A Slightly Different Perfect

Excerpt:
One afternoon, I was in my room, lounging belly-down on the feather mattress, idly kicking my feet back and forth and snarfing down bonbon-sized chunks of ambrosia.

Thank the gods the stuff wasn’t fattening. I’d practically been inhaling it ever since I arrived here. I had invented a new lounging-around game, too, something I hadn’t done since the summer vacation when I was ten. I’d discovered that my sandals, if untied, made a pleasantly meditative “flap-flap” sound against the soles of my feet when I kicked my legs back and forth. What? It was nice. And I was a little bored.

There was a gentle knock on the door, and Hebe came in, holding a rolled-up scroll.

“Hi there!” I rolled onto my back and waved merrily at my upside-down view of Hebe. I plucked another chunk of ambrosia off of the crystal plate sitting on the bed and popped it into my mouth. “Man, I love being the goddess of love and beauty and physical perfection! I can eat like a ton of this and never gain an ounce!” I said around a mouthful of ambrosia. I chewed, swallowed, and licked my lips reflectively. “That one tasted just exactly like mashed potatoes. With butter. Lots and lots of butter. And maybe a little sour cream.”

“How nice for you. Hera wants you to go down to Earth.” Hebe tapped the scroll against her palm. “She wants you to show up in someone's dream tonight.”

I sat up. “In someone’s dream?”

“Yes. Ever since Christianity really got rolling, we’ve had to limit our appearances on Earth to dreams. It has something to do with a contract. I’m just a minor goddess, so I don’t know all the details. All I know is that you need to go to this address, tonight,” she held up the scroll, “and give this guy the dream of his life.” She handed me the scroll.

“A guy, huh?” I sat up straighter. I guess it was about time for me to be earning my keep as the goddess of love. This could be fun. Oh, the possibilities!

“By the way,” Hebe added as she turned around, one hand on the doorknob, “that message will self-destruct in thirty seconds.”

I looked down at the scroll in my hand, then back up at Hebe. “Really?”

“Nah, just messin’ with ya.” Hebe grinned and walked out.

Finally, a chance to go back to Earth, if only for a night! I untied the golden ribbon that held the scroll closed, unrolled the paper, and read the address. I smiled. I was headed back to the town I’d lived in as a mortal. I gazed dreamily off into space for a few moments, strolling down Memory Lane, until a hissing sound drew my attention. I looked down just in time to see the paper melting away between my fingers. Moments later, it had vanished to nothing.

“Gah—drat!”

That was another thing I’d found out about being the goddess of love and beauty and gentility and grace. I couldn’t work up a good cuss even if I tried.