Happy Birthday, Mother, part 1
by Susan Owens
Copyright 2000
CHARACTERS:
Xena - Warrior Princess
Gabby - The Bard, sidekick, and hero
Joxer - Wanna-be warrior
Jett - King of Assassins
Jace - The other brother
Jedza - The Triplet's mother
Hemes - Servant
Rating: PG
The riders stood just outside of Athens. Three of the riders were brothers, and
they had come home to visit their mother. One rider rode over to one of the
others.
"Joxer, are you okay?" asked the blond woman.
The wanna-be warrior smiled slightly at her. "Yeah, I'm fine. I can hardly wait
to see mother again."
"How long has it been?" the bard asked.
"Not too long. I saw her last year. But it's the first time in years all of us
have seen her together."
Gabrielle nodded. "What about Jace?"
Joxer shook his head. "The last time mother saw Jace was a week before father
kicked him out. She wasn't there when he left. She was visiting our aunt."
Jett, who had decided to walk for a while so Hades only had one rider, looked at
his brother. "I remember that day. Mother cried and screamed at father because
he sent Jace away."
Jett remounted Hades in front of Joxer. "Come on, let's get this over with. Boy,
will mother be surprised to see us. Right, Jace?"
Jace nodded "Che chur will be. I chust hope I am welcome."
Xena put a hand on his shoulder. Jace turned to look at her. "Jace, your mother
will be very glad to see you."
Jace smiled at her. "Tanks, Xeena."
They were soon in front of the house. Jett dismounted Hades. Joxer climbed off,
too.
Xena and Gabrielle stared at the house. It was the biggest house either of them
had ever seen. It had an enormous courtyard with a fountain in the center, and
decorative gardens to either side. The entryway doors were inlaid with elaborate
patterned tiles, and the opening was wide enough to drive a cart through.
Suddenly an old man came out of the house and ran to the brothers. "Master Jett,
Master Joxer, and Master Jace. You came home. Oh, sirs, I'm so glad you're
home."
Jett patted the old man on the back. "Hey, Hemes. It's good to be back. So
where's mother?"
"She's in the main den, sir "
"Thanks Hemes. Joxer, you and I will go in first. Jace, you wait out here with
Xena and Blondie there."
"The name is Gabrielle," replied the bard.
"Whatever," replied Jett.
The two brothers enter the house. Xena turned to Jace. "You have servants?"
Jace just shook his head. "Eess been a long time seence I been home. But we
always had serfants. Hemes has been with us seence we were leettle. He and hees
wife help raise us. Heather was like anoder moder to all of us. Che's gone now.
Che died a long time ago. I meess her."
Joxer and Jett stood in the doorway of the den. There was their mother, writing
in her scroll.
Joxer cleared his throat. Their mother looked up. She stared for a few minutes
and then got up, walked over, and gave her two sons a hug.
"Jett, Joxer, jou made et! Jou came home for mon birthday. If only Jace could be
here." Her gentle French accent was music to their ears.
Joxer smiled at her and then looked at his brother. "Now? Do we surprise her
now?"
Jett nodded his head. "Mother, we have a surprise for you. Close your eyes and
don't open them, okay?"
Jedza nodded her head.
"I'll be right back," said Jett.
Jett came outside. "Okay, come on. I'll introduce you to Jedza, our mother."
They walked into the den where Joxer was standing by Jedza. Her eyes were
closed. Jace stared at his mother. She was still as beautiful as he remembered
her being.
"Hello Moder."
Their mother opened her eyes. She saw Jace, and began to cry.
"Oh, Jace, b*b*, is et you, en r*alit*?" She walked over and gave him a hug that
seemed to take his breath away. She turned to her other two sons. "Merci, for a
won'erful surprise."
Joxer smiled at his mother. He was so glad she was happy. She smiled back at her
son. "So, are you going to introduce me to your friends?" she asked in her soft
voice.
Joxer nodded his head, his expression guilty. "Oh, sorry." He put his hand on
the bard's shoulder. "Mother, this is Gabrielle. She's a bard and tells good
stories about Xena."
Jedza smiled at Gabrielle. "So you are le belle Gabrielle. My son has told me a
great deal about you."
The bard smiled at the woman. "All good, I hope."
The trio's mother nodded her head. "Sometimes oui, sometimes no."
"Mother," warned Joxer, trying to stop her from saying anything else. "This is
Xena. The Warrior Princess."
She stared at Xena. "I have heard of you. The Destroyer of Nations. "
The Warrior Princess nodded her head, seriously. "I was that person, a long time
ago."
Jedza nodded her head. "You are welcome in my house."
Jett went over and picked his mother up, saying something to her in French. She
smiled at him and answered him back in French. The assassin laughed and put his
mother back down.
Gabrielle turned to Joxer. "Did you understand what he just said?"
Her friend smiled. "I don't know if I should tell you. I think it was private
between them."
His older brother stared at everyone. "I'm sorry. I just forgot you two don't
understand my mother's language. I told her that I loved her. She was just
agreeing with me. "
Xena smiled at Jett. He stared at her. "What can't a guy tell his mother he
loves her?"
They all laughed. Jedza smiled and got up and called for Hemes.
"Yes, Ma'am?" he answered.
"See to my guests. Show them their rooms. I want to spend some time seulement
with my sons."
Xena and Gabrielle smiled and followed Hemes up the stairs. He took them each to
a big room that had a cozy hearth in it and a door leading into another room.
"These two rooms combine." He pointed to yet another room. "That is the
bathroom. If you want you may freshen up before dinner. Dinner is served at six.
If you need anything ladies, feel free to called me."
The old servant quietly left the room. Gabrielle stared at her surroundings.
"Xena, this is unbelievable. How could Joxer leave such a place?"
The Warrior Princess smirked at her friend. "We all have to leave someday,
Gabrielle. Now I think I'll take a bath."
The bard smiled as Xena went into the bathroom.
Jedza sat down on the sofa as her sons gathered around her, Jett and Joxer on
the sofa with her and Jace on a footstool. She smiled at them "Now tell me mes
aim*s fils, what have you been up to?"
Joxer was the first one to speak "Mother, Jett saved Jace and I."
"Joxer," his mother replied "It's 'me and Jace'."
"Yeah, right, me and Jace, from father."
Jett shook his head. "I didn't save you, moron, Jace did."
Jedza grabbed her eldest son by the ear. "Do not call your brother a moron. I
will not have that in my house. Do you understand?"
The assassin looked hurt. "I'm sorry, mother."
Joxer began again "Anyway, Jett saved us from father. I know Jace is the one who
fought father, but Jett gave him the courage."
"Courage," replied Jace. "He scared de leeving daylights outta me."
"Yes," replied Joxer, "but he still gave you the courage to face father." He
looked at his oldest brother, "And Jett, you did save me. If you hadn't come
along when father's men had me, I would have died."
Jedza sat, looking at her sons. Jace had beaten Judd in a fight. She knew from
experience that her husband would not let this go. She feared for her sons.
"Your father will be tres angry."
Jett took his mother's hand. "Don't worry mother, everything will be all right."
"J'espere ainsi. Jace, what have you been doing?"
He looked lovingly at her.
"I follow de music, moder. Wherefer it lead, I follow. That ees how I found
Jocsair again, at a music festival."
"I am so glad someone loves music." She turned to her youngest. "I just wish it
had been you, b*b*."
Joxer felt his face turning red. He hoped no one noticed, but Jett had.
"Hey mother, look at that. Jox is blushing."
"I am not," replied Joxer. "It's just hot in here."
"Sure bro," replied Jett, "It's just hot in here."
His younger brother just looked at him and then looked at his mother. "Mother, I
have a birthday gift for you. Would you like to hear it?"
Their mother nodded her head. Joxer took the lute off of the wall and began to
tune it up. When it was ready, he began to sing a new verse to his song, in
French.
"Joxer le fils qui aime vous
D*sirer le joyeux anniversaire
Mere, quoique souvent ici pas
En mon coeur toujours aupres
Vous ne vous connaissez pas etes tres cher
A Joxer, Joxer le puissant"
When he was done his mother had tears in her eyes. "Oh, mon petite, that was so
wonderful. Thank you."
"That was lovely, Joxer. Can I hear it all the way through?"
They turned to see Xena and Gabrielle enter the room. They were both wearing
dresses that Hemes had laid out for them. Eve looked nice also. Joxer had to
catch his breath - to him, Gabrielle looked liked a Goddess.
Jace poked Jett to get his attention. "I bet Jocsair weell sing de song again as
soon as he find his voice."
Jett nodded his head. The bard noticed Joxer's look. "Joxer, close your mouth. I
asked you a question. Can we hear the song?"
Joxer began to sing his song again this time so his friends could hear it.
"Joxer your loving son
Wishes you a happy birthday
Mother, though I'm rarely here
In my heart you're always near
Don't you know you're very dear
To Joxer, Joxer the Mighty"
They both realized it was his song he was singing, but it sounded so sweet. "Why
don't you sing your song for us that way?"asked the bard.
"Because this verse of my song was for mother's ears first." He bent down and
kissed his mother. Hemes entered the room.
"Ma'am, dinner is served."
"Thank you, Hemes." She put out her hand to Jace "Would you be so kind as to
take me to dinner?"
Jace held out his arm while his mother placed her arm in his. Joxer smiled and
did the same for Gabrielle. Jett stared at The Warrior Princess for only a
moment then did the same. "Shall we?" he shrugged.
Xena smiled and with Eve on one side took Jett's arm with her free one. "Let's,"
she replied.
As they walked into the dining room, Gabrielle stared at the large table of
food. She saw roast lamb, a enormous roast pig with an apple in its mouth,
baskets full of bread, baskets full of fruit and cheese, potatoes and a lot
more. There was enough food to feed a whole army. Joxer look at her and he
shrugged.
"Mother always did have a huge meal."
The bard just nodded her head as Joxer lead her to the table, pulled out her
chair and stood there while he waited for her to sit down. The other two men did
the same. As soon as they sat down, their mother cleared her throat to get their
attention.
"Now mes amours, what have you been up to?"
Jett looked up from carving his meat. "Me? I'm still in prison. Xena is taking
me back after my visit."
Jedza looked at Xena. "Must you take him back?"
Xena nodded her head. "Yes, I have to."
Their mother looked at Xena. "Can he stay until the end of the week? Please?"
"To the end of the week, but no longer than that."
They talked about other things after that. Jace told them that his troupe would
visit here soon and they would put on a show for his mother.
"Moder, it weell be so bootiful. We are tinking about doink a musical."
"Really," commented the bard. "What's the musical about?"
Jace smiled. "Eet's about a man who wans so much to be a warrior but ees not
very good at eet. Everyting he does nefer goes right. He can' fight and he ees
always een de way."
"Gee," replied Jett, "I wonder who that reminds me of?"
Joxer shook his head. "Beats me."
Gabrielle and Jett stared at each other. Jedza smiled at Jace.
"Please go on mon doux, tell us more."
Jace smiled and went on. "He fall in luve weeth a bootiful preencess and wans to
marry her."
He started to go on, but his mother stopped him. "Please, say no more. I would
rather see it."
"Well, ee's only talk steel. We need someone to play de part," replied Jace.
Joxer shook his head. "What moron would play that part? That guy sounds like a
loser."
Jett began to laugh. "Jox, you kill me! Jace is talking about you."
Joxer jumped up and glared at his older brother. "He is not! "
Gabrielle laughed, too. "Joxer, it sounds just like you."
Joxer was mad now. "It does not sound like me. I'm not in love with a princess,
Gabrielle. I'm in love with you!"
Joxer stormed out of the room. His mother called out to him, "Joxer, come back,
bebe, s'il vous pla?t."
Gabrielle felt bad. She hadn't meant to hurt his feelings. "I'll go talk to
him."
"Good idea," replied Xena.
The bard found Joxer sitting on a stone bench in the garden.
"Can I sit beside you.?"
He moved over, but said nothing. Gabrielle just sat there, and for a while
neither one said anything. Finally Joxer spoke.
"Remember that town where there were all those plays?"
"You mean Piraeus?"
"Yeah, that's it."
"What about it?"
Joxer suddenly jumped up and turned to face Gabrielle.
"Look at me! Can you see me? Am I invisible?"
The bard stared at him. "Joxer, what's this about?'
He wrung his hands and glared at her.
"Just answer me. Can you see me?"
"Yes, of course I can see you."
"Then why did you leave me hanging upside down in that Gods forsaken theatre ?"
Gabrielle was confused. "Upside down? What are you talking about?"
He stared at her. She didn't understand what he was saying. He suddenly threw up
his hands. "Oh, never mind. You really have no idea what I'm talking about."
At that he walked away. Gabrielle was now running to keep up. "Wait, Joxer,
please, let's talk."
He stopped and turned around. "No. We've got nothing to say."
He walked into the house and did not look back. The bard stood there with her
mouth hanging open. She felt a hand on her shoulder.
"What happened Gabrielle?"
She turned to face Xena. "I really don't know. Jace was talking about that
musical his troupe is going to be doing. The lead part described Joxer
perfectly, and I thought it was funny. So I laughed. He got all upset. I mean
really, Xena, Joxer overreacted."
The warrior princess looked at her friend "Did he? Think about it, Gabrielle."
Gabrielle nodded her head thoughtfully. After a minute, she smiled at Xena.
"I'll talk to him."
Xena smiled back. "Good. I hate to see my two best friends unhappy. Come on,
Jett and Jace are going to give their birthday presents to Jedza."
"In a minute. I've got to talk to Joxer first."
"Okay, but don't be long."
Gabrielle found Joxer in a large room. He was sitting in a chair picking at his
lute.
"Hey. Can we talk?"
He didn't look up. "I guess."
"Joxer, this is not easy for me. The least you could do is pay attention."
"Why? You don't pay attention to me."
The words were cold and they made Gabrielle shiver.
"That's not true."
"Oh yeah. Well, let me tell you, Gabby. If it hadn't been for that stranger I
might have died hanging upside down like that."
"You would not have."
"Gabrielle, I called and called for help but no one came. Just as I thought I
was going to pass out, someone lowered me down and cut me loose. He then laid me
on the ground till my head stopped spinning. I couldn't see his face because my
eyes refused to focus, but I heard his voice telling me I was going to be fine.
He placed a wet cloth over my forehead and stayed with me until the dizziness
went away. Even when my eyes would focus I still couldn't see his face."
Gabrielle listened intently. "Why?"
"He was wearing a hood that covered his face. And he said the strangest thing."
"What was that?"
Joxer paused for a moment. "That he loved me, and he always would."
Gabrielle looked doubtful. "You mean, he was like Jace?"
Joxer shook his head. "No, not like that. It was more like what a son would say
to his father. But that's crazy."
"So, what happened then?"
"Well, he stayed with me for about an hour. He didn't say much, just kept
staring at me. Then he got up. I swear Gabby, I thought he was going to cry, and
he left. I staggered to my feet and went after him, but he was gone. I never got
a chance to thank him."
Gabrielle held Joxer close. "Maybe he didn't want thanks."
"Gabby, why would a stranger help me?"
"I don't know, Joxer."
"Come on," she said as she pulled on his arm, "let's go see what Jett and Jace
got for your mother."
Continue
by Susan Owens
Copyright 2000
CHARACTERS:
Xena - Warrior Princess
Gabby - The Bard, sidekick, and hero
Joxer - Wanna-be warrior
Jett - King of Assassins
Jace - The other brother
Jedza - The Triplet's mother
Hemes - Servant
Rating: PG
The riders stood just outside of Athens. Three of the riders were brothers, and
they had come home to visit their mother. One rider rode over to one of the
others.
"Joxer, are you okay?" asked the blond woman.
The wanna-be warrior smiled slightly at her. "Yeah, I'm fine. I can hardly wait
to see mother again."
"How long has it been?" the bard asked.
"Not too long. I saw her last year. But it's the first time in years all of us
have seen her together."
Gabrielle nodded. "What about Jace?"
Joxer shook his head. "The last time mother saw Jace was a week before father
kicked him out. She wasn't there when he left. She was visiting our aunt."
Jett, who had decided to walk for a while so Hades only had one rider, looked at
his brother. "I remember that day. Mother cried and screamed at father because
he sent Jace away."
Jett remounted Hades in front of Joxer. "Come on, let's get this over with. Boy,
will mother be surprised to see us. Right, Jace?"
Jace nodded "Che chur will be. I chust hope I am welcome."
Xena put a hand on his shoulder. Jace turned to look at her. "Jace, your mother
will be very glad to see you."
Jace smiled at her. "Tanks, Xeena."
They were soon in front of the house. Jett dismounted Hades. Joxer climbed off,
too.
Xena and Gabrielle stared at the house. It was the biggest house either of them
had ever seen. It had an enormous courtyard with a fountain in the center, and
decorative gardens to either side. The entryway doors were inlaid with elaborate
patterned tiles, and the opening was wide enough to drive a cart through.
Suddenly an old man came out of the house and ran to the brothers. "Master Jett,
Master Joxer, and Master Jace. You came home. Oh, sirs, I'm so glad you're
home."
Jett patted the old man on the back. "Hey, Hemes. It's good to be back. So
where's mother?"
"She's in the main den, sir "
"Thanks Hemes. Joxer, you and I will go in first. Jace, you wait out here with
Xena and Blondie there."
"The name is Gabrielle," replied the bard.
"Whatever," replied Jett.
The two brothers enter the house. Xena turned to Jace. "You have servants?"
Jace just shook his head. "Eess been a long time seence I been home. But we
always had serfants. Hemes has been with us seence we were leettle. He and hees
wife help raise us. Heather was like anoder moder to all of us. Che's gone now.
Che died a long time ago. I meess her."
Joxer and Jett stood in the doorway of the den. There was their mother, writing
in her scroll.
Joxer cleared his throat. Their mother looked up. She stared for a few minutes
and then got up, walked over, and gave her two sons a hug.
"Jett, Joxer, jou made et! Jou came home for mon birthday. If only Jace could be
here." Her gentle French accent was music to their ears.
Joxer smiled at her and then looked at his brother. "Now? Do we surprise her
now?"
Jett nodded his head. "Mother, we have a surprise for you. Close your eyes and
don't open them, okay?"
Jedza nodded her head.
"I'll be right back," said Jett.
Jett came outside. "Okay, come on. I'll introduce you to Jedza, our mother."
They walked into the den where Joxer was standing by Jedza. Her eyes were
closed. Jace stared at his mother. She was still as beautiful as he remembered
her being.
"Hello Moder."
Their mother opened her eyes. She saw Jace, and began to cry.
"Oh, Jace, b*b*, is et you, en r*alit*?" She walked over and gave him a hug that
seemed to take his breath away. She turned to her other two sons. "Merci, for a
won'erful surprise."
Joxer smiled at his mother. He was so glad she was happy. She smiled back at her
son. "So, are you going to introduce me to your friends?" she asked in her soft
voice.
Joxer nodded his head, his expression guilty. "Oh, sorry." He put his hand on
the bard's shoulder. "Mother, this is Gabrielle. She's a bard and tells good
stories about Xena."
Jedza smiled at Gabrielle. "So you are le belle Gabrielle. My son has told me a
great deal about you."
The bard smiled at the woman. "All good, I hope."
The trio's mother nodded her head. "Sometimes oui, sometimes no."
"Mother," warned Joxer, trying to stop her from saying anything else. "This is
Xena. The Warrior Princess."
She stared at Xena. "I have heard of you. The Destroyer of Nations. "
The Warrior Princess nodded her head, seriously. "I was that person, a long time
ago."
Jedza nodded her head. "You are welcome in my house."
Jett went over and picked his mother up, saying something to her in French. She
smiled at him and answered him back in French. The assassin laughed and put his
mother back down.
Gabrielle turned to Joxer. "Did you understand what he just said?"
Her friend smiled. "I don't know if I should tell you. I think it was private
between them."
His older brother stared at everyone. "I'm sorry. I just forgot you two don't
understand my mother's language. I told her that I loved her. She was just
agreeing with me. "
Xena smiled at Jett. He stared at her. "What can't a guy tell his mother he
loves her?"
They all laughed. Jedza smiled and got up and called for Hemes.
"Yes, Ma'am?" he answered.
"See to my guests. Show them their rooms. I want to spend some time seulement
with my sons."
Xena and Gabrielle smiled and followed Hemes up the stairs. He took them each to
a big room that had a cozy hearth in it and a door leading into another room.
"These two rooms combine." He pointed to yet another room. "That is the
bathroom. If you want you may freshen up before dinner. Dinner is served at six.
If you need anything ladies, feel free to called me."
The old servant quietly left the room. Gabrielle stared at her surroundings.
"Xena, this is unbelievable. How could Joxer leave such a place?"
The Warrior Princess smirked at her friend. "We all have to leave someday,
Gabrielle. Now I think I'll take a bath."
The bard smiled as Xena went into the bathroom.
Jedza sat down on the sofa as her sons gathered around her, Jett and Joxer on
the sofa with her and Jace on a footstool. She smiled at them "Now tell me mes
aim*s fils, what have you been up to?"
Joxer was the first one to speak "Mother, Jett saved Jace and I."
"Joxer," his mother replied "It's 'me and Jace'."
"Yeah, right, me and Jace, from father."
Jett shook his head. "I didn't save you, moron, Jace did."
Jedza grabbed her eldest son by the ear. "Do not call your brother a moron. I
will not have that in my house. Do you understand?"
The assassin looked hurt. "I'm sorry, mother."
Joxer began again "Anyway, Jett saved us from father. I know Jace is the one who
fought father, but Jett gave him the courage."
"Courage," replied Jace. "He scared de leeving daylights outta me."
"Yes," replied Joxer, "but he still gave you the courage to face father." He
looked at his oldest brother, "And Jett, you did save me. If you hadn't come
along when father's men had me, I would have died."
Jedza sat, looking at her sons. Jace had beaten Judd in a fight. She knew from
experience that her husband would not let this go. She feared for her sons.
"Your father will be tres angry."
Jett took his mother's hand. "Don't worry mother, everything will be all right."
"J'espere ainsi. Jace, what have you been doing?"
He looked lovingly at her.
"I follow de music, moder. Wherefer it lead, I follow. That ees how I found
Jocsair again, at a music festival."
"I am so glad someone loves music." She turned to her youngest. "I just wish it
had been you, b*b*."
Joxer felt his face turning red. He hoped no one noticed, but Jett had.
"Hey mother, look at that. Jox is blushing."
"I am not," replied Joxer. "It's just hot in here."
"Sure bro," replied Jett, "It's just hot in here."
His younger brother just looked at him and then looked at his mother. "Mother, I
have a birthday gift for you. Would you like to hear it?"
Their mother nodded her head. Joxer took the lute off of the wall and began to
tune it up. When it was ready, he began to sing a new verse to his song, in
French.
"Joxer le fils qui aime vous
D*sirer le joyeux anniversaire
Mere, quoique souvent ici pas
En mon coeur toujours aupres
Vous ne vous connaissez pas etes tres cher
A Joxer, Joxer le puissant"
When he was done his mother had tears in her eyes. "Oh, mon petite, that was so
wonderful. Thank you."
"That was lovely, Joxer. Can I hear it all the way through?"
They turned to see Xena and Gabrielle enter the room. They were both wearing
dresses that Hemes had laid out for them. Eve looked nice also. Joxer had to
catch his breath - to him, Gabrielle looked liked a Goddess.
Jace poked Jett to get his attention. "I bet Jocsair weell sing de song again as
soon as he find his voice."
Jett nodded his head. The bard noticed Joxer's look. "Joxer, close your mouth. I
asked you a question. Can we hear the song?"
Joxer began to sing his song again this time so his friends could hear it.
"Joxer your loving son
Wishes you a happy birthday
Mother, though I'm rarely here
In my heart you're always near
Don't you know you're very dear
To Joxer, Joxer the Mighty"
They both realized it was his song he was singing, but it sounded so sweet. "Why
don't you sing your song for us that way?"asked the bard.
"Because this verse of my song was for mother's ears first." He bent down and
kissed his mother. Hemes entered the room.
"Ma'am, dinner is served."
"Thank you, Hemes." She put out her hand to Jace "Would you be so kind as to
take me to dinner?"
Jace held out his arm while his mother placed her arm in his. Joxer smiled and
did the same for Gabrielle. Jett stared at The Warrior Princess for only a
moment then did the same. "Shall we?" he shrugged.
Xena smiled and with Eve on one side took Jett's arm with her free one. "Let's,"
she replied.
As they walked into the dining room, Gabrielle stared at the large table of
food. She saw roast lamb, a enormous roast pig with an apple in its mouth,
baskets full of bread, baskets full of fruit and cheese, potatoes and a lot
more. There was enough food to feed a whole army. Joxer look at her and he
shrugged.
"Mother always did have a huge meal."
The bard just nodded her head as Joxer lead her to the table, pulled out her
chair and stood there while he waited for her to sit down. The other two men did
the same. As soon as they sat down, their mother cleared her throat to get their
attention.
"Now mes amours, what have you been up to?"
Jett looked up from carving his meat. "Me? I'm still in prison. Xena is taking
me back after my visit."
Jedza looked at Xena. "Must you take him back?"
Xena nodded her head. "Yes, I have to."
Their mother looked at Xena. "Can he stay until the end of the week? Please?"
"To the end of the week, but no longer than that."
They talked about other things after that. Jace told them that his troupe would
visit here soon and they would put on a show for his mother.
"Moder, it weell be so bootiful. We are tinking about doink a musical."
"Really," commented the bard. "What's the musical about?"
Jace smiled. "Eet's about a man who wans so much to be a warrior but ees not
very good at eet. Everyting he does nefer goes right. He can' fight and he ees
always een de way."
"Gee," replied Jett, "I wonder who that reminds me of?"
Joxer shook his head. "Beats me."
Gabrielle and Jett stared at each other. Jedza smiled at Jace.
"Please go on mon doux, tell us more."
Jace smiled and went on. "He fall in luve weeth a bootiful preencess and wans to
marry her."
He started to go on, but his mother stopped him. "Please, say no more. I would
rather see it."
"Well, ee's only talk steel. We need someone to play de part," replied Jace.
Joxer shook his head. "What moron would play that part? That guy sounds like a
loser."
Jett began to laugh. "Jox, you kill me! Jace is talking about you."
Joxer jumped up and glared at his older brother. "He is not! "
Gabrielle laughed, too. "Joxer, it sounds just like you."
Joxer was mad now. "It does not sound like me. I'm not in love with a princess,
Gabrielle. I'm in love with you!"
Joxer stormed out of the room. His mother called out to him, "Joxer, come back,
bebe, s'il vous pla?t."
Gabrielle felt bad. She hadn't meant to hurt his feelings. "I'll go talk to
him."
"Good idea," replied Xena.
The bard found Joxer sitting on a stone bench in the garden.
"Can I sit beside you.?"
He moved over, but said nothing. Gabrielle just sat there, and for a while
neither one said anything. Finally Joxer spoke.
"Remember that town where there were all those plays?"
"You mean Piraeus?"
"Yeah, that's it."
"What about it?"
Joxer suddenly jumped up and turned to face Gabrielle.
"Look at me! Can you see me? Am I invisible?"
The bard stared at him. "Joxer, what's this about?'
He wrung his hands and glared at her.
"Just answer me. Can you see me?"
"Yes, of course I can see you."
"Then why did you leave me hanging upside down in that Gods forsaken theatre ?"
Gabrielle was confused. "Upside down? What are you talking about?"
He stared at her. She didn't understand what he was saying. He suddenly threw up
his hands. "Oh, never mind. You really have no idea what I'm talking about."
At that he walked away. Gabrielle was now running to keep up. "Wait, Joxer,
please, let's talk."
He stopped and turned around. "No. We've got nothing to say."
He walked into the house and did not look back. The bard stood there with her
mouth hanging open. She felt a hand on her shoulder.
"What happened Gabrielle?"
She turned to face Xena. "I really don't know. Jace was talking about that
musical his troupe is going to be doing. The lead part described Joxer
perfectly, and I thought it was funny. So I laughed. He got all upset. I mean
really, Xena, Joxer overreacted."
The warrior princess looked at her friend "Did he? Think about it, Gabrielle."
Gabrielle nodded her head thoughtfully. After a minute, she smiled at Xena.
"I'll talk to him."
Xena smiled back. "Good. I hate to see my two best friends unhappy. Come on,
Jett and Jace are going to give their birthday presents to Jedza."
"In a minute. I've got to talk to Joxer first."
"Okay, but don't be long."
Gabrielle found Joxer in a large room. He was sitting in a chair picking at his
lute.
"Hey. Can we talk?"
He didn't look up. "I guess."
"Joxer, this is not easy for me. The least you could do is pay attention."
"Why? You don't pay attention to me."
The words were cold and they made Gabrielle shiver.
"That's not true."
"Oh yeah. Well, let me tell you, Gabby. If it hadn't been for that stranger I
might have died hanging upside down like that."
"You would not have."
"Gabrielle, I called and called for help but no one came. Just as I thought I
was going to pass out, someone lowered me down and cut me loose. He then laid me
on the ground till my head stopped spinning. I couldn't see his face because my
eyes refused to focus, but I heard his voice telling me I was going to be fine.
He placed a wet cloth over my forehead and stayed with me until the dizziness
went away. Even when my eyes would focus I still couldn't see his face."
Gabrielle listened intently. "Why?"
"He was wearing a hood that covered his face. And he said the strangest thing."
"What was that?"
Joxer paused for a moment. "That he loved me, and he always would."
Gabrielle looked doubtful. "You mean, he was like Jace?"
Joxer shook his head. "No, not like that. It was more like what a son would say
to his father. But that's crazy."
"So, what happened then?"
"Well, he stayed with me for about an hour. He didn't say much, just kept
staring at me. Then he got up. I swear Gabby, I thought he was going to cry, and
he left. I staggered to my feet and went after him, but he was gone. I never got
a chance to thank him."
Gabrielle held Joxer close. "Maybe he didn't want thanks."
"Gabby, why would a stranger help me?"
"I don't know, Joxer."
"Come on," she said as she pulled on his arm, "let's go see what Jett and Jace
got for your mother."
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