Mr Raines was watching him for a long time — a little chubby boy with iridescent pink skin and feathery wings. He was running about on the street, aiming his toy bow at random people.

Octogenarian Mr Raines took off his thick glasses, cleaned and repositioned them on his nose again and looked closely.

Yes!

The boy was still there and to his utter shock he discovered that he was buck naked.

The boy stopped again and aimed his arrow at a couple on the opposite footpath.

'Ummhmm' he crept up behind the weird guy and cleared his throat loudly.

The boy jumped up, the arrow flying off and hitting the roof of the nearest cafe.

'I'm very sorry if I'm making a mistake here. I don't know if it's the latest trend. You youngsters have nude beaches and stuff but —' Raines examined him up and down, 'Shouldn't you put on more clothes than that, while in public?'

The boys eyes widened and he quickly glanced left and right.

No one.

So the old lunatic was speaking to him.

Oh shit!

'You can see me?'

'Yeah, that's kind of a point but you shouldn't be roaming without a guardian and look at your toy!'

Raines snatched the golden arrow right out of his hand, carefully running his hand along the sleek sides.

'You'll poke out someone's eyes young man!' he put his hands on his hips.

'But how can you see me?' the boy seemed shocked.

'I'm not joking here. Are you a truant? Or one of the migrates here? What's your name?' Raines sounded strict.

'You don't know who I am!' the surprise was, evident on Cupid's face.

'I'm waiting.' Raines looked at his watch, apparently pissed.

'I'm Cupid, the God of love!'

'Oh really. You get some wild costume and you become Cupid! You should know what love is young lad. You meet someone, you court them and you fall in love.'

'But that's where I come in. You can't fall in love unless I hit you with this love-tipped arrow of mine which you just confiscated.' Cupid pleaded.

'Eighty years I've seen this world.' Raines flared up.

'I'm sorry sir, but please give me a chance to show you how it is done!' he held out his hands expectantly for his bow and arrow.

'Sharp objects with adults.' Raines huffed.

'Okay then, you see the couple over there?' Cupid pointed across the road to where a girl with exotic features was hugging a blond man.

'What now?'

'Shoot or it'll be too late' Cupid screeched.

They were waving a goodbye.

The man's eyes were sad, downcast.

Raines hesitated, his arrow poised.

The girl cast a longing look at him, willing him to speak.

'Do it now!' Cupid shouted frantically

The arrow hit the guy.

'Nazeera.' he turned around and shouted, 'I have something to confess.'

The girl's face bloomed.

A mischievous smile was spreading across Raines' face. Something told him, that wasn't the end of his matchmaking.

500 words completed. Written for the Aim to engage contest for cupid