CUPID'S BEEPER

CUPID'S BEEPER
by
Terry Burres


Although he tried to hide it, Cupid was getting old. He didn't want to think about how many thousands of years ago he had come to be on Mount Olympus. Cupid still looked the same as he had then. Most people just saw him as a chubby little boy with gleaming white wings.

The Arrows of Love were used more and more as the world grew larger. There had never been as many people. Poor Cupid was having trouble finding all the people who needed his Arrows of Love.

How, Cupid wondered, would he ever find all the people in the world who needed love? It used to be so-o easy to locate someone who was ready to be shot. Cupid sometimes just felt overwhelmed. After all he wasn't getting any younger, and the world was not getting smaller.

Cupid was sitting in a tree watching people walk by. Some were in a hurry as they rushed past. Some walked more slowly. Others sat enjoying the rare warm February day. On a bench near the tree sat a young man reading a book. A sharp sound suddenly erupted from a small box hanging from the man's belt. Cupid watched as the man looked at the box and turned off the sound.

As he pulled out a phone from his backpack, Cupid crept closer. Cupid examined the box. This was just what he needed. With a box like this anyone who saw someone who needed an Arrow of Love could just make his box beep. On the box there was an address for the company that sold them. Cupid repeated the address to himself over and over. Flying as fast as his glowing, little wings could carry him, Cupid felt younger than he had in hundreds of years. This small box could be the answer to his problem.


The address led Cupid to a tall glass building. Flying from floor to floor he finally found the office of GRIMES AND PETE'S BEEPER SERVICE. Cupid flew to a shelf by the window that held three plants. As he watched, people came and went in the office. Cupid became even more excited. This “beeper” thing was just what he needed!

Cupid waited until no one was watching. He then very quietly entered his name and his phone number into the company’s computer. Picking up a beeper box, Cupid and left his credit card number. Flying loop-the-loops from the building, Cupid headed for the newspaper office where he place adds in all the evening papers with his 1-8000-FOR-LOVE number.

Cupid was soon shooting his Arrows of Love for anyone who beeped. He felt rejuvenated with every Arrow of Love that he shot. People all over the United States were soon feeling loving toward each other. When the news reached other countries in the world everyone wanted the beeper number. Cupid was so busy that he had to work night and day. He didn’t waste time looking for people who needed love. Cupid now knew where his Arrows of Love were needed. He was so happy that he felt that better then he had in hundreds of years.