Cupid and Psyche: myth, love, and transformation

Cupid & Psyche

Cupid and Psyche

Peggy was gorgeous. Her older sisters were so jealous. Everyone was so jealous. While Peggy took after her mother in the looks department with her long blonde hair and emerald green eyes. Peggy was perfect; it was true. While Veronica was the most popular girl in school, Peggy was by far prettier -- a glaring fact that made Veronica wake up in the middle night fuming with anger. Like a lot of popular girls, Veronica was popular because people were afraid of her while, on the other hand, people liked Peggy because she was so nice -- and beautiful. One look at Peggy and the world just seemed like a better place. Even Cash, Veronica's best friend, who was a guy, but a bit on the effeminate side (he liked to paint Veronica's toenails and often liked his painted too!), couldn't lie to Veronica when she questioned him about Peggy's beauty.

"I won't get mad at you," Veronica said to Cash. "I swear. Like, I'm completely mature." Cash doubted her words, but then Veronica said she would paint his toenails if he would "just be honest, like, for once."

"Fine! She's prettier. She's the most beautiful girl this town has seen. She could be on the cover of Seventeen." When Veronica heard this, she grabbed Cash around the neck and choked him hard, then pushed him to the ground.

"I hate her, Cash! I hate her!"

"I do too," Cash pleaded, touching the welts on his neck. "How dare she be so much better looking than you? She puts you to shame -- how could -- "

Veronica slapped his face. "Enough, fatso. What can we do? How can we destroy her beauty?" Veronica looked at her ruby red fingernails in contemplation. But then she had an idea. She looked up, very slowly, her mouth in a tight and devilish grin.

Cash knew that look. He swallowed. Hard.

"Tomorrow at school," Veronica began, "you are going to tell Peggy that you are in love with her. She'll believe you, ask you to the prom -- which is when she will get turned down."

"Why? What? I have to turn her down?"

Veronica glared at him. What an idiot.

"But I don't have a date yet."

"Yes you do, lard butt. You're going with me."

"Oh, yeah, right…" Cash remembered, vaguely. Or did he? At least he had a date.

"She will be crushed. She thinks she's all that? She's not. Well, maybe she is. But she can't know she is."

The next day at school, Cash walked up to Peggy and upon seeing her, his eyes took in her beauty. She certainly was beautiful. Cash began to stutter.

"Hi, Cash!" Peggy said. She liked everyone.

"P -- P-?" Cash stuttered. "You're so beautiful."

Peggy blushed. She was told that a lot, but she never fully believed it. She was humble, which, unbeknownst to her, made her even more lovely. "Thank you, Cash." And she really was touched. Nobody had asked her to the prom yet. Why not ask Cash? He was a little chubby -- but adorable at the same time. "Um, Cash, I don't have a date for prom. Would you like to go with me?" She batted her eyes -- not out of coyness, but out of shyness. She blushed again.

"Yes! I would love to! Wow! Yes!" Cash yelled for all the hallway to hear.

When Veronica heard the news, she was furious. She began plan her revenge -- and this time, she meant business.

But when Cupid doesn't show up on the night of prom, Peggy is crushed. She vows to never love again, but she's a modern girl and she won't miss prom. When she gets to the dance, she sees Cash. He runs up to her.

"Please don't talk to me," Peggy said, turning to walk away.