Chapter 1
Abby Crawford raced downstairs for breakfast. Her father sat at the head of the table, reading the newspaper. Her mother stood at the stove, scrambling eggs and popping slices of golden-brown toast in and out of the toaster. Her older sister sat across from her, staring at her phone. Her younger sister sat next to her father, pestering him to read her the comics.
“Hey, Abby,” Dad said to her. “Your favorite movie star’s in town.”
“What?!” Abby leaped out of her seat and leaned over her father’s shoulder.
“Yep, see right here.” Dad pointed to the front page’s top headline:
Jay Mathews In Town For Good
The article went on to say that Jay had given up his acting career and chosen Clarksville as his hometown.
Abby couldn’t help smiling as she read the article. Maybe she would see him at school today! He was only in seventh grade, same as her, and wherever he had lived, he had always gone to a regular school.
“Better forget about Jay and eat up,” Mom advised as she set a plate of steaming sausage, eggs, and buttered toast at Abby’s place at the table.
Abby ate, though she was really too excited. I hope I see him at school today, she wished fervently.
