Photo by Alena Koval: https://www.pexels.com/photo/person-s-left-hand-holding-green-leaf-plant-886521/
There was a particular man everybody in the village avoided like a plague. His name was Jasper, and he had a reputation for being a scoundrel. He was always up to no good,whether it was tricking the old ladies out of their savings or causing trouble with the local farmers. He was always operating in the night and in the morning he left without a single trace of his mischief. His mischiefs and troubles soon reached the ears of the Princess Eva, the King's daughter; she wondered why such a young man would decide to dedicate his life to causing troubles. She didn't believe someone was actually brought into the world with such behavior, there has to be a reason behind such an act.
One evening, as the princess was strolling around the market in the company of her guards and maids, she saw a man being dragged roughly by a small crowd of angry looking people, she stopped them and asked what the problem was…
“ What's the problem, why do you handle this young man so roughly like this, what is it that he has done to agitate you people ?
The princess asked.
“ My princess, started one of the men holding Jasper,he was caught stealing bread from a bakery, we've had enough of this man, he has been causing trouble for everyone in the village, we're taking him to the palace for the king to decide his fate.
“ Young man, lift your head and look at me now ” The princess ordered in a commanding voice.
Jasper slowly lifted his head and looked into the eyes of the princess.
The princess was shocked, he was so handsome and charming, he had such lovely eyes, his face looked so innocent and calm compared to his behavior.
As she was still admiring his facial features, the owner of the bakery he stole from smacked him on his head and called him a good for nothing scoundrel, he whimpered in pain.
The princess pleaded with the people to let her handle the case and she also offered to pay for the damages he caused . After much pleading and consideration they finally let him go. She took him to the palace to talk with him. She asked him several questions about his family background and why he chose this way of life.
“ Why do you do these things?" She asked softly. "You don’t have to live this way.”
Jasper let out a deep sigh, as if the weight of the world had fallen on his shoulders.
"I didn’t choose to be this way," he muttered, i don't have a choice and it feels like everyone already sees me as a scoundrel so why not live up to the name ? and besides i don't have family or friends, or any means of survival so i just do it to survive and support myself everyday.
After listening to his story, the princess decided to help him..
“ Don't you think it's time to show the village and the world a different version of you, you don't have to continue living this way, you're young and i can tell you have promising future.
Jasper was quiet for a long while, the princess wors continued repeating in his head, maybe he didn't have to be a scoundrel after all. Slowly he started to change, the princess offered him a job in the palace.
It took time for the villagers to stop seeing him as a scoundrel, he helped the farmers with their crops, he fixed the problem he had with the baker and so many other people.
Photo by Stefan Stefancik: https://www.pexels.com/photo/man-on-gray-shirt-portrait-91227/
I like this redeeming story.