Thursday, February 4, 2021

Week 2 Story: The Perfect Guy

 

 

 Silhouette of lovers against a starry sky (Source:  Pixabay )

 

 Katie was completely over it. High school was hard enough without all the jock guys being rude to you, just because you were intelligent and possessed a working brain in your head, unlike those bimbos on the cheer squad. She stared at her reflection as she wiped the tears away and replaced her glasses in the girls' bathroom during lunch. Why did I ever think he would be different? This always happens to me. Katie sighed internally, while remembering the last few months, after Jason Clark came to their school. He was a transfer from an out of state high school and plenty of talent on the football field. But that day in biology class when he became her partner, he showed a completely different personality to the typical brainless chauvinistic jock she knew permeated the halls of Southview High School. They had talked about books, music, and art. He seemed so, so...genuine... She shook her head. "It was stupid of me to think that any guy would actually like me for me. Well, that's it. I'm done with guys here. Actually I'm done with guys and men forever. They are all pigs. I'm not wasting one more tear over any of them."

The next day was Friday and Katie was brainstorming what she was going to do for her science fair project. She was the only student picked out in the school to participate in the science fair, because of her high grades and intelligence.The science fair was next month and held a great first prize for the winner. It was a full ride scholarship to one of the best and most technologically advanced universities in the country. It was so important that she win, so that she could leave this town full of men who were jerks and who had broke her heart. As she tried to come up with an idea, she brooded over what had happened the day before. If only there was someway to create the perfect guy for me...yeah right, that would be a miracle. She snorted and shook her head at herself. But there more she thought of it the more it might seem possible. "Hmmm...maybe if I use the hologram program from last year? But instead of scenes, I can maybe calibrate it to project a human." She stated to herself thoughtfully as she wrote down her thoughts and notes. She then hurried home to start on her project.

Katie worked on the holographic program and machine all through the month. Her broken heart and humiliation from the jock guys at school seemed to drive her motivation to really create the most perfect guy a girl could ever wish for in holographic form. After calibrating the machine to project people,  she started on her design. He had the handsomest, kindest facial features she could contrive. She used special algorithms and theories of beauty to design his face and body. She then researched the latest trends and designed the best clothes she could find. She was so determined to make the guy perfect, she pulled away from her friends and did just enough to get by in her studies at school. Her whole life revolved around her creation. She slowly found herself developing feelings for the holographic guy she had created. She imagined she had conversations with him over science, art, music, and books. She wondered out loud to him what it would be like to go on dates with him or to even kiss him. 

Soon, the day of the science fair came. Katie excitedly set up her project and the hologram machine. When she turned it on, her perfect guy appeared and it instantly calmed her nerves. She talked to him until the judges came around and asked her to explain the project to them. She hurriedly told them all she had done and demonstrated how the machine worked for them. They awarded her first place. She was so excited, but one thought was on her heart. The only thing that would make this day completely perfect is if you were real and i could actually touch you. She thought as she smiled sadly to her hologram man and started to pack everything up.  

That night at home, Katie was laying outside on a blanket looking at a sky full of stars, while the hologram machine and holographic man were beside her. Suddenly she said, " Oh there's a shooting start! Make a wish!" She exclaimed to the hologram, while she quickly and tightly shut her eyes and wished with all her heart for a guy like her hologram. When she was done she smiled at her own silliness. "Wishes on shooting stars aren't real. That's for kids. Well, it's fun to still pretend though," She said as she smiled to herself and the hologram. 

What she did not know, was in the Heavens, the gods were holding court and talking about her. The goddess of love was pleading her case for Katie's wish. "It's just so romantic! You all must let me grant this one, please!" She said with glistening tears in her eyes and such beauty that it moved the King of the Heavens. "You may," He stated regally. She immediately granted the wish and watched to see how Katie would react.

Katie was just starting to pick up her blanket when as sudden light flash and temporary blinded her. "W-What's going on?" She asked fearfully. "No need to fear child, your heart's wish has been granted," said a melodious voice coming from above. Katie turned and saw that the machine had disappeared and in its place stood a man. This man was the same she had painstakingly created a hologram of. She cautiously touched his face to prove he was real. "You ARE real! I can't believe it!" She exclaimed in happiness. He smiled and kissed her just like he did in her dreams. 


Story Source: Ovid's Metamorphoses, Translated by Tony Kline (2000). 

Author's Note:

So I chose to retell the story of Pygmalion. I chose this story because I love Greek Mythology and I am a romantic. In my version, Pygmalion has been gender-swapped and changed into a teenage girl in high school named Katie. She gets her heart broke by a bunch of guys and has the familiar high school drama. But, because she is a very intelligent student, she sets off to create the "perfect guy." I really wanted to give it a female's point of view. It seems like all to often we get a male's point of view in Greek mythology and I thought it would be fun to change it up. Thanks for reading! 





3 comments:

  1. Great job! Love to modernized take. Seems like it could be a novel idea!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hey Lauren!

    I gotta say, I love the story! I was unfamiliar with the original Greek tale, so the author' note was really helpful. Also, I completely agree with the swapping genders, way too many Greek myths are male-focused and the ones which are female are typically tragedies or represent women in an unflattering light. Not so with Katie! You did an excellent job of melding the original tale with a modern setting while making it feel like it is representative of how a teenage girl would actually feel (that last part is mostly a guess, as I am a dude)!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hi Lauren!

    I love how you changed up the setting and gender in this story. The modernized take paired with the point of view of a teenage girl really makes it an interesting read. I agree with you that greek mythology is told from the male point of view too often, and liked the protagonistic light that shined on Katie in this retelling!

    ReplyDelete

Story Lab week 15: Six Word Stories/ Microfiction

       Henry Mills, The New Author Henry Mills sat in his room thinking over how he had just become the Author, keeper, and teller of all st...