Aphrodite’s Lover:

Simone’s Notes:

Some believe defining eroticism may be difficult since perceptions of what is erotic fluctuate. For example, a voluptuous nude painting by Peter Paul Rubens could have been considered erotic or pornographic when it was created for a private patron in the 17th century. Similarly in the United Kingdom and United States, D. H. Lawrence's sexually explicit novel Lady Chatterley's Lover was considered obscene and unfit for publication and circulation in many nations thirty years after it was completed in 1928, but may now be part of standard literary school texts in some areas. In a different context, a sculpture of a phallus in Africa may be considered a traditional symbol of potency though not overtly erotic.

Jakob and Riza agreed to elope on Saturday of May 16th. The odds were in their favor this weekend. Jakob decided to check out the Ametris School of Renaissance. Riza was assigned some work in the west as well. These excuses seemed to work perfectly. Nobody seemed to ask or suspect that the semi-secret couple was up to anything this anything, so everyone just let it slip. While on the first day of touring the campus, the mouse found a nice little temple and a rabbi who was willing to perform the wedding for free. He set a date with the rabbi in the evening.

The rest the plans fell into place. Jakob packed his best black dress pants and neatly pressed white t-shirt. He only wanted Riza to have the best. She bought a white and light sakura pink wedding kimono a couple of weeks in advance. The couple was taking separate routes to the west. Riza was proudly wearing Jakob’s grandmother’s engagement ring on her finger. She didn’t know how to answer his proposal at first. She was slightly worried that he was too young for marriage. But after a few seconds, Riza finally said yes. Now, she was glad that she did so.

Alice sat in the back seat of Riza’s car invisibly. The phase two of the love mission was getting off the ground beautifully. Her job now was to keep either one of them from getting cold feet before going to the altar. “Just stick with the plan!” Alice thought to the captain. “Don’t step out for any reason at all!” The car pulled up to the hotel where Jakob said to meet at. The hotel was named Athena’s Palace. It wasn’t the most expensive hotel in the city, but it was the best that Jakob’s money could afford. Both were paying for this weekend elope together. He covered the cost of the three day and two stay plus meals and she paid for her dress and everything else. Friday they spent the day separate. (Bad luck for the bride and groom to see each other before the big day.) They took that time to make some last minute arrangements. Everything didn’t have to be perfect, but they had to make it memorable. Saturday morning was the time to get prepared for the big day. The rabbi’s wife helped Riza get dressed in her kimono and veil.

“A bride must always look her best on her wedding day!” she told the captain as she was putting on her make-up. “You are very lucky to have a man like your husband, Ms. Hawkeye.” Riza couldn’t help but to agree. She knew that she was going to be happy with Jakob from now on. She could now care less about what Esther and Roy thought about her union with this boy was. From now on, it was going to be Riza and Jakob together forever until death do they part. Her sexual feminine side was all a glow today. Riza’s cheeks all a light pink blush. She just couldn’t wait to see her husband.

That evening, everything was set. Jakob and the rabbi were waiting at the altar. The rabbi’s wife was playing on the piano softly. Jakob was dressed in his best black dress pants and neatly pressed t-shirt. His dark brown hair was tussled as usual. His black leather shoes were neatly polished today. It didn’t take him much time to get ready. He wrote down his vows as she did the same. He was completely excited tonight. “Just breathe!” he kept thinking to himself over and over again. “Relax and breathe!” Alice sat in the pew invisibly. She was going to see the whole thing through. There was no turning back on this mission now. The love deity just had to see them through. She even looked like a wedding guest all dressed up in her white dress suit with matching shoes and a white flowery hat.

Then, the temple doors blew open gracefully. A warm breeze lightly greeted the wedding party. The groom, the rabbi, his wife, and Alice all looked up. There was the bride herself. Riza was just as beautiful as ever. She looked just like a model in her bridal kimono with her simple white veil. Her lips were like a bright pink rose. Her cheeks were a rosy pink as well. Riza’s nails were long and neatly polished. Jakob couldn’t help but to smile at her. She was a lovely bride indeed. Hawkeye looked like a present waiting to be opened. Jakob just wanted to eat her up on the spot. Riza made her way done the aisle. Alice watched in sweet happiness. “Show time!” she thought in high ambition. The captain stood beside her soon to be husband. Jakob felt himself swell up with romantic pride. The rabbi stood before them.

“Dearly beloved,” he announced. “We are gathered here today to join this man and this woman together in a holy union.” Riza and Jakob stood beside each other happily. The rabbi looked at the couple with a huge smile on his face.

“Shall we begin?” he asked with pride. The couple nodded quickly. The rabbi opened his book. Alice watched on and waited as the ceremony came under way.

“Okay then,” he spoke up. “Then, we’ll begin!” He turned to the mouse.

“Jakob,” the rabbi said aloud. “Do you take Riza to be your wife?”

“I do, sir!” the boy said quickly.

“Do you promise to love, cherish and protect her, whether in good fortune or in adversity, and to seek with her a life hallowed by the faith of Israel?” he went on.

“I do!” Jakob said again. He lightly took Riza by the hand. Alice kept on watching as one half of phase two was flying high. The rabbi turned to the captain.

“Riza,” he said. “Do you take Jakob to be your husband?”

“I do!” Hawkeye replied.

“Do you promise to love, cherish and protect him, whether in good fortune or in adversity, and to seek with him a life hallowed by the faith of Israel?” the rabbi asked.

“I do!” the captain said boldly. The rabbi smiled happily.

“I now pronounce you man and wife!” he said. “You may now kiss the bride!” The couple turned to each other gingerly. The groom lightly lifted up his bride’s gorgeous white veil. Riza’s face was glowing sweetly in the warm sunlight. Jakob planted and sweet and romantic kiss on his bride’s lips. The rabbi was still smiling at the young couple. Alice kept smiling as well. The rabbi’s wife appeared with the rings on a white and sliver pillow. The couple looked very surprised at the rings. They had picked out each other’s rings in secret for a surprise. Jakob’s ring was a platinum and sliver band. Riza’s was also silver and platinum with a huge real white diamond in the shape of a heart. The rabbi’s wife offered the rings to the couple. The rabbi himself smiled at the loving couple.

“You may now take the rings,” he said. Then he turned to Jakob. “You may start.” The mouse smiled and nodded. He lightly picked up the bride’s ring and lightly took Riza’s graceful hand. The soft feel made him even more confident about his decision. He smiled at her lovingly.

“Today,” Jakob said with such passion and emotion. “Riza, I join my life to yours, not merely as your husband, but as your friend, your lover, and your confidant. Let me be the shoulder you lean on, the rock on which you rest, the companion of your life. With you I will walk my path from this day forward. And with this ring, I will honor my word and promise until death do us part!”

Then, he slipped the ring on her lovely finger. Riza’s face seemed to glow all over. She was now his and his until death do they part. The rabbi, his wife, and Alice all smiled. “Nice touch!” the love deity thought in sweet pride. Even though she didn’t want to admit it, but now she was glad that Ai-Oni had her hook this lovely couple up out of true love. But it wasn’t time to celebrate fully just yet. Now, it was Riza’s turn. The rabbi turned to her with a smile on his face.

“Captain,” he said confidentially. Hawkeye nodded with a sweet smile on her beautiful face. She took the ring and Jakob’s hand. Her smile shined kindly upon her new husband. Alice and the others waited patiently.

“I, Riza,” she began. “Choose you, Jakob, as my best friend, my love for life. I promise you my deepest love, my fullest devotion, my tenderest care, through the pressures of the present and the uncertainties of the future, I promise to be faithful to you. I promise to love you, to commit to you, and support you. I pledge to respect your unique talents and abilities, to lend you strength for all of your dreams. You have shown me what love feels like and for that I thank you. You are everything I need and at this moment I know all of my prayers have been answered and that all of my dreams have come true. I praise God for you, Jakob: for all of your love and constant friendship. I know that our love is heaven sent and I promise to be here for ever and always. From this day forward, you shall not walk alone. My heart will be your shelter and my arms will be your home. As I have given you my hand to hold, I give you my life to keep. And with this ring, I will honor my word and promise until death do us part!”

She slipped the ring on his finger tenderly. Then, they shared another romantic kiss. The rabbi and his wife watched happily. Alice tried her best not to cry. “This is the happiest day of my mission!” she thought in bliss. The rabbi held out his hands to the couple.

“I now pronounce the new Mr. and Mrs. Riis!” he said aloud. Alice was happily clapping to herself. The second part of the mission was complete. But she knew that it wasn’t over yet. There was still Roy and Esther to deal with. At least now, she, Riza, and Jakob were now prepared to deal with those little problems and a few more that decide to pop up. And Alice just knew how to fix them quick.