Read Star Shine for Free Online

running suits, were already seated in the family room. They introduced themselves as Harry and Willie. They looked alike, had the same last name. Were they husband and wife? Brother and sister? Hard to tell.
    â€œCousins?” Mary whispered in Jenny’s ear. Were these, then, the famous city cousins of whom Susan often spoke? Sometimes fondly, sometimes not. They were too sophisticated, too spoiled, Sue had said. Their father made big bucks, she boasted. “They live in this super apartment building with a river view,” Sue bragged. “With a super alarm system and a twenty-four-hour doorman.”
    â€œDoesn’t he ever sleep?” Jenny had asked, and had gotten no reply.
    Susan and the cousins entered the family room. The cousins, attired in sleek white jeans and T-shirts that outlined their voluptuous contours, were nothing to write home about, Mary decided. They had too many teeth and receding chins. And the confidence of movie stars. Pink sweaters were tied artfully around their shoulders, the arms looped loosely, as if some wraith were embracing them from be hind.
    â€œMan oh man,” Mary heard Jenny croon softly. Mary looked down at herself and sideways at Jenny and thought sourly, Little House on the Prairie . All they lacked were sunbonnets.
    Sue wore a flowered blouse and a skirt that was too long and lumped up around her waist. “You have on blush!” Mary hissed. Susan’s cheekbones were vibrant with color, giving her a gypsy look, which the tiny gold hoops in her ears enhanced. “They showed me how to put it on!” Susan hissed back.
    The cousins, it turned out, happened to be driving through Millville with a friend, and when they realized where they were, they demanded to be let out. They were impulsive, the cousins indicated, cutting their eyes at one and all, jangling their armloads of gold bracelets. “And Aunt Harriet said come on over so we did!” they cried. “Aunt Harriet said, ‘What’s two more people, after all!’ so we came. Aunt Harriet is so clever, so hospitable.”
    In the background the two pale blue persons rattled their ice cubes, pleading for attention. “George is doing his famous coq au vin,” Susan’s mother announced. “Let’s just stay in the family room and wait until he calls us, shall we?”
    Mary and Jenny stole a look at their father. He was listening intently to something Mrs. Clay was saying. They wanted him to have a good time.
    At last Mr. Clay emerged bearing a steaming platter.
    â€œSoup’s on!” he shouted.
    â€œÃ€ table !” Mrs. Clay cried. They filed into the dining room. “You young folks sit here, at the small table—give you a chance to talk among yourselves,” Mrs. Clay said. “And you here, Jim, on this side, and Harry on the other.” Jim was their father. “And Willie, you next to George. I’m so sorry your pretty wife isn’t here. Jim’s wife,” she explained, “is the mother of these two girls”—she pointed to Mary and Jenny—“and she’s off acting in the Little Theater group. Isn’t that just fabulous!”
    â€œSit,” said Mr. Clay. “We don’t want this to get cold.”
    â€œI just think it’s so wonderful, so positively now , if you know what I mean, that she could just up and leave her family that way.” Mrs. Clay’s eyes gleamed. “I hope you all don’t feel deserted.”
    â€œNot in the least.” Mary and Jenny watched their father’s face as he spoke. “The girls are taking very good care of me. And we’re delighted to be here tonight.”
    â€œWell, I guess that’s what women’s lib is all about, right?” Mr. Clay jabbed at his chicken parts, one after the other. “Feels a little tough,” he said. “Well, dig in. We’ll see.”
    Valiantly they chewed. The cousins giggled and exchanged