Nicks nodded. So that was it, Cecily loved the attention.

      “We can help you to find something so much, much, much better than attention,” revealed Coral, like she knew a very big secret.

      Cecily wiped her pretty eyes and hiccupped. “What could that be?”

      “LOVE!” said Coral and Nicks at once.

      Nicks put a gentle arm around Cecily’s shoulders. “Don’t worry, the Cupid Company is here to help.”

      “The Cupid Company?”

      “Think of us as representatives of love,” replied Coral. And then she told Cecily all about the Cupid Company. Cecily listened closely until Coral was done. And then she tilted her head up to the heavens and smiled wistfully at the thought of finding true love. She certainly seemed attracted to the idea, like she’d watched enough romantic films to know vaguely what it was about.

      “But how will I know when I’ve found true love?” she asked.

      “Well, you won’t want to date four boys at once, for starters,” replied Coral.

      Cecily looked interested. “And will my true love adore me?”

      Nicks nodded. “That’s what true love is all about.”

      “True love…” ooh’d Cecily. “OK, I’ll sign up to your Cupid Company. But what about the Spikers?”

      “No more Spikers,” replied Coral.

      Cecily’s face fell. Then she mumbled something about doing it for the good of the town and finally accepted the Cupid Company questionnaire being offered to her.