The True Princess

Tales of the North American Indians by Stith Thompson (1929) Source. 

    Once upon a time there was a young white man who married and a had a child, Aurelia, with a woman who passed shortly later. The man remarried and had another daughter. This wife, the stepmother to the first daughter, was terrible to Aurelia and always favored her own daughter, Nagela. One snowy day, the Stepmother sent Aurelia out to gather berries knowing there were not any in this weather. Aurelia was fed up and backed a basket of food with the intent of not returning. Shortly into her journey, she found a house where 4 brothers lived, they asked her why she was out in this weather. She told them about her Stepmother and unknown to her they were relatives and sympathized with her. They gave her a pick and sent her to the roof where under the snow was a bushel of berries. When she returned to ground level they asked if they could help her in anyway. Aurelia told them that she is thankful enough already but that she is poor and her clothing is tattered. The youngest brother then told her to spit, she obliged and when she did her spit turned to gold. The other brothers each took an article of her clothing and turned them into a beautiful dress, robe, and shoes that would never wear out. She thanked them and set home to rub her berry find in her stepmother's face

    Aurelia returned home greeted by her stepmother who was shocked, not only at the full basket of berries, but with her step-daughter's appearance and gold spitting. Jealous, she then sent Nagela to follow her older sister's snow prints and find where she obtained these gifts. Nagela shortly met the 4 brothers in the same manner as Aurelia telling them she was also sent to gather berries and gathered some. Upon returning to the ground, she asked the brothers for gifts. The youngest asked her to spit, she was offended and refused. After a moment she did reluctantly but instead of spitting gold, she spat toenails. The other brothers only asked that she leave. When Nagela returned empty-handed, her mother was disappointed but asked her to spit. She saw the toenail and asked her not to do that again. 

    At a later day while Aurelia was washing her clothes, the son of the chief from the local native tribe noticed her. He was struck by her beauty and attire, he returned home and told his father of the maiden. He told the prince to meet with her again to be sure. This time the prince spoke with Aurelia who spit gold throughout the conversation. He told his father again what happened so the Chief went to speak with her himself. It was true, she spit gold so he gave the proposal his blessing. The Prince and Aurelia soon got married and had a huge wedding feast and even the other white villagers attended. The guest took home the unconventional wedding goodie bag full of gold. 

    Soon Aurelia became pregnant and her husband would be gone for a month around her due date so she requested his mother act as midwife since she did not trust her stepmother. The Prince shook her off and said that her stepmother was a successful midwife. So the birth of the child came and as Aurelia was about to give birth, the stepmother cut a hole in the floor below her. When the child was born the stepmother cut the cord and let the baby fall through the hole and handed her a cat instead. The prince came home and was disappointed but they tried again. The same process happened again but this time a snake was handed to Aurelia. The Prince spoke with the stepmother who suggested a woman birthing animals was no small matter and that Aurelia should be killed and he should try again with a new wife, possibly her own daughter. 

    A meeting was held and the town decided to kill Aurelia by sinking her in the ocean, and the Prince was to marry Nagela instead. The 4 brothers from a couple years prior heard what was happening and rescued Aurelia from drowning by turning her into a goose. 

    This entire time Aurelia's sons were alive, her childhood dog, Spioola, was caring for them under the home. Noticing Aurelia was not around, Spioola searched for the Wise Bird who knew all and told only the truth. Once he found the Bird he was told that Aurelia was in fact a local goose who was known to stare at the boys and emit strange noises. Spioola and the bird returned to their home under the house of the Prince where they had the boys play at whatever volume they wanted. The prince heard the strange childlike sounds and went to check it out when Spioola popped out and invited him in. The Prince claimed he could not fit but the Wise Bird told him he could if he tried. He saw a nice small home and two boys under his house. Spioola and the Bird told him all about what had happened and then told the Chief as well.

    It was decided that Nagela and her mother to remain at home until a decision was made. The prince went to the lake and shook Aurelia until she was back in human form. Everyone then attended the meeting where Nagela and her mother were sentenced to death. The Prince was glad he was no longer married to Nagela since she spat and smelled like toenails. 

Aurelia aurita: a golden hued species of jellyfish. Source

Authors Note:

I decided to just tell the story in a more modern tongue and I chose to name the two daughters for clarity. Aurelia means "Golden" since -au- is the latin root for gold so I chose that to title the Elder gold-spitting daughter. Nagel means nail (from a phalange) so I made up Nagela to use for the sister that spits toe nails. I also decided to leave out the part where the boys are killed and then brought back to life. I did this to save space but also because I felt like it did not blend into the storyline as easily. 

Week 9 Story Telling: The Crystal of Hearts Desire

 The Crystal of Hearts Desire

Here is an orb that looks like what I imagine the Jewel of Hearts Desire to look like.
Source

    Once there was an Emperor and Empress named Chiuai and Jingu. Jingu had an Amazonian stature about her. She loved sports and hunting and was a fine warrior. One day, while hanging out in his beach house, Chiuai was playing his lute and watching Jingu sport about when she spoke to him,

"If you really are the son of the great Yamato, how come nothing great has been accomplished in your reign?"

"Well, my father did just about everything so there isn't much for me to do but enjoy my life" answered the Emperor. 

Jingu confided, "I had a dream where the Sun Goddess came to me and said west lies the Land Morning Calm where hidden is the Crystal of Heart's Desire, the Jewel that I am about to give you. Maybe that could be your accomplishment."

Taking no concern Chiuai repied, "Dreams are a bunch of nonsense. There is nothing beyond the western sea. Don't read into this"

As he spoke the sky thundered and the room flooded with blinding light. Amaterasu the Sun Goddess appeared before the royals and warned Chiuai,

"You do not believe I could have spoken to your wife through dream? For questioning my power, you will die shortly and Jingu will carry out the mission instead. She will bring glory to your nation where you could not." Then she disappeared.

Immediately Chiuai fell back as his eyes rolled into the back of his skull. Jingu rushed to him saddened but knowing what she must do. She placed his lute back in his hands, 

"Please, please play again for me. Tell of anything at all."

His fingers strummed as he sang, "Let us set sail to the Land of Morning Calm" as he finished the lute clattered to the ground.

    Jingu placed a candle to his lips to check for breath. The flame didn't waver. He was gone. Immediately Jingu began planning for the quest. However, because she was a woman, she was not allowed to fall into the position of power unless authorized by the Emperor. Since he was dead, Takeuchi, the Prime Minister, hid the death of the Emperor and claimed that he instructed Empress Jingu to rule and carry out this quest. Meanwhile, Jingu gathered troops and huntsman to accompany her. Before departing, she knelt in prayer beside a pond and sought help from the gods through an omen since they put her in this position. She took her needle and thread and crafted a hook and line then prayed to the Sun Goddess. She baited it with a cherry blossom then cast the faux hook and immediately a shark came forth. Again Jingu prayed, asking this time for armor. In seconds a fleet of handmaids appeared out of thin air and disrobed her of all her queenly vestments and jewels. They were replaced with a golden steel chest plate, dragon crested helmet, an 8 foot spear, and the Sacred Sword used by Yamato himself. Before departing to the ship, Jingu fashioned her hair in a more androgynous style better suited for the quest.

    Jingu, Takeuchi, and their crew sailed for days with the Land of Morning Calm seemingly no where in sight. One day they approached a beautiful land with mountains and green valleys and a beautiful bay. As they approached the bay, they noticed the harbor was chained and entry was impossible. Suddenly, Jingu remembered she had with her the Jewel of Prince Fire-Fade. She held the stone up to the sky and the waters lifted the ship over the city walls and flooded the city. As the water started to disperse, the ship approached the temple. There, the king was waiting outside with a white flag believing the arrival of Jingu to be the fulfillment of a dire prophecy. He knelt at Jingu's feet,

"Myself and my kingdom pledge eternal loyalty to you, just please do not allow the sea to continue to swallow us."

"I seek the Jewel of Hearts Desire." Empress Jingu replied. 

The king had his men fetch it and when they returned they had a smooth round orb that gleamed in the light.

 "When danger is present the orb will turn into a fiery ball of light. However, in times of peace it glimmers like moonlight" explained the King.

"Thank you," Jingu replied taking the orb, "put this somewhere you deem fit Takeuchi" ordered the Empress as she passed the Jewel to Takeuchi.

    Takeuchi placed the glowing Jewel at the mast of the ship so that the light may guide them home. This seemed like a solid plan. Immediately after setting sail homeward, the orb burst into flames as Futen the Wind God created a typhoon. Suddenly, Benten, the daughter of the Sea Dragon and goddess of deathless love, burst from the sea and snatched away the Jewel. 

"You absolute idiot!" Jingu scolded Takeuchi, "You are not to be in my presence or on my court until the Jewel of Hearts Desire is returned."

Upon arriving home, Takeuchi resigned from the court. That night he made his way to the edge of a cliff to commit ritual suicide out of shame. Little did he know,  a fishermaid, Tamatori, was madly in love with him. She never revealed this because only a princess could be with a man of such status. She took this chance to follow Takeuchi. 

"Stop! Don't jump! I beg you. You do not know, but I love you and cannot see you depart." cried Tamatori.

"But I have shamed my Empress and lost the Jewel of Hearts Desire" argued Takeuchi.

As Tamatori held Takeuchi from the cliff, they both noticed an eery blue glow coming from the waters below them. 

"It looks like Benten's palace, and atop sits the Jewel!" exclaimed Takeuchi.

"See? Problem solved. I will prove my heart's desire to you by retrieving the Jewel for you. After all, I am a phenomenal diver." responded Tamatori.

    She dove gracefully into the water below and quickly reached the orb. She picked up the jewel and not moments later she was caught by Benten's father, the Sea Dragon. He called upon all of the near sea monsters and they surrounded her. Tamatori knew there was no way out but needed to prove her devotion to Takeuchi. She knew a dragon wouldn't touch dead meat so she took her fishing dagger and plunged it into her chest. As she did so she wedged the Jewel into the gash. The monsters fled and her body floated to the surface. Takeuchi was saddened by the loss but proud of her success. He took the Jewel back to Jingu and explained the events. Jingu promoted him to a psuedo Emperor and awarded the body of Tamatori the award of Loyalty to the Nation. She then named her Princess of Hearts Desire. Tamatori was now a princess worthy of a Prime Minister, but it was too little too late.

Author's Note: 

    I decided to retell the Japanese mythology of The Jewel of Hearts Desire. I did not put any twist on it. However, I retold the story in my language so that I, and hopefully others, could understand it better. I tried to explain the gods that appeared in the story but some references require reading The Labors of Yamato. Yamato is the father-in-law of Jingu and legendary Japanese mythological hero he used the Sacred Sword in a number of his adventures with the Goddess Benten and her father the Sea Dragon at the forefront of his struggles. 

Bibliography

Romance of Old Japan Part 1: Mythology and Legend by E. W. Champney and F. Champney (1917). Text Source

 

Week 7 Story: Splash Mountain Adventure

Splash Mountain Entrance source

 Splash Mountain Adventure

    I am in Disney World celebrating my sister's 18th birthday and high school graduation strolling around Adventureland in Magic Kingdom. I hear the crash of waves and smell the fragrance of heavily chlorinated water as well as joyous screams. I am waiting in line for my favorite ride, Splash Mountain. Finally, the seemingly endless line comes to an end and it is my family and I's turn to hop in the damp mechanical log. I was excited to see the scenes from Brer Rabbit Stories play out on 20 year old animatronic characters as the log floated by. The ride kicked off and as we turned the corner approaching the first turn that reveals our first animatronic scene, everything goes dark. 

    When the lights come back on the mechanical log seems rougher and even more uncomfortable than usual. They were real logs! I look around and no one seems phased. I take a closer look and realize the scenery is real grass and trees, then, sure enough an actual furry rabbit and fox pop out of no where. This seems so real but it can't be, I am on a ride based on the Brer Rabbit parts of  Song of the South, this is only in my head. Right?

    The other passengers suddenly fade away as the first story seems to begin, Mr. Rabbit and Mr. Bear. I see Mr. Fox planting a peanut patch while Brer Rabbit watches from his porch singing:

Ti-yi! Tungalee! I eat 'em pea, I pick 'em pea.

It grow in the ground, it grow so free;

Ti-yi! Them goober pea.

    Then the scene fades to Rabbit sneakily digging peanuts from the freshly ripe peanut plants, and quickly hopping away before Mr. Fox approaches. Mr. Fox is frustrated by the seemingly repetitive assault on his peanut patch. He set a trap with a tree sapling tied to the broken part of the fence Rabbit snuck out of. He walked away pleased with his work and the lights faded in and out again. When the light comes up Rabbit is sneaking into Fox's garden again and is swung up into the air in the trap filled with fear. He mumbles to himself seemingly thinking up an excuse for when Fox arrives when Brer Bear appears with a sticky beehive in hand.

"Howdy Bear!" said Rabbit
"Oh hello Rabbit, are you stuck?" Brer Bear replied.
"No, no, I am acting as a scarecrow for Mr.Fox's peanut patch. I am making $1 a minute. You have kids, maybe you would like a turn to earn some extra?" Rabbit suggested.
"Oh that sounds mighty swell Rabbit. You sure you want to give up this deal?" Bear responds.
"Oh it is no trouble for a friend Bear, help me down and you can take my place." Said Rabbit.

    The two switched places and Rabbit ran to Fox's den, knocking on the door and pointing toward the patch when Fox answered. He was telling Fox that Bear had been sneaking into the peanut patch. Fox rushes over with a hiking stick and starts hitting the dangling Bear like a piñata. All the while, Rabbit hops away pleased with himself. 

    The lights go out again but this time when they flash back on, Rabbit is being dangled from his ears in the grasp of Brer Fox. Fox is licking his lips hungrily while staring at the frightened Rabbit:

"I would roast you but that would be too much work to start a fire" suggested Fox
"Whatever you say just don't throw me into the Brer Patch!" replied Rabbit.
"Maybe I'll skin ya! Oh, I don't have my knife" Fox thought aloud.
"Sure thing, Boss. Just not the Brer Patch!" Rabbit Said.
"I'd drown ya but there ain't enough water" Brer Fox threatened.
"Sure beats the Brer Patch" stated Rabbit.
"Hmm seems like you really don't like that Brer Patch? Why don't I just chuck you there?" said Mr. Fox.
"Oh please not the Brer Patch! Anything but that!" Rabbit Pleaded.

    Suddenly there was a flash and I wasn't in the log anymore. I felt small and hungry for carrots. I turned and I was eye to eye with Mr. Fox! I took Rabbit's place! In moments I was flying through the air directly toward a real briar bush! I shut my eyes fearing the worst. Suddenly I was drenched in water and opened my eyes. I was back, the plastic mechanical log was back, the creepy animatronics were singing amongst faux flora and fauna. I have no idea what happened but it sure was something, but I think I am good on Splash Mountain for a while.

Bibliography

Joel Chandler Harris, Uncle Remus: His Songs and His Sayings  (1881), Text Source

Authors Note

    Splash Mountain was one of my favorite rides at Disney World so I decided to make a sort of fever dream adventure where I was sucked into the Uncle Remus stories featured in the ride. On another topic to address is that the ride is being re-themed because of the racially insensitive nature of Song of the South, the Disney movie which the representation of Brer Characters in the ride are derived. The movie is live action story of slaves and masters living in harmony, white washing history, but featuring animated cut-aways of Uncle Remus Brer Rabbit stories. The ride only features parts from the animated scenes which bring to light African American folklore but due to the connections to Song of the South, commonly viewed as racist and offensive, Disney had decided to remove all connection from it by changing it to a 2009 Princess and the Frog theme.

Week 5 Story: Aladdin and the Wonderful Nokia

Aladdin and the Wonderful Nokia

   Aladdin was a smart kid but he never applied himself in school and would rather have stayed at home and play video games. His parents ran a local laundromat in the center of their city, his dad worked so hard before he had a heart attack and passed when Aladdin was only 17, leaving his mother to raise him and run the laundromat. Aladdin's father had only one request before he died, he wanted Aladdin to make something of himself and put his clever mind to work. Four years have since passed and Aladdin is working at his family's laundromat, taking unauthorized 4 hour breaks twice a day.
    One day when his mother began her weekly scolding of Aladdin's laziness and wasting of potential, Aladdin stormed out and walked the busy urban streets playing Bejeweled on his phone. Suddenly, Aladdin ran into someone, when he went to apologize the man interrupted him and asked, 

"Are you the boy from the laundromat, the one owned by Mustafa?"
Aladdin replied, "Yeah, I am, but my dad died years ago. Do I know you?"
The man said, "Probably not, but I know you. Didn't your old man ever mention his older brother Ahmad?"
"Yeah but you look a little young to be him" replied Aladdin.
"You would be correct. Ahmad was my father. I am Amir. I am your cousin" said the young man.

    Aladdin brought Amir home to his mother elated to find someone close to his father. His mother knew of her husband's estranged (she never knew why the never spoke) older brother and Amir even had pictures of his father and her husband, so she welcomed him with open arms. Amir told the family that he worked for a new startup software company but was a street performing magician on the side to make rent while this software gig sorted itself out. Aladdin's mother offered him to stay with them and in return, Amir offered to get Aladdin a real job with the startup.
    The next day Amir took Aladdin to the business district of the city and helped him pick out a nice suit to go to the job interview with the startup the next day. Aladdin's mother was so happy to see him dressed up as she hadn't seen him in anything but jeans in years. The next day after lunch Aladdin and Amir set off to a city a few towns over where the interview with the startup was to take place. They drove for hours when Amir finally parked in front of an abandoned strip mall with a run down Cricket Wireless. Amir told Aladdin that there was something of great value inside and that it could only be retrieved by two members of their bloodline and since both of their fathers were gone it was up to them to retrieve it. Aladdin thought all of this was a bunch of bologna, but his mother always told him "don't argue with crazy" and Amir was definitely crazy. Aladdin went along with it and asked what needed to be done, and asked for the time since he left his phone at home and didn't want to be late to the interview. Amir said , "there is no interview, but after this we won't need to work ever again. Oh, take this it will help you keep track of time" and he handed Aladdin a nice Skagen watch. He told Aladdin only one could go inside because the structural integrity of the building was lapsing. He instructed Aladdin to go to the back of the store into the old back room and not to touch anything on the way there as they only had 5 minutes to get what they needed. Once he got to the back room there should be a box of bejeweled phone cases and next to it a Nokia 3310, he needed to grab the Nokia and get the hell out of dodge before the building collapsed.
    Aladdin did just that but managed to grab a box of phone cases hoping he could sell them on Ebay later. Right as Aladdin was going to exit, Amir asked him to hand over the phone but he had this crazy look in his eye that made Aladdin uneasy. Aladdin refused to give it over until he got all the way outside, hoping he could give Amir the phone and get help because this dude was seriously unstable. Amir then got frustrated and got back in the car and slammed on the gas, running into the front of the building which collapsed upon Aladdin, then sped off, leaving Aladdin for dead.
    Aladdin was not seriously injured as Amir had hoped, but he was stuck and had no way to call for help. After a few minutes of panic and accepting his fate, Aladdin remembered the Nokia, the phone was indestructible and he opened it hoping there may be a signal on the old phone. He began jamming keys on it trying to get it to work when suddenly a very well dressed but translucent holographic man popped up. Aladdin believed he was hallucinating until the man spoke, " Hi I am Eugene the genie. Contrary to popular belief, you don't get only 3 wishes, you get as many as you want as long as you have my Nokia." In desperation not knowing if this was reality or not, Aladdin screamed "get me out of here and get me home!"
    Sure enough, Aladdin woke up minutes later in one of the chairs in the laundromat. "Oh, hi Ali, how was the interview? Where's Amir?!" asked his Mother. Aladdin explained that Amir must have been a con and explained what happened, that's when his mother noticed the dirt on his face and tears in his clothes. His mother consoled him, "I'm sorry Ali, I know that job would have been your ticket out of here." Aladdin assured her, "mom, I have everything I need here with you, however I do have something that may solve our problems." Aladdin showed her the phone, "I haven't seen one of these in ages! I dropped mine so many times and it never broke, but I don't see your point. Maybe you should lie down." said his Mother. Aladdin drew the blinds and locked the doors and said "no Ma, watch what it can do." He dials the buttons again and out pops Eugene, "Hiya!" he says, causing Aladdin's mother to faint. When she comes to Eugene is still there. "Ask him for anything you want Ma" said Aladdin. "Well I would like to enjoy a nice quiet meal that isn't Easy Mac off of paper plates in my sweatpants." she said. In an instant Eugene was back with at least a dozen jewel encrusted silver plates of fine foods like lobster and Jamon Iberico, Aladdin's mother was suddenly dressed in a Vera Wang dress and a HUGE diamond necklace with atrocious ruby earrings. His mother was in awe and they enjoyed a fabulous meal.
    After dinner Aladdin's mom confessed, "I loved the meal, however this outfit and this jewelry is not my taste and I don't think Jeweled silver is dishwasher safe. What are we going to do with this?" Aladdin suggests going into the business district in the morning and visiting the many jewelers. They do this and bring back several millions, they also discovered the rhinestone phone cases were made with real jewels but they decided not to sell those. They continue this process on a weekly basis for quite some time, now selling the wares privately to celebrities and other well to do individuals. Allowing them to move out of the apartment above the laundromat and into a nice loft, deciding to still run the laundromat Aladdin's father but so much work into. They finally were living comfortably and worry free.

The Infamous Nokia 3310     Image Source

Bibliography

• The Arabian Nights' Entertainments by Andrew Lang and illustrated by H. J. Ford (1898) Source.

Authors Note:

    I went a little longer on this one but I really wanted to tell this story from a modern perspective while acknowledging Aladdin's cleverness and wit without focusing on his obsession over a princess. I do intend to build on this story with the addition of a love interest similar to a princess. I was just running out of space before the story got too long. Update: I finished the follow up and you can find it here .

Week 3 Story: Eros and Psykhe

Author's Note: 

    I enjoyed this story a lot and actually recognized parts of it from somewhere. This story is so good and creative on it's own that I have decided to just retell it in a more concise and clear manner since the story itself is particularly long and somewhat confusing at parts. I also think I will tell it using Greek names. I am going to omit the intro and exit with the band of robbers and just tell of the parts involving Cupid and Psyche. I also will only be telling the first part but will tell the second as this week's extra credit.

Cupid and Psyche by François-Édouard Picot

Here depicts Eros fleeing before Psyche wakes. 

Source

Eros and Psykhe

Bibliography: Apuleius' The Golden Ass, translated by Tony Kline. Source

    Once there was a princess, the youngest and only unmarried of three, named Psykhe. Psykhe was so beautiful that many thought her to be Aphrodite or the mortal rendering of her. People stopped worshiping Aphrodite and visiting her shrines and temples in order to worship the girl they believed to be her. Aphrodite so enraged by this asked her son Eros to make her fall in love with a heinous man/beast. Meanwhile, Psykhe's parents feared that there would be outrage from the gods, particularly Aphrodite. They visited the Oracle of Apollo who told them that their daughter is to be taken up to a mountain where she would marry a heinous being and if impregnated by a mortal, she would birth a monster even gods would fear. Not wanting to mess with destiny the parents sadly arranged a wedding more like a funeral and led Psykhe to a cliff in the mountains then left her be. Psykhe, distraught, tries to throw herself from the cliff but the god Zephyrus caught her and floated her to a bed of flowers where she then slept. When she awoke, she saw a beautiful golden palace littered with jewels and other fine things. A voice then told her she may make herself comfortable and eat and make use of her servants, she went to eat and the plates filled with food and she heard voices but saw nothing. As she retired to bed in the deep of the night, a faceless man she could not see entered the bed consummating the marriage. 

    This continued for several nights but one night Psykhe's mysterious husband asked why she was always so sad even with all of the lavish belongings she now has. She claims it is because she misses her family and has no way of letting them know she is okay. Her husband responds by informing her that her older sisters will soon be going to lament at the cliffs and she is not to make her presence known. Psykhe pleads with her husband asking to at least speak with them, he reluctantly agrees that they may visit and use all the amenities but she is not to reveal who her husband is or the fact that she does not know what he looks like. She then asks that they be whisked to the palace like she.

    The elder sister's of Psykhe arrive and begin to sob and mourn their sister when the voice of her sister calls to them explaining that they will be lifted to her new home. The sisters are in awe at the palace and joyfully greet their sibling. Psykhe entertains them with all of the things in her new home and the sisters awe quickly turns to jealousy and they begin questioning who her husband is and how he can afford this. Psykhe tells them he is a young hunter with barely a hint of a beard then hands them a bunch of riches and sends them away. The sisters find this suspicious and are jealous that they have old husbands and labor away and create a plan to get back at Psykhe not telling their parents she is safe.

    Meanwhile, Psykhe tells her husband what happened and tells him that despite never seeing him, she loves him deeply. Her husband reveals that she is with child and if she keeps the identity of her husband or rather the lack of identity a secret, the child will be divine and if not mortal and she will suffer great consequence. He also warns her that the sisters are not trustworthy and to avoid meeting but if they must, to maintain the secrecy. The sisters return for a second time and Psykhe keeps up the act but this time accidentally says her husband is a middle aged merchant and sends them away like she did the last. Confirmed in their suspicions the sisters return home. Psykhe's husband warns her again even more strict not to listen to the sisters and not to reveal, nor seek out his identity. 

    The sisters return and inform Psykhe that it is rumored her husband is a monster seen by local farmers that will eat her after she gives birth to his monstrous spawn. Psykhe, young and naive, panics and tells the sisters everything. The sisters give her a knife and instruct her to wait until he is asleep and light a lamp revealing him and to cut off his serpentine head. They leave and Psykhe prepares to follow suit. When the time comes Psykhe is shocked to find that her husband is none other than the Love himself, Eros. She then investigates his bow and arrows, accidentally cutting herself on the tip, falling even deeper in love, she then showers Eros with affection when oil from the lamp spills and burns Eros' shoulder. He flees without a word leaving Psykhe distraught and angry at her sisters.

    The eldest of Psykhe's sisters returns asking if she had done the task, Psykhe tells her about her spouse being Eros but instead of telling her HE fled she claims that she was kicked out and that Eros now asked for the sister by name to be his bride. The sister then rushes off claiming she heard news of their parents death when actually she tries to get to the palace by jumping off the cliff assuming she will be whisked away by Zephyrus... she is not. The second sister arrives shortly later and the same thing happens to her. Psykhe then wanders for Eros. While this his happening Eros is in Aphrodite's home recovering. 

    News of Eros' escapades reaches Aphrodite and the rest of the world, she is so angry that the notions of love cease to exist. She confronts Eros angry that he disobeyed his mother and queen and claims that she will take away his wings and toys and give them to a slave boy instead. She then seeks the aid of Hermes. She asks that he send notice to the world that she is looking for Psykhe and to describe her perfectly, rewarding the finder with 7 sweet kisses and one passionate from the goddess of beauty herself. 

Week 2 Story "Pig-Malion"

 "Pig-Malion"

    Once their was a young Dane named Archal, he was tall, snugly, and extremely mushy. He longed after the sausage based Hooman treat known as the "hog -ogg" but he saw too many Buzzfeed articles saying hog oggs were not good for his kind, so he stayed clear of them reluctantly. He grew anxious and decided to make his own hog ogg. He took the time to beg his person to take him to Petsmart where he picked out the most amazing Hog Ogg with the brightest red casing and most charismatic embroidered smile that was made with the finest of polyester blend stuffings. It may not have been a real hog ogg but to Archal, it was perfection

    Archal grew fond of the stuffy Hog Ogg. He snuggled it and protected it from the paws of greedy Hoomans. He chewed on it and licked it imagining the poly-cotton blend to be a blend of pork and beef instead. He took the time to make sure Hog Ogg was appropriately savored, he even began to show it off to everyone without letting them touch it. Arch and his Hog Ogg lived in peace and harmony.

    In early July on a day known by American hoomans as "Independence Day," Archal attended the Annual Festival of Oscar Meyer leaving Hog Ogg tucked in on the couch. While in attendance Arch watched a god like hooman eat an abhorrent amount of hog oggs, his name was Joey of Chestnuts. Archal wanted to be in his position, he wanted to consume that many hog oggs and not get sick. He went to the nearest hog ogg stand and begged "Joey of Chestnuts, if you really are the Champion of Hog Oggs please give me a hog ogg like my Hog Ogg, but maybe with a little chili and cheese, no relish though." Joey Chestnut was walking off his hog oggs at The Festival when he saw and heard this. In response he went to Amazon and ordered a case of dog safe hog oggs and chili and had them sent to Archal's hoomans' home where they prepared it for Arch.

    When Archal arrived at home he went to snuggle his Hog Ogg on the couch but noticed something was off. Hog Ogg was warm and on a paper plate. He sniffed Hog Ogg. Hog Ogg smelled like beef and not slobber. He performed one last test to confirm his suspicions, Archal licked Hog Ogg. "Oh it is true! Hog Ogg is real! And with chili and cheese!" he proclaimed. He ate Hog Ogg sparing not a single morsel of cheese. When finished, he turned over on his side to sad he no longer had Hog Ogg and noticed his polyester Hog Ogg was still there. He realized that this was HIS Hog Ogg and he still had him to snuggle and play with. Archal thanked Joey of Chestnut in his head before dozing off for a nap.

    Archal used the rest of the case of hog oggs sent by Joey to train to be the first pupper hog ogg champion. In 12 months time, Arch competed with Joey of Chestnut as the first ever Canine Competitor in the championship ( with canine friendly hog oggs of course). He did not win, he got tired and took a nap halfway through, but he sure did enjoy eating those tasty sausage snacks.

All Pictures are Personal

Baby Archie Protecting The Original Hog Ogg from Olive

Archie With a Strange Breed of Hot Dog (With Relish)

This is Collison the week after Halloween 2019 with a costume we got on sale for $3 at Walmart

Author's note:

    In my home, our dogs treat their toys as human kids do we also make up silly words for things that we think dogs would say. Archie had this one hot dog toy since he was a puppy that he adored, and what pup doesn't enjoy actual hot dogs. So I retold the story from the perspective of a dog with Archie longing for an actual hot dog rather than Pygmalion longing for his ivory woman and I didn't replace Hog Ogg, but merely added on.

Bibliography 

• Pygmalion, Ovid's Metamorphoses, translated by Tony Kline (2000 )Source.