Before John Johanssen ever set foot in Emerald Valley as the man readers meet in Under the August Sky, he was a shy, insecure young adult everyone had once called “Fat JoJo,” and who was carrying four years of high school humiliation onto a college campus three hundred miles from home.
We wanted to give readers a glimpse of that in-between chapter: the years of growth, friendship, and faith that quietly reshaped him into the man he’d become. So we tried something new. “JoJo’s Transformation” is a short, free prequel that draws us into John’s journey from that first awkward move-in day to the moment, years later, when he walks back into Emerald Valley for good.
This one came together a little differently than our usual stories, and we think it’s worth reading not just for the story itself, but for what it represents. Details on that are below, along with a chance for you to tell us what you think, and win a copy of Erin Stevenson’s Dr. Mallory and the Undercover Dog-Dad along the way.
Grab a cup of coffee, and meet the John who existed before the John you already know. (If you’d rather listen or watch, scroll down. A video option follows the epilogue.)
Chapter 1: New Beginnings
The dormitory hallway stretched endlessly before John Johanssen, his duffel bag cutting into his shoulder and a cardboard box balanced precariously in his arms. Room 247. He’d memorized the number weeks ago, along with his class schedule and the campus map. Planning ahead was how he survived—it’s how Fat JoJo had made it through four years of high school without completely falling apart.
But that was behind him now. Pacific University was three hundred miles from Emerald Valley, three hundred miles from the whispers and the cruel nicknames. Here, nobody knew about the humiliation in the courtyard or the fake prom invitation that had crushed what little confidence he’d managed to scrape together.
John fumbled with his key card, nearly dropping the box as the door finally clicked open. His roommate hadn’t arrived yet, leaving him to choose between two identical beds, two matching desks, two small dressers. He chose the bed by the window and set down his belongings with a sigh of relief.
The view overlooked the quad, where students were already gathering in small groups, laughing and reconnecting after summer break. John watched them through the glass, recognizing the easy confidence he’d never possessed. These were the kids who’d been popular in their own high schools, the ones who knew how to navigate social situations without breaking into a cold sweat.
A knock on the door interrupted his brooding. John opened it to find a tall, lanky guy with sandy hair and an easy smile.
“You must be John. I’m Marcus Webb, your roommate.” Marcus extended his hand with genuine warmth. “Sorry I’m late—had to stop and help some girl move a refrigerator up three flights of stairs.”
John shook the guy’s hand, surprised by the firm grip and direct eye contact. “Nice to meet you.”
“Likewise. Hey, you hungry? I was thinking of checking out the dining hall, maybe meeting some people. Want to come?”
The old John would have made an excuse, would have claimed he needed to unpack or study or call home. But something about Marcus’s easy manner made John nod. “Sure, that sounds good.”
As they walked across campus, Marcus kept up a steady stream of conversation that somehow didn’t feel forced or awkward. He was from Portland, studying pre-med, and had a younger sister starting high school. He asked John about his major (biology, with hopes of becoming a physician assistant), his hometown (small, nothing special), and his interests (reading, mostly).
“Reading’s cool. What kind of books?”
John hesitated. His love of science fiction and fantasy novels had been another source of mockery in high school. “Different things. Science fiction, some fantasy.”
“No kidding? I love Asimov. Have you read the Foundation series?”
For the first time in months, John felt his face break into a genuine smile. “Only about five times.”
The dining hall buzzed with activity, students loading their trays and finding seats among friends. Marcus navigated the chaos with ease, introducing John to people he’d met during orientation, including them in conversations about classes and professors and weekend plans.
“So what’s your story, John?” asked Sarah, a petite brunette studying education. “Where are you from?”
“Emerald Valley. It’s a small town about five hours south of here.”
“I know Emerald Valley!” exclaimed another student, David. “My cousin lives there. Went to the high school—Emerald Valley High, right? Maybe you knew him. Dane Harper?”
John’s fork froze halfway to his mouth. Dane Harper. The golden boy who’d orchestrated the prom humiliation, who’d kissed Megan Landon right in front of him while everyone laughed.
“Yeah, I knew him,” John managed, his voice steady despite the churning in his stomach.
“Cool guy, right? Star athlete, really popular.”
John nodded noncommittally and changed the subject, asking Sarah about her education classes. But the mention of Dane had brought it all flooding back—the laughter, the humiliation, the crushing realization that he’d been nothing more than a joke.
Later that night, as Marcus unpacked his belongings, John lay on his bed staring at the ceiling. Maybe coming here had been a mistake. Maybe he’d never really escape who he’d been in high school.
“You OK, man?” Marcus asked, glancing over from where he was arranging textbooks on his desk.
“Yeah, just tired.”
Marcus studied him for a moment, and then sat on the edge of his own bed. “You know, I had a pretty rough time in high school, too.”
John turned to look at him, surprised. Marcus seemed like the kind of guy who’d been homecoming king.
“I was the weird kid who spent lunch in the library,” Marcus continued. “Didn’t have many friends, got picked on for being too tall and too skinny. Kids called me ‘Scarecrow.’”
“Really?”
“Really. But you know what I figured out? High school isn’t real life. It’s just this weird, artificial environment where people act like jerks because they’re all scared and insecure. College is different. People are here because they want to be, not because they have to be. They’re more interested in figuring out who they want to become than in tearing other people down.”
John absorbed this, feeling something loosen in his chest. “How do you know all this?”
Marcus grinned. “My youth pastor back home. Guy named Tom Rodriguez. He helped me see that God had bigger plans for me than whatever happened in high school. Said my identity wasn’t based on what other people thought of me, but on what God thought of me.”
“You’re religious?”
“Christian, yeah. You?”
John shrugged. “My family went to church sometimes when I was little, but not really.”
“Well, if you ever want to check out the campus ministry, let me know. No pressure, but they’re good people. Really helped me get my head on straight.”
That night, John lay awake thinking about what Marcus had said. He’d never really considered that God might have an opinion about his life, might have plans that extended beyond the misery of high school. It was an intriguing thought.
Chapter 2: Growing Pains
Three weeks into the semester, John was beginning to believe Marcus might be right about college being different. His classes were challenging but engaging, and he’d discovered a natural aptitude for anatomy and physiology that surprised his professors. More importantly, he was making friends—real friends who seemed to genuinely enjoy his company.
The transformation wasn’t just social. John had grown three inches over the summer, and the combination of campus walking and dining hall food that actually tasted good had begun to fill out his previously scrawny frame. When he caught sight of himself in the mirror, he sometimes did a double-take.
“Dude, you need new clothes,” Marcus announced one Saturday morning, eyeing John’s jeans that now hung loose around his waist and stopped well short of his ankles.
“I know, but…” John trailed off, embarrassed to admit that his clothing budget was practically nonexistent.
“But what? Come on, there’s a thrift store downtown that has great stuff. We can find you some things that actually fit.”
The thrift store was a revelation. For twenty dollars, John walked out with three pairs of jeans that fit properly, two button-down shirts, and a sweater that Marcus insisted brought out his eyes. The difference was remarkable—he looked like a completely different person.
“Now we need to do something about your hair,” Marcus said as they walked back to campus.
“What’s wrong with my hair?”
“Nothing’s wrong with it, exactly. It’s just… it could be better. Trust me on this.”
The campus barbershop was run by an elderly man named Pete who took one look at John and nodded knowingly. “College transformation, eh? I see it all the time. Don’t worry, son, we’ll get you fixed up.”
An hour later, John stared in the mirror in amazement. Pete had tamed his unruly waves into a stylish cut that somehow made his face look more mature, more confident. Combined with his new clothes and his recent growth spurt, he looked like… well, like someone he might actually want to be.
“Wow,” said a voice behind him. John turned to see Sarah from the dining hall, her eyes wide with surprise. “John? You look… really good.”
Heat flooded his face, but for once it wasn’t entirely from embarrassment. “Thanks.”
“Are you going to the campus ministry barbecue tonight? Marcus mentioned you might come.”
John glanced at Marcus, who was grinning broadly. “I… maybe?”
“You should. It’ll be fun, and the food is supposed to be amazing.”
After Sarah left, Marcus clapped him on the shoulder. “See? I told you college was different.”
That evening, John found himself standing at the edge of the campus ministry barbecue, watching students play volleyball and cornhole while the smell of grilled burgers filled the air. He’d changed clothes three times before settling on his new jeans and one of the button-down shirts, and he still felt awkward and out of place.
“You must be John!” A man in his thirties approached with a warm smile and an outstretched hand. “I’m Pastor Mike. Marcus has told me a lot about you.”
“Nice to meet you,” John replied, shaking his hand.
“He mentioned you’re studying to be a PA. That’s fantastic—we need more people in healthcare who understand that healing involves more than just the physical body.”
Before John could ask what he meant, Pastor Mike was introducing him to other students, including him in conversations about classes and career goals and weekend plans. It felt natural, comfortable in a way that social situations never had before.
As the evening progressed, John found himself in a discussion about faith with a group of students. He listened more than he spoke, fascinated by their easy talk about prayer and Bible study and how their relationship with God influenced their daily decisions.
“What about you, John?” asked a girl named Emma. “What’s your faith background?”
“I… don’t really have one,” he admitted. “I mean, my family went to church sometimes when I was little, but it wasn’t really a big part of our lives.”
“That’s OK,” Pastor Mike said, joining the conversation. “Faith isn’t about where you start—it’s about where you’re willing to go. If you’re curious about exploring what a relationship with God might look like, we’d love to have you join our Bible study.”
John hesitated. The old him would have made an excuse, would have been too embarrassed to admit his ignorance about spiritual matters. But something about the genuine warmth in Pastor Mike’s eyes made him nod. “I’d like that.”
Chapter 3: Foundations
The Bible study met every Tuesday evening in the campus ministry center, a cozy space with comfortable couches and warm lighting. John arrived early for his first meeting, nervous but determined. Marcus had offered to come with him, but John felt like this was something he needed to do on his own.
Pastor Mike welcomed him with coffee and a brand-new Bible. “This is yours to keep,” he said, pressing the leather-bound book into John’s hands. “Don’t worry about not knowing where things are—we’ll help you navigate.”
The study focused on the book of Romans, and John was surprised by how much the ancient text seemed to speak to his modern struggles. The Apostle Paul’s words about transformation, about becoming a new creation in Christ, resonated deeply with someone who was experiencing his own metamorphosis.
“The beautiful thing about God’s love,” Pastor Mike explained during one session, “is that it’s not based on our performance or our popularity or our past mistakes. It’s based on His character, not ours.”
John thought about the years of bullying, the humiliation, the crushing sense that he wasn’t good enough for anyone’s attention, let alone their affection. Could it really be that simple? Could God’s opinion of him be completely separate from what his high school classmates had thought?
“I have a hard time believing that,” he admitted during the discussion time. “I mean, if God really loved everyone equally, wouldn’t He make sure they were all treated well? Why do some people get to be popular and successful while others get picked on and ignored?”
Pastor Mike nodded thoughtfully. “That’s a really good question, John. And it’s one that people have been wrestling with for thousands of years. I think part of the answer is that God gave us free will—the ability to choose how we treat each other. And unfortunately, people often make choices that hurt others.”
“But that doesn’t mean God loves the bullies more than the bullied,” added Emma. “Sometimes I think the people who seem to have it all together are actually the ones who need God’s healing the most.”
Over the following weeks, John found himself drawn deeper into the study. He began reading his Bible on his own, starting with the Gospels and marveling at the stories of Jesus reaching out to the outcasts, the rejected, the people who didn’t fit in. Here was someone who understood what it felt like to be misunderstood, who chose to spend His time with tax collectors and sinners rather than the religious elite.
The changes in John’s life weren’t just spiritual. His confidence continued to grow as he excelled in his classes and deepened his friendships. He joined the pre-med club and discovered he had a talent for tutoring struggling students in biology and chemistry. For the first time in his life, he felt useful, valued for his mind rather than dismissed because of his appearance.
“You know what’s amazing?” Marcus said one evening as they studied together in their room. “You’re becoming the person you were always meant to be.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, you’re not trying to be someone else anymore. You’re just… you. But the best version of you.”
John considered this. It was true—he wasn’t trying to imitate the popular kids or transform himself into someone who’d be accepted. He was simply becoming more comfortable in his own skin, more confident in his abilities, more secure in his worth as a person.
The real test came during spring break, when he returned to Emerald Valley for the first time since starting college. His father barely recognized him when he picked him up at the bus station.
“Good heavens, John, you’ve grown a foot taller. And what happened to all that baby fat?”
John grinned. “College food and lots of walking.”
At home, he ran into several former classmates at the grocery store and around town. Their reactions ranged from surprise to confusion to grudging respect. A few even seemed genuinely pleased to see him doing well.
But the real moment of truth came when he encountered Dane Harper at the gas station.
“JoJo? Is that really you?” Dane’s voice held none of its former mockery, just genuine surprise.
“It’s John,” he replied calmly, meeting Dane’s gaze without flinching.
“Wow, you look… different. Good different. College treating you well?”
“Very well, thanks.”
There was an awkward pause, and John could see something like regret flicker across Dane’s face. “Listen, man, I… some of the stuff we did in high school… that wasn’t cool. I’m sorry about that.”
John studied him for a moment, remembering Pastor Mike’s teachings about forgiveness. “Thanks for saying that, Dane. I appreciate it.”
“Yeah, well… anyway, it’s good to see you doing well.”
As John drove away (in his father’s car, but still), he marveled at how different the encounter had felt from what he’d imagined. There was no anger, no desire for revenge, just a quiet sense of closure. The hurt was still there, but it no longer defined him.
Chapter 4: Calling
By his sophomore year, John had settled into a rhythm that felt sustainable and fulfilling. His grades were excellent, his friendships were strong, and his faith had become the foundation that everything else was built on. He’d been baptized the previous spring, and Pastor Mike had become not just a spiritual mentor but a trusted friend.
“Have you given any thought to what kind of PA you want to be?” Pastor Mike asked during one of their regular coffee meetings.
“I’ve been thinking about pediatrics,” John replied. “I like working with kids, and I think my own experiences might help me connect with the ones who are struggling.”
“That’s a beautiful calling, John. Using your pain to help heal others—that’s very Christ-like.”
John had been volunteering at the local children’s hospital, reading to patients and helping with activities. He’d discovered that his gentle manner and genuine empathy made him a natural with scared, hurting children. More than once, a parent had commented on how their child had responded to him in ways they hadn’t with other staff members.
“There’s something I’ve been wanting to talk to you about,” Pastor Mike continued. “The campus ministry is looking for student leaders for next year. I think you’d be perfect for it.”
“Me? A leader?” John’s first instinct was to deflect, to insist that he wasn’t qualified. But he caught himself, recognizing the old patterns of self-doubt.
“Yes, you. John, you have no idea how much you’ve grown in the past two years. You have wisdom that comes from having walked through difficult times, and you have a heart for people who are hurting. That’s exactly what we need.”
John thought about the freshmen he’d been informally mentoring, kids who reminded him of his younger self—awkward, insecure, struggling to find their place. He’d been meeting with them regularly, sharing his story and offering encouragement. Maybe Pastor Mike was right.
“What would it involve?”
“Leading a small group Bible study, helping with outreach events, being available to mentor other students. Nothing you’re not already doing, really—we’d just be making it official.”
That fall, John found himself leading a group of eight freshmen in weekly Bible study. The first meeting was terrifying—he’d prepared extensively but still felt like an imposter. What did he have to offer these kids?
But as the weeks went on, he discovered that his authenticity was his greatest strength. He didn’t pretend to have all the answers or to have his life completely figured out. Instead, he shared his struggles, his questions, his ongoing journey of faith and growth.
“The thing about God,” he told his group during one discussion, “is that He doesn’t wait for us to get our act together before He loves us. He loves us right where we are, mess and all. But He also loves us too much to leave us there.”
One of his students, a quiet kid named Tyler who reminded John painfully of his younger self, stayed after the meeting.
“Can I ask you something personal?” Tyler said, fidgeting with his Bible.
“Of course.”
“Were you… I mean, did you have a hard time in high school?”
John studied the young man’s face, seeing his own pain reflected there. “Yeah, I did. Really hard.”
“How did you… how did you get past it?”
John sat back down, recognizing the importance of this moment. “Honestly? I’m still getting past it. But I learned that what other people think of me doesn’t define who I am. God’s opinion is the only one that really matters, and He thinks I’m worth dying for.”
Tyler’s eyes filled with tears. “I just feel so… worthless sometimes. Like I’ll never be good enough for anyone to care about.”
“I know that feeling,” John said gently. “I lived with it for years. But Tyler, it’s a lie. You are fearfully and wonderfully made. You have gifts and talents and a purpose that no one else can fulfill. The people who made you feel worthless—they were wrong.”
They talked for another hour, and John shared more of his story than he ever had before. By the time Tyler left, both of them were emotionally drained but somehow lighter.
“Thank you,” Tyler said at the door. “I… I needed to hear that.”
After Tyler left, John sat alone in the ministry center, overwhelmed by the realization that God was using his pain for something beautiful. The years of bullying, the humiliation, the crushing loneliness—none of it had been wasted. It had all been preparation for moments like this.
Chapter 5: Transformation Complete
Senior year brought new challenges and opportunities. John’s academic performance had earned him early acceptance to the physician assistant program at Oregon Health Sciences University, and he’d been offered a partial scholarship based on his volunteer work and leadership in campus ministry.
But more importantly, he’d become the person he’d always had the potential to be. The transformation wasn’t just physical, though that was certainly dramatic—he’d grown to six-foot-two and filled out into a lean, athletic build thanks to regular workouts and intramural sports. The bigger change was internal: the confidence, the peace, the sense of purpose that radiated from him.
“You know what I’m going to miss most about college?” Marcus said as they packed up their dorm room for the last time.
“What’s that?”
“Watching you become yourself. It’s been like watching a butterfly emerge from a cocoon.”
John laughed, but he understood what Marcus meant. The scared, insecure boy who’d arrived at Pacific University four years ago was gone, replaced by a man who knew his worth and his calling.
The campus ministry threw a farewell party for the graduating seniors, and John was surprised when Pastor Mike asked him to share a few words with the group.
“Four years ago,” John began, looking out at the faces of students he’d come to love, “I came here running from who I used to be. I thought college would be my chance to reinvent myself, to become someone completely different.”
He paused, gathering his thoughts. “But what I learned is that God didn’t want me to become someone else. He wanted me to become who He created me to be all along. The difference is that now I see myself through His eyes instead of through the eyes of people who didn’t really know me.”
He talked about the importance of community, of having people who would speak truth into your life when you couldn’t see it yourself. He talked about the healing power of using your pain to help others, about how God could redeem even the worst experiences for good.
“Some of you are here because you’re running from something,” he said, his eyes finding Tyler in the crowd. “That’s OK. Sometimes we have to run away from the wrong things before we can run toward the right ones. But don’t spend so much time running that you forget to stop and discover who you’re meant to be.”
After the party, as John walked across campus one last time, he thought about the journey that had brought him here. In a few months, he’d be starting PA school, beginning the next phase of his calling to heal and help others. Eventually, he knew, he’d return to Emerald Valley—not as the broken boy who’d left, but as a man with something to offer his community.
He thought about Megan Landon, wondering what had become of the girl who’d haunted his teenage dreams. He hoped she’d found happiness, found someone who appreciated her beauty and her spirit. The old bitterness was gone, replaced by genuine goodwill and the recognition that they’d both been kids trying to navigate an impossible situation.
As he reached his car, John’s phone buzzed with a text from Tyler: “Thank you for showing me that it gets better. I’m going to be OK.”
John smiled, typing back: “You’re going to be more than OK. You’re going to be exactly who God created you to be.”
Driving away from Pacific University, John felt a deep sense of gratitude for the journey that had brought him to this point. The scared, lonely boy who’d been humiliated in a high school courtyard was still part of his story, but he was no longer the whole story. That boy’s pain had been transformed into purpose, his wounds into wisdom, his isolation into a deep capacity for connection.
The road ahead stretched out before him, full of possibility and promise. Somewhere in his future was a calling to serve, to heal, to love. Somewhere was a community that needed what he had to offer. And somewhere, perhaps, was a love that would see him not as Fat JoJo or even as the successful man he’d become, but simply as John—beloved, valued, and exactly where he was meant to be.
As the campus disappeared in his rearview mirror, John whispered a prayer of thanksgiving for the journey that had brought him home to himself. The boy who’d left Emerald Valley in shame was returning as a man of purpose, ready to serve God and others with the gifts he’d been given.
The transformation was complete, but the story was just beginning.
Epilogue: Full Circle
Five years later, Dr. John Johanssen (he’d completed his doctorate in addition to his PA certification) stood in the parking lot of Emerald Valley Medical Clinic, keys to his new office in his hand. He’d been offered positions in Portland and Seattle, prestigious opportunities that would have advanced his career and increased his salary significantly.
But his heart had called him home.
The town looked much the same as when he’d left for college, though there were new businesses and developments that spoke to growth and change. The high school where he’d endured so much pain was still there, still turning out graduates who would go on to discover who they were meant to become.
As he walked toward the clinic entrance, John thought about the journey that had brought him back here. The scared, insecure teenager was still part of his story, but now that pain had been transformed into purpose. He was returning not as Fat JoJo seeking revenge or validation, but as a healer ready to serve his community.
His phone buzzed with a text from Pastor Mike: “Proud of you, son. Go show them who you’ve always been.”
John smiled, pocketing the phone and pushing open the clinic door. Somewhere in this town were people who needed healing, children who needed an advocate, families who needed hope. He was ready to give them everything he had.
The boy who’d left in shame had returned as a man of purpose, and his real story was just beginning.
Prefer to watch and/or listen to the story?
Thank you for reading this free prequel. We want to be upfront with you. This story started as an experiment. We used AI, guided by proprietary prompts, to draft a short piece exploring John Johanssen’s college backstory. It wasn’t a solo effort, nor was it human-less; this story was reviewed and vetted by Under the August Sky author Erin Stevenson and our editorial team before anything was shared publicly. This wasn’t our first attempt either; a few tries along the way missed the mark entirely (can you say, “epic fail”?). But “JoJo’s Transformation” felt true enough to John’s journey that we wanted to share it with you.
Our thoughts on AI: At Pelican Book Group, we believe AI is a tool to be used human oversight, not a replacement for human creativity, but a tool that works alongside it. AI never can be a replacement for human creativity. Our catalogue consists of 100% human-written stories, including Under the August Sky itself, which remains a wholly human-written contemporary Christian summer love story. We do use AI for behind-the-scenes work like research and marketing and incidentals, always with human oversight. If we ever release a piece of fiction that’s AI-written or AI-assisted, like this one, it will be for a specific purpose (not as part of our regular catalogue) and we’ll always tell you outright when that’s the case. Curious about our reasoning? Read more in The Role of AI in Authorship.
Did “JoJo’s Transformation” capture the John you imagined? Leave a comment below, or take a few extra minutes with our survey. Your feedback genuinely shapes what we try next. Those who comment or complete the survey by 31 August 2026 will be entered to win a complimentary one of 20 copies of Erin Stevenson’s Dr. Mallory and the Undercover Dog-Dad.
And if you haven’t yet downloaded Under the August Sky, John’s full story, 100% human-authored, it’s waiting for you today. (links below)
Under the August Sky
by Erin StevensonRelease Date 2025-07-25
ISBN: 9781522305057
ASIN: B0F19GZB2C
PelicanID: 1710
Genres: Fiction / Christian / Contemporary, Fiction / Christian / Romance / General
Pages: 118
Megan Thomas has returned to her Oregon hometown with her baby daughter and all their worldly possessions packed into her small, battered car. She is determined to restore her faith, and more than anything, to heal her broken relationship with her father.
John Johanssen is trying to move on after a devastating time of pain and loss. He's praying for God's direction and can't believe it when his first love returns to their hometown. Something about her circumstances seems off, and John longs to discover why.
Through a series of answered prayers, John and Megan's lives become intertwined. Their relationship develops quickly until Megan discovers something that she fears will tear them apart. She flees with her daughter in a violent storm and once again finds herself with nowhere to turn.
Will John find them in time, and will Megan's secret destroy their chance at happiness?
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