Read Online Persephone the Phony (Goddess Girls) by Joan Holub - Free Book Online Page B

kind of help they thought gods should give to mortals they favored. Aphrodite, who enjoyed helping mortals in love, had hoped to talk about that, but the godboys in class had immediately steered the discussion toward weapons and war--topics that could never hold her interest for long.
    Reaching into her bag, she pulled out her pink papyrus notescroll and began to doodle little hearts all over the front with her favorite red feather pen. Mr. Cyclops
    145
    cleared his throat. "Today I'd like you to consider the following question," he said. "Need mortal maidens always marry?"
    Dropping her red feather pen in surprise, Aphrodite sat up straighter. Now, this was an engaging question! She'd like to see the godboys try to make thi s into a discussion about weapons and war, she thought as she raised her hand high.
    "Yes, Aphrodite?" asked Mr. Cyclops.
    "I wouldn't want to see any young maiden go unwed," she said. "Everyone should have a chance to fall in love."
    "But what if the maiden would rather be alone?" Athena asked. "What if she has other interests, like traveling the world, or becoming a first-class scholar, or . . . or inventing things?"
    146
    Aphrodite smiled at her. Poor Athena. She'd never really had a boyfriend. Just wait until she experienced her first crush. She'd think differently then. "If the maiden feels that way, then perhaps it's only because she hasn't yet found the right youth," she said kindly.
    "But not all youths marry," Athena pointed out. "So why should all maidens?"
    Poseidon thrust his trident into the air. As always, water dripped from it and from him to puddle beneath his chair. "That's because many youths prefer the life of a soldier," he declared.
    "That's right!" exclaimed another godboy. "War trumps marriage any day."
    Aphrodite rolled her eyes. "Oh, really? And which do you think contributes more to the survival of the human race?"
    147
    Mr. Cyclops beamed at her. "Good point."
    Just then the school loudspeaker crackled to life. "Attention, godboys and goddessgirls!" thundered Principal Zeus in a deafeningly loud voice. Everyone, including Mr. Cyclops, automatically reached up to cover their ears. "A special assembly on chariot safety starts in ten minutes. Please make your way to the auditorium."
    Looking somewhat annoyed, Mr. Cyclops muttered something about unwarranted interruptions to class time. But then, with a sigh, he said, "All right, everyone. Please line up at the door."
    Normally, Aphrodite would have welcomed a chance to get out of class, but not today. Not when the topic of discussion was such an interesting one. Besides, the chariot safety assembly was repeated every year, and it was deadly dull. Who among them didn't know
    148
    that racing into a turn could cause a chariot to tip over? Duh. Or that you shouldn't ever fly directly into the sun?
    After the assembly, which Zeus had livened up with a real demonstration of racing chariots for a change, it was time for lunch. Aphrodite was starved. As she stood in the cafeteria line with Athena and their other two best friends, dark-haired Artemis and pale-skinned Persephone, her stomach began to rumble like a volcano about to erupt.
    Her friends laughed. " Somebody' s hungry," said Artemis.
    Aphrodite blushed. "Yes, very." She didn't say it loudly, but considering the response, she might just as well have shouted it. A dozen godboys in line ahead of
    149
    her whipped around at the sound of her voice, eager to get her attention.
    "You can have my spot, Aphrodite!" yelled Poseidon from ten spaces up the line. He took a step toward her, dripping water onto another godboy's sandal-clad feet.
    Ares, who was the cutest godboy in school, in Aphrodite's opinion, glowered at him.
    "Watch where you're dripping, Fishface!" Droplets of water flew as he shook one foot and then the other. Poseidon glowered back, his mouth opening and closing a couple of times like a fish's.
    Ignoring him, Ares turned toward Aphrodite. "Take my place," he said with a