Writer of the Week

(Click on the comic strip above to read the words on Catherine's illustration of the story.)

The Golden Apple
retold by Catherine (age 11)

Once there was a city named Troy, which was constructed when the demi-gods walked around the planet. Troy had high walls, tall towers, great gates, and fortresses with mighty men. The rich king of this magnificent city was Priam, who was old and had many sons. One of his sons was Hector. He was brave, strong, noble, and a commander in Troy.

King Priam had another son; his name was Paris. Paris was not like his brother, Hector. He was not strong, noble, nor brave in the least bit. When Paris was a baby, a fortune teller told the king that his son would bring great trouble upon Troy. So Paris was sent away from the city, and was raised in the country where he herded sheep.

Years later, Zeus was hosting a wedding feast for Peleus and Thetis. All the gods and goddesses came except for the one who was not invited: Eris, the goddess of discord. Eris, who loved disharmony, rolled a golden apple into the feast. “For the fairest one” was written on the apple. Three goddesses claimed the apple: Aphrodite, Athene, and Hera. But none of the guests would choose which goddess was fairest, because if they chose one, the other two would never be kind to them again.

About this time, Paris the shepherd walked by the palace where Zeus was hosting the feast. The guests saw him, and asked him to pick the fairest of the three goddesses. Aphrodite, Athene, and Hera each offered Paris a gift if he chose her. Hera would give him power, Athene would make him wise, and Aphrodite would give him the love of the world’s most beautiful woman! Paris chose Aphrodite; Hera and Athene stormed away in anger.

There was just one problem; the world’s most beautiful woman, Helen, was already married! Thus the Trojan War was started!