Read Online Star Shine by Constance C. Greene - Free Book Online Page A

it hit her.
    And on Jenny’s side of the room, a sour voice said, “I’m worth much more than that.”
    In the morning, at sunup, they fumbled their way out of bed, their eyes clotted with sleep. The thermometer stood at eighty-one at 5:46 a.m. The birds bumbled around in the trees, chirping without enthusiasm, lacking the energy to fly, goofing off. The sky was brassy with heat.
    â€œI’m not sure I want to go,” Jenny said, putting on her red dinosaur shirt.
    â€œThen don’t. Stay home and I’ll tell you all about it,” Mary snapped.
    â€œHow do I look?” Jenny smoothed the shirt down over her flat front. It was a little too small, but the dinosaur was as exuberant as ever.
    Mary’s jeans seemed to have shrunk in the wash. She had spent most of yesterday in front of the mirror, deciding between the jeans and the dark green dress. There was no mention of a pinafore. Jenny didn’t quite dare.
    â€œI don’t think I want any breakfast,” said Mary, looking at the bowls and the package of cereal they’d set on the table the night before. To save time, they told their father. Mary’s stomach turned wonky when she was excited, as well as when she first woke up.
    Not so Jenny’s. She shoveled in the Cheerios and said, “We better get going. What have we got to lose? I heard a lady say that yesterday. ‘I’m only going to find out what it’s like,’ she said. ‘What have I got to lose?’”
    â€œYou both look very fine,” their father told them. “I’ll be anxious to hear how it goes. Perhaps your mother will call tonight and we can tell her about it.”
    â€œTina said she bet Mother would hot-foot it home if she knew about the movie,” Mary said. “Do you think she would?”
    â€œShe can’t. She has a commitment to the Little Theater group. She can’t just up and leave them.”
    â€œDo you miss her, Daddy?” Jenny asked.
    They held their breath, waiting for his answer.
    He had to think it over. They noticed it took him a while. “Yes,” he said at last, “I miss her. But she’s doing what she wants. That’s important to your mother. Or to anyone, for that matter. But especially to her.”
    â€œWhat happens if she turns out to be a star?” Jenny said.
    â€œWe’ll worry about that when the time comes.”
    â€œDaddy’s sad,” Jenny said as they started out. “I think he’s lonely.”
    â€œHe’s got us, hasn’t he?”
    â€œThat’s not the same. He misses her.”
    â€œI’ll tell you one thing. When I have kids, I’m not going off to do my own thing.” Mary’s scowl filled her face. “A mother ought to stick by her children and see them through their difficult years.”
    â€œHow do you know when their difficult years are?” Jenny wanted to know.
    â€œI don’t know. But children have a lot of difficult years. I’ve read about them.”
    â€œWhen do they begin?” asked Jenny.
    â€œHow do I know?” Mary shrugged. “How many extras do you think they’ll pick? It’s a good thing I’ve had some acting experience,” Mary said.
    â€œActing experience?” Jenny stiffened. “What acting experience have you had?”
    Mary’s eyelashes fluttered. “You know perfectly well I played a violet in my first-grade play,” she said, not meeting Jenny’s eye.
    â€œYeah, I remember,” Jenny drawled. “You were supposed to say ‘Please pick me,’ and you forgot your lines.” She giggled. “Your line, I should say.”
    Mary shot ahead. “If you don’t get the lead out of your shoes, we’ll be last in line instead of first. Get moving,” and they were off and running, acting experience forgotten.
    When they arrived at the church hall, there must’ve been fifty people ahead of them.