Star Shine by Constance C. Greene Read Free Book Online

O’Hara’s popping out of her dress and watching,” Mary said.
    â€œOr it might be Errol Flynn,” their mother said. “From here it sure looks like Errol Flynn to me.” Then she flung wide her arms and shouted in exhilaration, “World, I salute you!” and bent down in a deep bow.
    Mary and Jenny broke into wild clapping, and Mary cried, “Bravo! Bravo!” getting into the spirit of things, and Jenny joined in, and together they shouted, “Bravo! Bravo!”
    Their mother’s face became flushed and she said softly, “You know, I think ‘Bravo!’ is the sweetest-sounding word in the English language. Imagine being onstage and having the audience rise to their feet and shout ‘Bravo!’ over and over. Just imagine what that must be like.” She clasped her hands, and they stood silent, watching her.
    She encircled them with her arms and said, “Thank you, darlings,” and they smiled, feeling they’d done something special.
    â€œYou know something?” Her mood changed and she was brisk again. “This would be absolutely a perfect place to fly a kite. Up high here it would be marvelous.”
    â€œThat would be fun,” Jenny said. “I’ve always wanted to fly a kite.”
    â€œThen we will. We’ll find someplace where they sell kites, and we’ll buy one and bring it back here and fly it.”
    â€œWhat about picking apples?” said Mary, who had been looking forward to this.
    â€œWe’ll do that too, but first well find a kite.” Their mother started back down the hill.
    They drove all over, looking for a store that sold kites. At a small general store a man told them they’d have to go to the mall over on route 12. “There’s a hobby shop there might have one,” the man said. “We used to carry ’em, but there’s not much call for ’em anymore.”
    By the time they found the hobby shop, clouds had swallowed up the sun and a chill wind was blowing. The hobby shop was out of kites.
    â€œNever mind, girlies. We’ll do it another day,” their mother said.
    â€œHow about the apples?” Jenny said in a small voice.
    â€œIt’s too late and too cold for that now.” Goose bumps climbed their arms and hid under their shirt sleeves.
    â€œWe’ll do it the next chance we get,” their mother told them.
    But somehow they never had. Still, it had been a wonderful day, they agreed. A day to remember.
    The postcards continued, sometimes two a day. She never signed her name, only a row of xxxxx’s at the bottom.
    In addition to sitting for the Hirshman kids, Mary went several times a week to help Mrs. Wilcox with her twins. “Come with me, Jen, why don’t you?” Mary said. “We’re starting to toilet-train them today.”
    Jenny’s eyes bugged out in horror. “Not me! That’s not my bag, Mary. Who needs it?”
    â€œThe twins, that’s who,” Mary said. “They’re so adorable. You know what, Jenny, I decided something very important yesterday. I waited to tell you until I had definitely made up my mind. But now I have.” Mary’s face and voice were very solemn, and Jenny held her breath, wondering what the big decision was.
    â€œI’m naming my first baby after you. If it’s a girl, of course.”
    Jenny gulped. “Does that mean I have to see the kid goes to the dentist and church and all that?” she asked.
    â€œOnly if I die when it’s young,” Mary said. “If me and my husband both die. But we won’t,” she said confidently.
    â€œWell, that’s all right then.” Jenny felt she should say something more but wasn’t sure what. “Thank you,” she said at last. “Thank you” was always good, Jenny decided. “That’s very nice of you.”
    She told Mrs. Carruthers the news over a glass of iced tea. “My