  Rusty said.  "I'd feel awkward too if I had a face like that."
	
	The other boys thought this was funny.  They laughed all the way down the hall.

	"I'm sorry about that, Gayle.  I used to think they were my friends but I don't know 
anymore...I guess I'm outgrowing them and I have to say I think it's a good thing.  They can 
be down right cruel."  Junior told the young girl.

	"It's okay, Junior.  I'm sort of used to it...you know.  I'm not a pretty girl and 
I know it so I just live with it.  I don't need to meet too many people anyway.  My parents 
are going to send me to an all girls school as soon as my school records get transferred here.  
Boys don't like me too much so I guess it's a good thing I'm transferring."

	Junior felt badly for Gayle all day long.  He kept thinking about what his dad told him 
about not judging a book by it's cover.  This was a perfect example of what he meant.  Gayle 
didn't look too good outside but inside she was a beautiful person.  Junior made up his mind, 
then and there, he was going out of his way to earn Gayle's friendship.

	He found out by talking with her they had a lot in common.  It turned out Gayle loved 
horses as much as Junior did.  They liked the same music, the same movie stars, even the same 
subjects in school.  The most important thing, to Junior anyway, was the fact Gayle adored 
Nubby.

	For weeks Junior, Gayle and Nubby went everywhere together.  They went for long walks, 
picnics, even church.  Nubby would always follow along behind and wait outside until services 
were over.  Later he would follow them back to Gayle's house where Junior always went for 
Sunday dinner.  Gayle's family liked Junior a lot.  Junior's family thought Gayle was a 
wonderful girl.  They really were best friends.

	By now Gayle was attending the all girls school on the other side of the county.  She 
seemed to like it very well and her grades were excellent.

	Junior didn't get a lot of peace from the three laughing hyenas.  They teased, 
tormented and made fun of him the entire school year because he was best friends with Gayle.  
I expect if the truth was found out they really were just out and out jealous of the friendship 
the young couple had.

	One day the three boys dropped by for a visit.  It seemed they would go out of their 
way for the opportunity to harass Junior about Nubby or Gayle.

	"Hey Junior, when are you and geeky Gayle getting married?"  Rusty asked.

	Then Mickey said.  "Can you imagine what their baby will look like?  If it looks like 
Gayle they will have to hang a pork chop around it's neck to get the family dog to play with 
it."

	With these rude and cruel remarks they rolled with laughter.  Junior just waited until 
they were through with all their nasty remarks then he came back with a few zingers of his own.

	"Oh yeah...have you guys looked in a mirror lately?  Mickey, you'd hardly be a prize 
for any girl.  You could play that connect the dots game on your face with all the freckles 
you have.  Rusty, you're shorter than most girls we know, you'd have to stand on an orange 
crate just to try to kiss a girl.

	Joey, most girls won't give you the time of day because you go out of your way to 
impress them with your rudeness.  So before you start cracking on Gayle you better take a long 
look at yourselves.  So just lay off, okay?"  Junior blasted.

	It seemed the hyenas could dish out cruel remarks to other people but they couldn't 
stand the thought of having one thrown at them.  They got mad and stormed home.

	"Those darned fools don't know what real friendship is, Son,  you know that don't you?"  
Junior's dad said as he was walking out to talk to the boy.  "The friendship you and Gayle 
have is a beautiful thing.  You accept her for the wonderful person she is inside...I'm proud 
of you...I just felt the need to tell you so."  He told the boy.

	"You know something, Dad...at first I became Gayle's friend because I felt sorry for 
her.  Now I know she truly is my best friend."  Junior grinned.

	The next afternoon Gayle came for a visit.  She had some sad news and it really upset 
her to have to tell Junior.

	"Junior, you've been so kind to me...I really appreciate how you took the time to get 
to know the person inside of me instead of shying away from the person on the outside of me."  
Gayle said fumbling for the right words.

	"Gayle...what's the matter?  What are you trying to tell me?"  He worried.

	"My grandmother is very sick.  My mom has to move back to the east coast to take care of 
her.  I'll have to go with her and enroll in school there while she's caring for her.  I asked 
to stay here with my dad but he was afraid he wouldn't be able to care for me properly...you 
know because he's so busy running the farm and all."  Gayle said so obviously depressed.

	"Gee Gayle, I don't know what to say.  How long will you be gone, do you know?"  
He asked.

	"The doctor said there is no way of knowing for sure.  Mom promised me as soon as 
Grandma was able to care for herself we would return home."  Gayle said.

	"Will you promise to write me every month?"  Junior asked.

	"No...but I promise you I'll write every week."  Gayle grinned with her braces and thick 
glasses gleaming in the afternoon sun.

	With this they gave each other a big hug and said their good-byes.

	For weeks Junior couldn't think of anyone but Gayle.  You know, I wonder what she's doing 
right now.  I wonder if she will like the new school but most of all, I wonder if she will find 
a new best friend.

	Junior cared a lot about Gayle and if she found someone she liked better...he surely 
would be crushed.

	Time dragged bye, it seemed like an eternity to Junior.  He would talk with Gayle's dad 
daily to find out what was going on.  Gayle told him in her letters everything was going well 
but she was the type of girl who wouldn't let him know the truth if it wasn't, only because she 
wouldn't want him to worry.

	Gyle's dad would go visit every other month for a weekend because he missed his family so 
much.  He would ask Junior each time he went if he would like to go with him.  The boy's family 
just didn't have that kind of extra money.  Junior knew this and he accepted things like a man.

	Days turned into weeks.  Weeks turned into months.  Months turned into an entire year 
Gayle had been gone.  Junior missed her something awful but he and Nubby didn't give up hope 
of seeing her soon.

	One afternoon after school Junior was dragging along the dirt road kicking an old tin 
can out of boredom as he made his way home.  He looked up and saw Nubby running like the wind 
to greet him.

	"Hi boy, I'm glad you came to meet me but what are you so excited about...huh?"  He 
asked.

	Junior grabbed a handful of Nubby's mane and threw himself across Nubby's back to ride 
the rest of the way.  He never used a saddle with his horse, they both seemed to like it better 
that way.  The two made their way on down the road home. 

	"Hi Mom...Dad, I'll do my homework later if that's okay?"  He asked.  "I want to take 
Nubby for a long ride to settle him down a little.  He's acting really fidgety for some reason."

	"Just this once, Son."  Junior's father said.  "Say, you don't have room on Nubby for 
two people do you, Son?"

	About that time Mrs. Rogers opened a bedroom door and out walked the most beautiful 
young woman Junior had ever seen.  She had long dark hair...like silk, beautiful straight 
white teeth that sparkled like expensive pearls, gorgeous sea green eyes with thick, dark lashes 
and her skin...well, her skin was like velvet.

	"Gayle...Gayle...is it you?  Oh my...yes, it is you!  I don't believe it...I missed 
you so much."  The boy screamed as he ran to hug her.

	"I was so afraid you'd forget about me." Junior told her.

	"Now, could I ever forget my best friend?  The friend who gave me the confidence to
believe in myself."  She laughed.

	"I don't understand Gayle, what happened to you?"  The boy laughed.  "You're beautiful!"

	"I really don't know.  I guess this person was always inside me.  It was just going to
take a little time for her to come out."  She laughed.  "Besides, wasn't it you who kept telling 
me how beautiful I was on the inside?  I guess you were right."

	"Come on, let's go find the hyenas and let them see who's laughing now."  Junior said.

	"No my friend, I've had a lot of time to think since I've been gone and I don't have to 
prove anything to anyone.  I am who I've always been."  She said.

	"Yes...yes you are, Gayle.  You're the beautiful girl I always knew you were."  The lad
told her.

	Years passed...Junior, Gayle and Nubby remained best friends.  When they were old enough
they eventually married and had three daughters.  Each one as beautiful as her mother.

	The next time you meet someone who isn't pretty on the outside remind yourself of Gayle.
Remember, never...judge a book by it's cover.

							The end