Cupid: My Valentine

“Who is Cupid, Daddy?” asked five-year old Sarah, looking up at her father, as she waited to be tucked into bed on the evening before Valentine's Day.

Her father, seeing the frightened expression on her face, realized something was wrong. “Cupid?” asked her father, quietly. “Where did you hear that name, honey?”

“Dennis, one of the boys at school, told me that I was so cute, he was going to ask Cupid to shoot me with his arrow so that I would fall in love with him.”

“He did?” replied her father, trying not to laugh.

“I watched for Cupid all day, Daddy. I did not go outside at recess because I thought he might be waiting for me out there.”

“You thought Cupid might be outside?”

“I was not sure, but I don’t know who Cupid is. I ran home after school as fast as I could hoping that Cupid would not catch me. I was really scared, Daddy. I don’t want to go to school any more.”

“Never?” 

“Not ever.”

“You're having a Valentine’s Day party at school tomorrow. Don’t you want to go?”

“Not if Cupid is there,” replied Sarah. “Can I go to work with you, instead?”

“Did you tell your teacher?”

Sarah shook her head. “When I ran outside, Dennis hollered that Cupid had wings and he could still catch me. He laughed because I was scared. Can Cupid fly, Daddy?”

“He’s too late,” replied her father. ”So is Dennis. You are my little valentine, sweetie. No one else can have you.”

“You mean I don’t have to worry about Cupid?”

“No, not ever. Cupid cannot shoot his arrow at you as long as you are my valentine. Tomorrow, I will come to your Valentine’s Day party. Dennis and I will have a little talk.”

With that settled, Sarah drifted off to sleep.

“She’s only five years old!” thought her father. "Dennis is right, honey,” he whispered. “You are cute. I'll have to chase the boys away, for a long time.”