Aphrodite the Diva (Goddess Girls)

by Williams, Suzanne

  Taking the note, Athena glared at her. “Her name is Aphrodite,” she said, as the three goddessgirls quickly scanned the message.

  “If they’re going to help Isis,” said Persephone, glancing at the three Egyptian goddesses, “we should go help Aphrodite.”

  “Yeah, let’s go get our stuff,” said Artemis. She, Athena, and Persephone turned to go.

  “Sorry, but the only transportation available is Ra’s sunboat,” said Bastet. “And that left on its trip across the sky this morning. It won’t return until tomorrow at dawn.”

  Athena gasped. “You didn’t forget to give us Aphrodite’s note, you withheld it on purpose!” she accused. “You wanted us to miss the boat!”

  Bastet shook her head, looking truly surprised.

  But Hathor only shrugged. “All’s fair in a contest. Now if you will excuse us, we have to go help Isis win. Come on, girls.”

  Bastet and Ma’at hesitated as if they felt guilty. “You must forgive Hathor. Sometimes she doesn’t play fair,” Ma’at murmured. “Still, she is our friend and wants the best for Isis,” said Bastet. Then the two of them nodded in farewell and left for the tent.

  “That Hathor makes me so mad,” said Athena, when they were gone.

  “Me, too,” Persephone agreed. “It sounds like the others weren’t in on her deception.”

  “But I hate to think of Aphrodite all alone in Greece, trying to do everything on her own,” said Artemis. “I hope she doesn’t think we’ve abandoned her.”

  “I have a feeling Aphrodite’s been holding back on us,” said Athena. “There’s more to this story than we know.”

  Persephone nodded. “Let’s hope she’ll tell us when we finally see her again.”

  8

  Pygmalion’s Choice

  BACK IN ATHENS, APHRODITE STOOD ON THE steps of the agora, preparing to announce the names of the three Greek girls she’d chosen to visit Pyg. Finding candidates who might please the odd and arrogant boy had been difficult since he hadn’t taken her quiz and she knew little about him. Still, she believed that the three she’d picked represented her best chance.

  A huge crowd had gathered at the bottom of the marble stairs below her. Some were girls who’d entered the contest, but most were Athenian citizens who’d come to cheer them on. And of course, many were there simply to see Aphrodite herself. After all, it wasn’t every day that a goddess visited earth!

  “Thank you all for participating in my matchmaker competition,” she said in a clear voice that was strong enough to carry. There were few things she enjoyed more than having an audience, and she intended to give these mortals a show today. “This wasn’t an easy selection,” she went on, “but in the end I could choose only three candidates. If I do not call your name, please don’t give up hope of finding your own perfect match. That right person may be just around the corner.”

  She gestured toward Pheme, who stood next to several baskets full of quizscrolls tied with ribbons.

  “And if you’d like my help in finding that right person,” Aphrodite continued, “please be sure to fill out one of my quizzes.” At that, there were murmurs in the crowd and several people who hadn’t entered the competition wandered over to begin filling out quizscrolls.

  A male voice called out, “Can a mortal guy fill out a quiz too?”

  “Of course,” she called back, and the youth and some of his friends headed toward Pheme to grab quizzes. The two goddessgirls had run out of blank ones yesterday, so scribes had worked through the night to have more copies ready for today. Judging by the stack that had already been filled out, mortals seemed more than willing to work with Aphrodite to find love. Obviously, their feelings toward her had softened. Mr. Cyclops was sure to boost her grade when he heard! And if she could win the contest with Pyg, that would be the cherry on top. Maybe this would even get Zeus out of his bad mood, she thought, feeling pleased with herself. Medusa had gotten one thing right about her. She did like looking at the bright side!

  Ares’ worries about another war seemed distant today as the crowds cheered her on. Surely mortals wouldn’t fight over something as silly as a mortal boy’s choice between an Egyptian or a Greek crush!

  “Now, after I call your names, will the following three maidens please come forward?” Aphrodite said, her voice ringing out again. She knew she looked stunning today, even for a goddess. Her golden hair gleamed, her jewels sparkled, and her brilliant white chiton was the newest style. Posing for effect, she waited a few beats and then called the first name: “Tessa!” There was a squeal of delight from the girl she’d summoned, immediately followed by the cheers of her friends and family. Aphrodite waited until a hush fell over the crowd again before announcing the next name. “Chloe!” Another squeal and more clapping. Finally the crowd quieted again. Aphrodite paused, causing everyone to hold their breath, as they anxiously awaited the last name. “And finally—Zoe!”

  Each of the chosen girls hugged her parents, stepped from the audience, and came toward Aphrodite, waving her permission slip for the required travel to Cyprus. The onlookers clapped and cheered as if the girls were heroes.

  Once the applause died down, Aphrodite spoke once more. “Now, we must be off! Please step back so that I may summon transportation.” After the crowd had backed away to give her space, Aphrodite glided on pink sandals to the bottom of the steps. There she pulled the swan cart from her bag with a flourish—as if she were a magician pulling a rabbit from a hat—and set it on the ground.

  Her arms outstretched, she gracefully whirled around three times. This wasn’t actually necessary, but it was fun. Besides, mortals always enjoyed it when immortals put on a show! Her golden hair and the hem of her sparkly white chiton swirled outward as she chanted the spell in her most dramatic voice:

  “Feathered swans, wild at heart.

  Spread your wings to fly my cart!”

  As her cart grew ever larger and more magnificent, the onlookers gasped in awe. They’d probably be talking about this all over Greece by morning. Especially since the gossipy Pheme was watching!

  When all was ready, the three mortal girls joined Aphrodite in her cart. She nodded to two servants. They stepped forward, carrying several sacks full of rose petals, which they handed up to her. As the cart lifted from the ground, it looked like the whole city of Athens had come to see them off. She and the girls tossed the rose petals, which fluttered downward like fragrant pink and red snowflakes as their cart whisked them away into the wide blue sky.

  Below, the crowd went wild at the spectacle. Athenians, young and old, shouted their best wishes. “Good luck, Aphrodite!” some called. “Beat that Isis!” yelled others. A boy punched his fist in the air. “Greeks rule!” he shouted.

  Swiftly, Zephyr and Boreas—the west and north winds—carried them southeastward toward their destination, the island of Cyprus. The Greek girls sat on the scalloped bench seats on either side of the cart and began asking Aphrodite questions.

  “What’s he like—this mortal boy we’re going to meet?” Tessa asked.

  “His name is Pygmalion. Pyg for short,” Aphrodite told them.

  “A nickname? How cute!” cooed Chloe, clapping her hands.

  “I’m so-o-o excited!” said Zoe, bouncing on her seat and making the cart swerve.

  “Me, too. Just think—if he picks me, I’ll be famous all over Greece!” said Tessa.

  “I think I’ll faint if he picks me,” said Chloe, falling over in her seat, pretending to do just that.

  And some people claimed she was a diva, thought Aphrodite. She couldn’t help smiling at their antics though. They were all so boy-crazy that they probably wouldn’t even notice that Pyg was annoying and self-centered. Not one of them had asked what would happen if he did pick them. Would their friendship be long-distance, or would the girl and her family move to Cyprus, or would Pyg move to Athens? Well, her job was only to bring them together. The rest they’d have to figure out on their own later.

  “What does Pygma
lion look like?” Tessa asked, twirling a lock of her bright red hair around her finger.

  “He’s an artist,” Aphrodite said, “with brown hair and chocolate brown eyes.”

  “Like a deer?” asked Chloe, her own gray eyes widening.

  “Or a basset hound?” asked Zoe, as she popped a stick of pine gum in her mouth.

  “Yes, I suppose so,” said Aphrodite. “Sort of like either of those.”

  “Ooh.” Tessa sighed. “He sounds adorable.”

  “Oh, he is,” said Aphrodite, rolling her eyes. Pyg was not her idea of a good crush. She only hoped he was their idea of one! You just never knew, when it came to matters of the heart. She’d chosen carefully. These mortal girls all had much in common with Pyg. However, in the end, whether he liked them or they liked him would be up to them.

  A few hours later, the cart touched down on Cyprus, and Aphrodite ushered the girls out. Minutes later, she was ringing the bell on Pygmalion’s door with all three candidates standing right behind her, eagerly awaiting their first glimpse of him.

  When Pyg opened up, her eyes fell on a small pink box with a glittery bow that he held in his hands. Noticing her studying the gift, he looked a little embarrassed, but didn’t explain.

  Had he wrapped this gift for one of the girls, hoping to find true love among them? How sweet! Aphrodite softened toward him and sent him a smile.

  Behind her, the girls giggled with excitement, drawing Pyg’s attention. He frowned at them before glancing at Aphrodite again. “Who are they?” he asked in a loud whisper.

  Aphrodite stepped aside. “Girls, this is Pygmalion, the mortal boy I was telling you about. Gesturing toward each girl in turn, she said, “Pyg, I’d like to present Tessa, Chloe, and Zoe.” He stared at them blankly.

  “They’re the candidates I chose for you,” Aphrodite reminded him, her brows rising. “In the matchmaking competition between Isis and me. Remember?”

  “Oh, yeah.” Pygmalion turned and studied the girls intently for about five seconds. Maybe less. Tessa giggled nervously, Chloe chewed on a fingernail, and Zoe tapped her foot impatiently. Then Pyg pointed at them, one after the other, and spoke decisively. “No. Nuh-uh. And absolutely not.”

  Aphrodite’s mouth dropped open in surprise “What? But you didn’t even give them a chance.”

  The girls, who were accustomed to being treated politely by the boys they knew, gasped at this insult, turning as pink as the gift he still held. And it certainly didn’t look like he was going to give that present to any of them after all!

  “How picky!” said Tessa, frowning at him.

  “How icky!” said Chloe, folding her arms.

  “How absolutely rude!” Zoe huffed.

  Aphrodite completely agreed. So she didn’t try to stop them when all three turned and stomped back down the path toward the cart. “I’ll join you in a few!” she called after them. Then she put her hands on her hips and glared at Pyg. “What is wrong with you?” she demanded in outrage. “I interviewed hundreds of girls to find those three. They were perfect for you!”

  Pygmalion sniffed. “They were not perfect.”

  “I didn’t say they were perfect. I said they were perfect for you.”

  “In what way?” he challenged.

  “They’re all artists, for one thing. Tessa is a sculptor who has won prizes in the annual Art-o-thon. Chloe has been invited to sculpt a small frieze for Zeus’s new temple in Olympia. And Zoe’s work with marble busts was in last month’s Artmopolitan Scrollazine. Besides that, they’re dying to find a crush. And they like jokes.” Even lame ones, she thought, but didn’t say. “And if you had talked with them you might have found that out!”

  “I didn’t need to talk to them,” Pyg said, seeming surprised that she disagreed with his rejection. “I could see they were all wrong right away. The first one had a weird giggle. I can’t have giggles like that breaking my concentration when I’m working. The second one reminded me of someone who broke one of my sculptures back in second grade. And the third one. Don’t get me started on what was wrong with her. Did you see how annoyed she got? I need someone with a sweet disposition, who’ll give me peace in which to create. Someone who admires me and my work. Someone who understands that my feelings are delicate and easily crushed.” He clutched his hands to his heart. “I’m an artist!”

  Aphrodite gritted her teeth. “And you think that’s an excuse for acting like a jerk?”

  “A jerk? Me?” He looked down at his gift box, turning it over and over in his hands. Then he glanced up at her. “I didn’t mean to hurt anyone’s feelings, honest.

  It’s just that you know love when you feel it, you know? And they simply weren’t . . . right. I only wish they had been.” He heaved a deep, sad sigh.

  Seeing his genuine disappointment, she calmed. A true goddess of love would try to counsel her client in this situation. So she said, “Sometimes love grows, if you give it a chance.”

  “Yes, I know,” he said, surprisingly earnest. He shifted from one foot to the other, and she felt he was going to add something more—something important. “As a matter of fact, there’s something I should tell you—”

  Suddenly, they both heard footsteps coming up the path. She glanced around and saw Isis heading their way. And when Aphrodite looked back at Pyg, his expression had closed down like a door slammed shut.

  “It’s her turn now,” he told her, dismissively.

  “Very well.” Confused and feeling let down, Aphrodite didn’t try to argue and only moved up the path toward the cart. What a disaster!

  “How did you do?” Isis asked anxiously as they passed.

  Aphrodite forced a smile. “Fine.” But, of course, she hadn’t done well at all! The three girls Isis had in tow were almost as exotic and beautiful as Isis herself, Aphrodite noted with growing nervousness. What if Isis wins this competition? she worried. Then what will I have left? She’d only be the goddessgirl of beauty. Of course, she was proud of that title. But the four Egyptian goddessgirls were all beautiful too. If they won the title of goddess of love away from her, would they then feel emboldened to challenge her for the title of goddess of beauty as well?

  Back in Athens, everyone would be awaiting news of what had happened. They were going to be mad that Pyg hadn’t chosen a Greek girl. If he chose an Egyptian one, that was going to make them even madder. And then what would happen? Was her failure here going to start another war, uh, incident?

  Behind her, she heard Pyg being his same old cluelessly bad-mannered self. She peeked back at him just in time to see him judge Isis’s candidates as harshly as he had her own. Pointing to each of the three Egyptian mortals in turn, he announced his feelings loud and clear. “Nope. No way. And forget it.”

  Next thing she knew, the Egyptian mortal girls were storming past her, with Isis bringing up the rear.

  “Some matchmakers you are!” Pyg shouted at them from his doorway. Aphrodite noticed that he was still holding the pink gift box. Who in the world would he deem worthy enough to give it to? she wondered. “So you’re not going to choose either of us for the title of goddessgirl of love?” she called back to him.

  He sighed deeply. “Well, I suppose I could give you each one more chance,” he said at last. He acted like he’d be granting them a huge favor to do so.

  Isis glanced at Aphrodite. “Do we even want another chance?”

  “I’m not sure,” Aphrodite whispered back.

  Then Pyg called out again. “I’ll grant you two more days. Come back the day after tomorrow if you think you can do better. Otherwise the whole world will soon know that neither of you deserve the title of goddess of love!” He slammed the door.

  Aphrodite’s hands clenched into fists. She pressed them to either side of her head. “Grrrr,” she said. “If Pyg causes me to tear out my hair, that’s just one more thing I’m going to be annoyed at him about!”

  “I hear you on that, goddessgirl!” Isis agreed angrily. They fell into step together, movin
g down the path along the bluff toward the cart. “Did he say the same thing to your girls that he did to mine?” Isis asked.

  “Pretty much,” Aphrodite admitted.

  Looking relieved, Isis shook her head in annoyance. “I swear, if that Pyg says, ‘I’m an artist’ one more time . . . !”

  Aphrodite laughed. “I know! Being an artist is no excuse for his behavior!”

  “Who do you think that pink gift box was for?” Isis asked, darting a curious glance her way. “A thank-you gift for whichever one of us succeeded? Or was it meant for the girl he chose?”

  “Hard to say,” said Aphrodite. Isis’s companionable irritation was making her feel less bad about everything. “It’s weird the way he really seems to want to find love, but then won’t give any girl a chance.” Just then, she noticed Hermes’ delivery chariot zipping by on its rounds overhead, and she waved him lower.

  “Maybe we’ll figure it all out tomorrow,” said Isis, sounding tired. “You’re going to try again too, right?”

  “Unless you give up?” Aphrodite glanced at her in question.

  Isis shook her head. “I can’t. All of Egypt is rooting for me.”

  Aphrodite sighed as they reached the cart. “Same here with Greece.” Since Ra’s sunboat had already departed, and she needed to pick up her friends in Cairo anyway, she offered Isis and her girls a ride back to Egypt, after first sending the three Greek girls back with Hermes.

  Isis spent the whole trip trying to soothe her mortal girls’ ruffled feathers. They were understandably angry about Pyg’s attitude. And a worrisome thought of her own kept Aphrodite occupied the entire trip too: What would the Greek girls tell everyone back in Athens?

  Athena, Persephone, and Artemis waved to her as she approached the bazaar, their travel cases by their sides. “We saw you coming!” Persephone called as the cart drifted closer to the ground.

  “How did it go?” Athena asked as the Egyptian girls piled out of the cart.