:: Stars Falling All Around Her Head ::

The sleek, red Porsche screeched to a halt in front of the Manor House.  Nineteen-year-old Jim Frayne climbed out of the low-slung car, stood, and stretched the muscles in his tall body.  As he smoothed back his wavy red hair, the front door of the house opened and a young woman, dressed in jeans and a pale yellow sweater ran down the steps of the porch, her shoulder-length, honey-colored hair flying behind her. 

“Jim!” She called excitedly, throwing her arms around him.  “I’m so glad you’re back!  This break is going to be so much fun!  Just like old times!”  She stepped back and grinned.  “Hey!  When’d you get that new car?  I thought you didn’t like Porsches.  You always said they were pretentious.” 

“Not too long ago,” he replied as he got his small bag from behind the driver’s seat. 

“You never mentioned it in your phone calls or emails.  It’s very pretty though, Jim.” 

“I think so.”  He grinned.  “Someone told me it matched my hair!”  He pointed at his head. 

“That it does!”  Honey giggled.  “Is that someone a girl?” 

“Honey,” Jim smiled at his younger sister,  “can the twenty questions wait until we at least get in the house?” 

“Yeah.  But, gleeps, Jim, I’m glad you’re home!” 

“I’m glad to be home.”  He smiled as he gave her another hug.  They walked together into the house. 

“So is the someone a girl?”  She persisted. 

He laughed.  “You’re getting to be as good as Trixie with that interrogation thing.  You make me feel like a hardened criminal, tied to a chair with one of those bright lights trained on my eyes.” 

“Well we are opening our own detective agency someday.” 

“I know, Honey, I know.  I wish that you both would-- 

“Here, this came for you.”  Honey shoved a pale green envelope into Jim’s free hand, changing the subject before Jim could continue his endless string of lectures on the dangers of detecting.  She didn’t think she could take it right then. 

Jim set down his suitcase to examine the envelope better.  “Hmm.  L. Raybourne, Aiken, South Carolina.  I don’t know anybody like that.  I wonder what it’s all about.” 

“The only way to know is to open it!”  She laughed and poked him in the arm. 

“True.  True.”  He grinned back at her before placing a strong, slim finger into the flap and breaking the seal on the envelope.  Quickly, he pulled out a single sheet of green paper, covered on one side with a very feminine handwriting.  He sat down in a small chair in the foyer to read it, Honey curiously leaning over his shoulder. 

Dear Jim, 

I realize that you probably have no earthly idea who I am, so let me take this opportunity to properly introduce myself.  My name is Leah Raybourne and I now live in a small town in South Carolina. However, when I was very young, I lived quite near you, and your family in Rochester, NY.  You and I, from what I have heard, used to be quite close.  As I was adopted when you were only two, you probably have no memory of me.  In all honesty, I have no memory of you either, which makes perfect sense, because I am even younger than you are! 

But I am rambling off the topic.  A few weeks ago, I was reminded of your existence and of our relationship when we were very young.  I also learned a few things about your parents, Katje and Winthrop Frayne, which I think you should hear.  I am going to be in the Sleepyside area in a week. I sincerely hope that we can meet, as my news is not something that I can tell you in a letter or over the phone.  My cell phone number is (803) 502-0686.  Call me anytime! 

Yours, 
Leah M. Raybourne 

Jim looked up from the letter, his face pale.  “What do you think she means, Honey?”  He asked, anxiously peering into Honey’s hazel eyes. 

“I’m not sure, but I think you’d better hurry and call her.  Today’s a week from when she wrote that letter!” 

Jim glanced at the date in the top right hand corner of the page, and jumped quickly from his chair.  He ran to the phone in adopted father’s study and dialed the number the letter had given him.  After only two rings, a quiet female voice answered her, voice thick with the accent that only southerners have. 

“Hello?” 

“Leah Raybourne?”  Jim gulped nervously, hoping she hadn’t already left New York. 

“This is she.” 

“Hi.  I’m Jim Frayne.  I just got your let- . . .” 

She interrupted before he could finish.  “Jim!  I was getting worried you weren’t going to call!” 

“Yes.  I’m sorry about that.  I’ve been away at college and only now received your letter.  Are you still in New York?” 

“I was afraid something like that would happen.”  She giggled. “I’m not just in New York, I’m in Sleepyside, trying to get up the nerve to go to your house, and ring the bell, uninvited.” 

Jim smiled, liking the girl already.  “Where are you?  I could come pick you up, if you’d like.” 

“Oh yes, please.  I got a taxi to bring me to this restaurant.  He told me they had the best burgers in the world.  I think it’s called Wimp or Whiners or something odd like that.  They have wonderful milkshakes!” 

“Wimpy's?”  Jim chuckled as she stumbled on the name of his favorite restaurant in town. 

“Yes!  That’s it!” 

“Great!  I’ll be there just a few minutes.” 

“See you then!”  Jim heard a click as she hung up the phone, before he could ask how he would recognize her.  He shook his head, smiling at the girl’s enthusiasm.  He could hear her smile through the phone.  I wonder what she looks like.  He looked down at the letter in his hand, rereading it swiftly.  And why does she say relationship instead of friendship?  If she moved away when I was two—oh, well, I’m sure she’ll explain it.  He walked out of the study, lost in thought, and ran straight into Honey, who was standing just beside the door, her eyes wide with concern. 

“Is everything all right?”  She asked, laying a slim hand on his arm. 

“Yes.  I’m going to go pick her up at Wimpy’s.  Will you have Celia add an extra plate for dinner?” 

Honey frowned.  “Didn’t Trixie tell you?  We’re not having dinner here.  Diana’s throwing a party over at her house.  Trixie said she’d email you about it.  If you don’t want to go, I can make excuses for you, I guess.” 

“No, I’ll go.   Now that you mention it, I do remember Trixie mentioning something about it.  I guess it just slipped my mind.  If Leah stays for a few days, she’ll have to get to know everyone.  They’re always over here during breaks, after all.” 

Honey’s face brightened.  “Great!  It’ll be wonderful to have all the Bob-Whites back together again!” 

“Yeah.  It will.”  Jim grinned and ruffled her smooth hair.  “I’ll be back in a few, OK?” 

“Knock on my door when you get back!  I want to meet this long-lost friend of yours!”  She waved as he got back into his car, and sped off down the driveway. 

A few minutes later, Jim was walking down the sidewalk towards Wimpy’s.  I wonder how I’m supposed to recognize her.  Maybe I should have worn a carnation or something in my lapel, like they do in those silly girl movies.  As he opened the door to the restaurant, he realized he had nothing to worry about.  Aside from Mike, the owner of Wimpy’s, there was only one other person in the place.  She was sitting in the furthest booth from the door, her head bent over a strawberry milkshake, the long waves of her red hair spilling on the Formica tabletop. The tan freckles on her arms and face stood as a stark contrast to her snow-white skin.   In front of the glass, she held a tattered paperback in her long, slender hands. 

Almost immediately, she looked up at Jim through dark green eyes, amazingly similar to his own.  She took one last swallow of the milkshake, then waved at him 

He blinked, a memory in his head stirred slightly.  As he walked towards the back of the room, she stood, her tall, willowy frame unfolding from the booth.  She straightened her olive green skirt with one hand as her eyes met Jim’s.  Once again, he felt a tug at the back of his brain, a force willing him to remember a time long forgotten.  He forgot his usual impeccable manners as he tried to dredge the memory out.  As a result, she got the chance to speak first. 

“Are you going to just stand there lookin’ stupid, or are you going to give your sister a hug?” 
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