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

back. We want to hear, really we do.”
    Suspicion clouded Sue’s round, usually friendly face.
    â€œPlease,” Mary said, smiling.
    Sue allowed herself to be coaxed. “But you have to promise to listen and not interrupt or it’s all off. One false move and I’m clamming up.” Sue sent a look full of menace in Jenny’s direction. “One smart-aleck remark and that’s it. Even if you get down on your knees and beg me.”
    â€œJenny,” Mary warned.
    â€œWhadya mean, Jenny!” Jenny cried, outraged. “What’d I do? I didn’t do anything. How come I always get blamed?”
    Mary arranged her face into a serious expression and gave Sue her undivided attention. Sulking a bit, offended by the idea that she might be a smart aleck, Jenny did the same.
    â€œShe thinks she’s A. Lincoln at Gettysburg,” Jenny muttered. Mary’s elbow shot out, and only by dint of superior reflexes and experience did Jenny manage to dodge in time.
    Susan was no dummy. She knew when she had the upper hand. “I could use a Coke,” she said. “I’m parched.”
    â€œGet her a Coke, Jenny.”
    â€œTell her to get it herself.” But Jenny got a Coke for Susan, making a huge racket in the process. They watched Sue drink, hoping she wouldn’t pull her stunt of polishing it off without taking a single breath. Fortunately, Susan’s news must’ve been bigger than her desire to show off. She took a quick swig and paused, looked hard at them and said, “I’m not sure you’re ready for this.” Then she licked her lips and stared hard at a point just over their heads.
    â€œSue—” Mary prodded her. “I haven’t got all day. I have to get my teeth cleaned in an hour.”
    â€œO.K.” Sue let it out in a rush. “They’re making a movie here, right here in this town. My mother heard it at the bank. They’re bringing in camera crews and all that stuff next week. They’re paying the mayor a whole lot of money just to use the town in their movie. He might even build a swimming pool at the high school with the money, an Olympic-size swimming pool.” Sue’s eyes widened at the wonder of it. “Plus, they’re painting the railroad station and planting about a thousand rose bushes down there, too, on account of it’s about two people who—”
    â€œJump on and off trains a whole lot, right?”
    But by now Sue was so excited Jenny didn’t bother her. “This town will really be on the map when they finish with it,” Sue said in triumph.
    â€œIt’s already on the map,” said Jenny. “Up in the left-hand corner. I checked the atlas last week. That’s where it is, in the upper left-hand corner, near the top of the state.”
    â€œIs she for real?” Sue demanded. “I ask you, is she?”
    â€œJen, please.” Mary’s voice took on its schoolteacher tone. Mary could be a real Miss Priss at times, Jenny thought.
    Sue took a deep breath and pointed a finger at Jenny. “One of these days you’re getting your comeuppance, Miss Jenny Chisholm. I guarantee it.” Sue switched gears. “But when these movie boys hire extras, they pay plenty. My mother says the sky’s the limit. And when I say big bucks”—Sue lowered her voice so they had to lean closer to hear—“I mean big bucks.”
    â€œWho’s in it?” Jenny wanted to know.
    â€œHow do I know? Who cares? You want to be rich, now’s your chance. You want to be famous, now’s your chance. You may never have another, so grab it, baby. Grab it, I say.” Sue was really getting excited. “You don’t even have to act—you just stand around with your face hanging out, and at the end of the day they slip you the moola.”
    â€œBut why would they choose us?” Mary said. “I can see where they might pick the