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

sister Mary’s naming her first kid after me.”
    â€œThat’s a great honor, Jenny. You should be very proud,” Mrs. Carruthers said.
    Jenny nodded. “That’s what I thought,” she said. “When she first told me, I was a little nervous, but I guess I can handle the responsibility. Of course, it won’t happen for a long time. Mary’s only thirteen.”
    â€œOh, you are close then, aren’t you? Is that Mary I hear playing the piano?” Mrs. Carruthers asked.
    â€œYup. She practices a lot. That’s delicious iced tea,” Jenny said. “The best I ever tasted.”
    â€œThank you, Jenny. Another cookie?” Mrs. Carruthers passed the plate.
    â€œWell, I’m watching my weight,” Jenny said, remembering the man at the party.
    â€œWhy, you’re as slender as can be. You don’t need to do that.”
    â€œDid you eat all the Girl Scout cookies?” Jenny sold Mrs. Carruthers ten boxes of Girl Scout cookies every year.
    â€œLong ago. You know my sweet tooth.” Mrs. Carruthers helped herself to another cookie.
    â€œDid I tell you I passed?” Jenny said. “I was afraid I wouldn’t, but I did, so this coming September I’m going to junior high school. I’ll be in seventh grade. Mary’s in eighth. You know something, Mrs. Carruthers?” Jenny’s eyes were huge in her thin face.
    â€œNo, Jenny, what?”
    â€œI’m scared. In seventh grade things change. People start thinking about boys. People have to be popular in seventh grade. People are not children when they hit seventh grade. At least they pretend they’re not children anymore. I like being a child. I wouldn’t mind being a child a while longer.”
    â€œThen you just keep on being one.” Mrs. Carruthers patted Jenny’s hand. “You just go on being you. That’s a very good thing—to be yourself. Don’t let anybody talk you into anything. Just stick to your guns and act as you have been acting, and you’ll be fine. I promise you, you’ll be fine.”
    After she’d said good-bye and was on her way home, Jenny thought that was one thing about getting older. Like Mrs. Carruthers. When she said, “You’ll be fine,” she sounded absolutely sure of herself.
    â€œI’ll be fine!” Jenny said in a loud voice. A tan dog passing by on the other side of the street paused, looked startled, and went on his way, looking back once or twice to see if she was following him.

CHAPTER NINE
    â€œYou guys are weirdos, you know that? Absolute weirdos!” Susan exploded. “Here I tell you I’ve got fantabulous news and you sit there filling your fat faces like nothing had happened!”
    â€œMy face isn’t fat.” Jenny scooped a big spoonful of marshmallow fluff from the jar. “I’ve got the thinnest face in the family.”
    Susan threw herself into a chair and thumped her heels rhythmically against its legs. Frustration creased her brow, aging her.
    â€œYou look like a crone when you do that,” said Mary.
    â€œCrone, schmone!” Susan shouted. “I don’t even know what a crone is.”
    â€œIt’s an ugly old witch.”
    â€œGive me a break.” Sue flopped about as if she had no bones and no expectations. “Do you want to hear my news or don’t you? I’ll count to ten.”
    â€œBlah, blah, blah.” Jenny continued to stuff her thin face with marshmallow fluff.
    â€œO.K. That’s it!” Susan leaped to her feet. “You had your chance and you blew it. Forget it. What do I care if you miss out on the biggest thing that’s ever hit this little burg? What do I care if my name’s in lights and you’re sitting on the bench picking your nose?”
    â€œWhat do I care …” Emotion carried Susan halfway out the door before Mary stopped her.
    â€œHey, Sue, we’re only teasing. Come on