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

~Webrings~

~Index~