Another short myth story. This one was from freshie year and my friends and I still get a kick out of hearing the names. I wrote it for an English group project and helped to act it out. I decided to be the platypus and had great fun as I donned a construction paper beak and tail and duck walked around the room. The smallest girl in the class was Hera, so she had to stand on a chair to be seen pronouncing her judgments and stomping on people. Ah, those were the good old days…
How the Platypus Came to Be
(aka, the shortest story I shall ever post, I hope)
Many have wondered how the platypus was created. It was found off the coast of Australia and was interpreted as a bird-like animal. However, it also demonstrates mammal-like qualities such as its care for young and its fur. Many have tried to explain this perplexing creature, yet all before have failed. Listen carefully as I tell you the true of how the platypus came to be.
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In the city of Phlopacopalus, there was once a young woman named Deferina who was beauty itself, although her vanity was unbecoming. Her hair was golden like Apollo's chariot, dancing across the sky. Her eyes were the shades of jade, glittering like the waves of Poseidon's seas. Her cheeks were rosy and her skin was as soft as flower petals. She had a slender flowing frame, and graceful movements. Men openly gaped at the sight of her and worshipped the roads she frequented. Many were jealous of Deferina's husband, Zephisistus, the city's gold smith.
Deferina often praised her own beauty, but the great goddess, Hera, overhead these vain remarks and warned Deferina of her foolishness. Deferina, however, was angered at what Hera said, and thought herself more worthy of wearing the crown than the goddess herself. She plotted to steal the crown from Hera's head. While Deferina attempted to carry out her scheme, Hera caught her and proclaimed, "I have warned you many times of your prideful ways. For this great offense, I shall punish you, and turn you into an ugly bird! Your plumage shall be plain, your neck shall be long, and your beak shall be short and stubby. You shall cry in disgrace at your repulsiveness, and your husband shall cast you away!"
Deferina trembled at the words of the angry goddess. She sobbed in anguish as Hera transformed her into what we now know as the swan. Zephisistus, watching nearby, ran to Deferina and embraced his once human wife. "Ha! I have foiled you! My husband still loves me! Nothing you can do will change me or my beauty!" Deferina taunted. Hera lashed out in anger as her plan to punish Deferina backfired. " Your foolishness has cost you yet again! Now I shall punish the both of you!" screeched the enraged goddess. Hera stomped on the terrified couple, turning them into one hideous creature, resembling a furred duck with a beaver tail. Hera cackled in triumph as the lowly creature waddled away in shame to live on the other side of the world.