Star Light, Star Bright

Set in 1974, but being told from the present?the entire story is a
reminiscence of Nassereen.

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. Actually, it was
bed time. Mom and Dad were playing host and hostess to one of their
"Hollywood Parties". They had allowed me to stay up for one of those
once?at first it was terribly exciting to be around movie stars of all
sorts, but I eventually volunteered myself for bed. Even though I
didn't have to do anything, I'd always felt pressured and stressed
around celebrities. Which is kinda silly of me because my entire world
is pretty much based upon Hollywood.
My name is Nassereen Altman. My mother, Chelsea Price, is one of the
biggest celebrities of all time. My father, Eric Altman, is one of the
biggest directors of all time. Most big actresses marry directors, have
a few kids, then leave their husbands for some new, attractive young
actor. But not my mom. I knew that would never happen. Sure, Mom and
Dad had their fights, but so does every other couple in the
world.
I have three sisters- Wendy, Leyna and Michelle. Michelle and I only
share the same mother, Leyna and I only share the same father, Wendy
and I share both. I suppose I should give you the whole story,
huh?
Well, my mother was a child marvel, you could say. At a young age, she
was noticed for her beauty and sort of melancholy enchantment that was
reminiscent Greta Garbo (Ya know, Greta Garbo, that superstar from the
1930s? Yeah, her). She was thought to be a long-lost relative of Grace
Kelly (properly HSH Princess Grace of Monaco), because of their
resembelance. But my mother had her own style and she made her looks
her own.
When it was discovered that she could both sing and act, she was
immediately place upon the stage. Ah yes, a child star. But only on
stage. My grandparents, Kate Creighton and John Price, would not allow
my mother to "go Hollywood", especially at such a young age. They were
determined NOT to have a Shirley Temple, Deanna Durbin or a Judy
Garland in their household. They wanted Mom go grow up as normal as
possible. How they thought spending every spare moment up on a stage
was normal, I'll never know. Producers begged Grandma and Grandpa to
allow them to put Mom through a screen test, but they just would not
have it. The stage was where my mother would stay through the childhood
years. Once she turned 18, she could do whatever she wanted to do. And
she did.
At 18, my mother traveled from Helena, Montana to New York City. Yes,
the famous NYC, the Big Apple. She was positively determined to excel
on Broadway. And boy did she! She was cast in a show called "Up On The
Rooftop" as the lead of Maryann Settlemoyer. The show was a smash! And
after a year and a half with the show, she appeared in the production
"Calling All Singles" and was instantly recognized by the extremely
successful producer, Sheldon Corlion, who hired my mother for her first
movie, "After Midnight".
Meanwhile, my mother's personal life also flourished. When she arrived
in New York at age 18, she married David DeLuca, whom she'd known from
back in Montana. For the first few years they were extremely happy
together. Performing on Broadway was just the right thing for my
mother; it wasn't too strenuous and it made her happy. And David was
just wonderful about all of it.
On May 11th, 1958 my half-sister Michelle was born. Mom was only 19 at
the time. But in 1958, that was perfectly normal. Named Scarlett
Michelle Elizabeth Meredith DeLuca at birth, she became the joy of my
mom and David's life. My mom had a hard time choosing a name, so
Michelle was left with many middle names. Everyone called her Michelle
because Scarlett seemed too dramatic and well?it didn't totally suit
her. My mother instantly became attached to mother hood and she wanted
to embrace its every feature. She turned out to be wonderful mom, and a
David a wonderful dad. My mother had a strong bond with the movie "Gone
With The Wind", which is where she got Scarlett from. She absolutely
adored Vivien Leigh, who played Scarlett in the movie.
In early 1960, she began "Calling All Singles" on Broadway. It was a
musical and a huge hit! My mother won a Tony Award for "Best Actress in
a Musical" and the show was honored with many other awards as well. In
"Calling All Singles", my mom played Jenny Walker, and Jenny Walker
soon became a household name, as would my mothers name very soon
afterward.
The mega-producer Sheldon Corlion noticed my mothers performance in
the show and became intrigued. He visited her in her dressing room
after the show and he talked to her about a movie was doing and how
she'd just be perfect. He also remembered that my mother was the child
he begged to go through his screen test! And this made him even more
inclined to use her in his movie. But my mother had never done a movie
before and she was terrified. Her best friend, Marly Carlson (yes, THE
Marly Carlson. The one with the majorly successful TV show and the one
who makes all the funny faces and gestures.), convinced her to do the
movie. Which was something that would change Mom's life forever.
"After Midnight", where Mom played Kelly Cheyne, became one of the
biggest box office hits ever. That same year, my mother made the movie
"The Face Behind The Mirror", a drama that won her an Oscar for Best
Actress. My mother's career shot to an all-time high. She got her star
at Grauman's Chinese Theater in Hollywood. She, Michelle and David
moved to Hollywood as well. The public just adored her. She wasn't
overly ostentatious and she didn't try and show off. She had this kind
nature and essence that drew people to her, while her melancholy,
Greta-Garbo-style beauty did the rest. She was a mixture of Grace
Kelly, Elizabeth Taylor and Joanne Woodward to the people.
In 1961, after the completion of "After Midnight", my mother and David
divorced. Everything just became too much for them. And also adding to
the relationship stress, was my father. He was the director of "After
Midnight" and he and Mom hit it off like you could never believe! She
married my father in 1962, in a highly publicized wedding.
My father, Eric Altman, was born in San Diego, California to April and
Sean Altman. My grandparents had a Hollywood career in mind for him
from the very beginning, which was good because so did he. He started
by directing little plays in Los Angeles and then was offered to direct
his first movie in 1956, when he was just 23. The same year he married
Colleen Sutton, an amateur costume designer he'd met on the set. It
didn't take long for them to tie the knot, that's for sure. In 1957,
their daughter and my half-sister Leyna Camille Altman came into the
world.
Here's MY favorite part.
I was born on January 2nd, 1963. I was named Nassereen Melissa Altman.
My mom says the name Nassereen was all her idea, I guess she had a
thing for unusual names. I have no idea where she got it! From the day
I was born, I was on the cover of magazines with my mother. Now how
many people can claim to be on the cover of numerous magazines by day
one of their lives? Hmm? Not many. My mother tried as hard as she could
to keep me out of the spotlight, but it was just too hard. I got used
to the craziness of life with two members Hollywood royalty. I've never
known anything different, so it didn't phase me.
On August 9th, 1965, my sister Wendy Aileen Altman was born. And for a
short while, I was out of the spotlight.
Our family is pretty tight. Leyna and Michelle are practically best
friends and Wendy and I are also really close. We're just a tight-knit
bunch. My mother always comes to us for advice. Well, she didn't come
to me for some time. It was either Leyna or Michelle because they were
older. But Wendy and I didn't mind. We spent our days in the backyard
playing Pirates and Robin Hood. We were unaffected by our flashy
environment. Leyna and Michelle were trying to break into show
business, but they were constantly being overlooked because of my
mother. It would always be "Chelsea Price's Daughters" or something
like that. Wendy and I just wanted to have fun! And we did. Everyday
was a surprise.
When Mom got into writing, we were always ready and willing to sit and
listen obediently to her every word. Michelle and Leyna would beg to
attend Hollywood parties and occaisionally got to go. I only got to go
once in a blue moon. But every day was a party for me!

~

It was 1974 and I was 11. Wendy was 9, Leyna was 17 and Michelle was
16. I was going through a stage where I wanted to be a part of
everything- and I was feeling completely independent and I often got
defensive at meaningless things. Wendy spend her time copying me. Which
got on my nerves so profoundly that sometimes I? nevermind.
But she and I were as close as sisters could be- which meant constant
fighting. Leyna and Michelle were past the whole "fighting over
everything" stage and honestly acted more like best friends than
step-sisters.
There were times at that age that I felt absolutely horrible for my
Dad! He had to live in a house with 6 women. Me, Mom, Wendy, Michelle,
Leyna and our faithful maid Tia. Lucky for him, each one us had our
very own bathroom. We lived in a somewhat modest (well, modest for the
home of a superstar and her director husband) house in Malibu,
California. When we were little, Mom and Dad were both always off at
the studio (We were left in the care of Tia). But now, Mom and Dad were
rarely at the studio. Momdid the occaisional televsion special and Dad
got into writing screenplays for movies, rather than directing
them.
My father was always locked away in some room in the house writing
screenplays. He wasn't always the most pleasant man to be around. He
could get in these incredibly dismal and depressing moods and he had
quite a temper. He never really took it out on us though and the
"storm" always seemed to pass within minutes. We'd call my father the
"Tornado Incarnate", like Helen Keller, because where ever he went, he
stirred up trouble. Sometimes he was making a mess, sometimes he was
argueing or sometimes he just unpleasant. But my father had many, many
good points. He was a wonderful father and husband and he had a great
sense of humor most of the time.

~

It was a muggy, summer Friday night in Malibu. Mom and Dad were
mingling congenially around the downstairs of the house, talking with
stars, directors and all that jazz. After an exhausting day of begging
to attend the party, Michelle and Leyna went out to a friend's party.
Wendy and I, in our terribly stuffy nightgowns, sat at the top of the
stairs, wistfully looking down at the party below. Wendy stuck her head
through the banister and I instinctly pulled her out. I'd gotten my own
head stuck in the banister once and it was no fun at all. I jabbed her,
a sign for her to stay still or people would hear us.
"Oh, but?" Wendy protested.
"Shh!"
Dejected, Wendy pouted. She soon got over it, the excitement of the
party prevented any bad moods from sinking in.
"Look!" I cried, "It's Ali McGraw! And Bette Davis?gosh, she's gotten
old!"
"Who's Ali McGraw?" She wondered, looking down at the person I'd
pointed to.
"Ali McGraw? Come on, Wendy, you know who Ali McGraw is!"
"I don't!"
"She's in 'Love Story' with Ryan O'Neil!" I exclaimed. I was trying to
be as quiet as I could, but that fact that my sister didn't know who
Ali McGraw is just got to me.
"I never saw that."
"Yes you did! We watched it with Leyna."
"I don't remember." She shook her head.
"Oh, right, you fell asleep. I guess you're too young to sit through
adult movies." I said, snootily.
"I am not! I was just?really sleepy that night."
"It was the afternoon."
"Oh." She bowed her head. I'd made a goal recently to try and be
supportive of every little thing, so far it was going good, but I knew
it wouldn't last.
"Don't be glum, chum!" I told her, using the funny voice that always
made her light up.
Wendy smiled, then turned her attention down to the party.
"Oh, Nassy! Look!" She said, excitedly.
"What is it?" I looked around.
"Mary Poppins!"
I dropped my head into my hands and sighed.
"Wendy, I've told you a thousand times. She isn't Mary Poppins in real
life. She just pretended to be her in the movie! In real life, she's
Julie Andrews."
Wendy bit her lip, contemplating the idea for the millionth
time.
"Well, to me she's Mary Poppins. That's my favorite movie! Couldn't we
just pretend?"
"That's exactly what Julie does. She pretends to be Mary
Poppins!"
She sat silent again.
"Fine. She's Julie Andrews not Mary Poppins. Happy?"
"Yes, quite."

"Wendy! Look, it's?" I was interrupted by a tap on the back. Wendy had
felt it to. We both spun around. It was Mom. We sighed, knowing she'd
make us go back to bed.
"Girls, you know you need to be in bed! I'll tell you when you can
stay awake for a party." Mom stated.
"Yes, but!"
"Goats butt, birds fly and children who spend the day pretending to be
Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn need to get some sleep!"
"Goats butt?birds?hey! That's from?" Wendy shouted.
"Yes, Wen, I got that line from Mary Poppins. Well, part of it. Now,
let's go." She escorted us into our rooms and tucked us in for the
second time that night.

"And stay there!" She called to us, laughing, as she walked down the
stairs.

Less than five minutes later, Wendy came running into my room. This
was a nightly routine which I was used to. She sat at the end of the
bed and pressed down with all her weight on my legs. I sat up.
"Wendy! I was sleeping!" I complained, even though I wasn't and I knew
she was going to come into my room.
"Oh, I'm sorry, Nassy. But, since you're awake?"
I stood on my elbows, holding myself up.
"Wasn't it great to see Ali McGraw?" I questioned her after having a
change of heart.
"I still don't know who she is!"
"Oh, blast. We'll just have to watch 'Love Story' soon."
"What's so good about Ali McGraw anyway? I was crazy-excited to see
Mary Pop- oh, gosh, I mean Julie Andrews."
"Nice save, Sis." I nodded.
"Do you think that?umm?.Julie Andrews' kids get crazy-excited when our
mother comes to her parties? After all, our mother is Chelsea Price!
Woo hoo!"
"I don't think Julie Andrews has kids." I said.
"Oh, yes she does! She's Mary Poppins!"
"Here we go again," I rolled my eyes.
"But, really, Nassereen, she does have kids. I read about it in
Photoplay Magazine. She's got one- and two step-children and she also
just adopted two orphans from Vietnam! Can you believe it?
Vietnam!"
"Oh yeah, Miss Smartypants? If you know so much about Julie Andrews,
tell me the names of her kids!" I challenged, thinking I was going to
stump her. She smiled connivingly. Ah, the joys of competitive
sisterhood.
"Emma Kate, Jennifer, Geoffrey and those adopted kids are Amy Leigh
and Joanna Lynn. So there!" She answered triumphantly, sticking her
tongue out at me. I nodded, impressed. For a nine year old, she sure
had a lot of knowledge in her hollow head!
"I'm stunned, Wen."
"Oh, it was nothin'." She tilted her head back, proudly.
Then we heard footsteps ascending the stairs.
"Wendy, go back!" I shouted.
"It's too late! If I try and go back they'll see me."
"Under the bed!"
"What if they go in my room and I'm not there?"
"Then it's likely we'll get into trouble, now get under the
bed!"
Wendy scrambled to get under as quickly as she could. The door in my
room slowly opened, an eery creek was heard. I grunted, that creek was
always annoying me! In walked my Dad.
I opened one eye, then the other. Then I squirmed around, trying to
create the image that I'd been sleeping. He walked over beside the bed
and without a word to me, knelt down and looked under it. I
cringed.
"Come on out, Wendy." He ordered, not sounding the least bit upset.
She did as she was told and crawled out.
"How did you know?" She whined.
"I am the Great Dad, I know all, I see all, I feel all."
We giggled.
"Dad, I was trying to persuade Wendy to go back to her own room, but
she just wouldn't listen." I told him, trying to look like the innocent
one, my usual game.
"Is that so?" Dad wondered in disbelief. "Come on, Wendy. Let's go
back to bed. Goodnight, Nassereen!"
He and Wendy left my room. I flopped back down onto my pillow and
closed my eyes. I figgeted around for awhile, striving to get
comfortable, which seemed absolutely impossible. I curled my toes
around the end post of my bed. I'd been able to reach the end for about
two months now, and it was thrilling! Reaching the end of the bed was a
great accomlishment for an 11 year old child. At school I'd made it a
point to boast and brag about my incredible feat. I even had some kids
giving me evil, jealous glares during the day! YES! That had been my
goal.
I coughed a fake, brittle cough that came out like a cross between a
sneeze and a sigh. Oh well, I'd just done it for the heck of it anyway.
I could hear the sound of a piano playing a snappy jazz tune downstairs
very faintly. I imagined that I was a star like Mom, and that I was
down at that party. I was drinking white wine and mingling with every
member of Hollywood royality that existed! Jane Fonda and Faye Dunaway
were fighting through the crowd just to make my aquaintence. And Ryan
O'Neil begged me to marry him every night, as I played
hard-to-get.
But it was only a dream, and it popped and bursted like a bubble
inside my head within minutes. Under my blanket, I crossed one foot
over the other and then crossed my arms over my chest. I sat like that
for atleast 15 minutes; I have no idea what I was trying to prove or
why I did that, but I did. I suppose I did that most nights without
reason.
I hated sitting in bed doing nothing. I had more sleepless nights than
were normal. And it wasn't like there were parties every night. There
was just this burning excitement inside me that never seemed to leave-
ever. Something always had to be moving. Either I'd be tapping my
fingers, bouncing my leg or slightly nodding my head. It was just a
habit I couldn't shake.
Eventually I drifted into a deep slumber and dreamt I was playing Ali
McGraw's role in 'Love Story' and Ryan O'Neil was wooing me.

~

"Nassereen! Nass, you will never believe this!" Wendy shook me.
It was 7am and I was still exhausted. I drowsily awakened, somewhat
angry that Wendy had woken me up.
"Oh, for Gosh sakes, what is it, Wendy?"
"Downstairs! Twiggy left her scarf on our kitchen table!!!" She
screamed.
I sat up faster than you could say "Georgy Girl"!
"You're kidding! Twiggy?!?!"
"Yes, Twiggy!"
"Ahh!" I threw my blankets off me and ran down the stairs, Wendy
trailing behind me. When I got into the kitchen, I slid across the
floor on account of my socks. Mom was sitting at the table drinking
orange juice and Dad sat reading the newspaper. I was shocked at this
sight. They'd never done that before! This site startled me so much
that I almost forgot about Twiggy's scarf. When I remembered, I scanned
the kitchen with anticipation shining in my eyes. Then I spotted it and
zoomed over. I picked it up and cradled it in my arms.
My parents looked at my extremely oddly and Wendy was laughing but
trying to hide it by putting her hand over her mouth. I glared at
her.
"What?!" I cried. She didn't say anything.
"Ah, Nassereen, why are you holding my scarf like that?" My mother
asked me. My eyes widened and I felt a surge anger run through me. For
a second, I thought I was going to wring Wendy's neck for making a fool
out of me like that. Thankfully, I didn't.
I dropped the scarf and stood still, frozen.
Mom and Dad both looked at Wendy, sensing something was up.
"What did you do, Wen?" Dad questioned.
Wendy pursed her lips and rocked back and forth.
"Wendy?."
"Oh, allright. I told Nassereen that Twiggy left her scarf on the
kitchen table from last night." Wendy admitted. I squinted at
her.
"Now, Wendy, that wasn't very nice." Mom told her.
"I know."
"Then why did you do it?"
"Cuz I'm an evil, conniving *^&;*."
"What did you say, young lady?" Dad exclaimed.
"Calm down, Eric." Mom coaxed.
"Chelsea, did you hear what she said?"
"Yes, and she's heard us say it numerous times, so we haven't much
room to talk, have we?"
"No, I suppose not." He lifted his newspaper again, forgetting the
entire predicament.
My jaw dropped. If I had said such a word, surely I'd be grounded. But
Wendy! How could she get away with that? She was right- she was an
evil, conniving?brat. I wanted to protest, but I couldn't bring myself
to. Wendy stood there, extremely pleased with herself. I hastily exited
the kitchen, pulling Wendy by the arm after me. We reached the living
room and I just stood and stared at her. Then I shook my head and put
my hands on my hips.
"I don't know whether to be mad at you for that horrible prank or be
mad because you got away with that!" I exclaimed.
She smiled this cheesy, fake smile that she knew always got on my
nerves.
"Pretty impressive, huh?"
"Wendy! It was wrong."
"Oh, like you're Miss Perfect?"
"For someone whose role model is Mary Poppins, you have a very cruel
way of thinking- and for someone whose only nine years old."
"Years are nothing. You should count your age by blessings, not
years." She stated, matter-of-factly.
"Where did you get that?"
"I read it in a magazine."
"That's crap. You read too much gossip."
"Do not!"
I held my hand up, signaling for a truce.
"I'm not going through this so early in the morning. Just back off." I
turned and dragged myself up the stairs.
"Humph!" She mumbled and that was last I heard from all morning.

At about 11am, I was finally awake and not drowsy at all. The house
was completely silent. I skeptically searched every room in the house,
and yet found no one.
"Not even a note?" I asked myself, appalled. "Well, fine then. I'll
just give them all a guilt trip when they get back."
I walked over to the fridge and poured some orange juice, convincing
myself to be happy to finally have the house to myself. I'd waited for
this moment for quite awhile and now that I had it, it wasn't all that
great.
I sat at the kitchen table and realized that being home alone was
just?being home alone. It was not a bit more exciting than it sounded.
I decided to go upstairs and raid my mother's drawers. I was sure she
had some secret valuables I wasn't meant to see. Which gave me all the
more reason to go and find it ofcourse. As I walked up the stairs, I
had numerous reveries of what she may have hidden. Maybe a diamond
earring that once belonged to Elizabeth Taylor! Or maybe a pearl
necklace from Joan Crawford. Better yet, a diamond ring from?Paul
Newman! No, he was married to Joanne Woodward? but hey, you never know!
Maybe Mom had a Sally Struthers-style wig upstairs. I'd always wanted
hair like Sally Struthers.

I went through every drawer in my mother's room and found nothing
unusual. Then I lounged on the couch and watched "The Carol Burnett
Show". No show had ever made me laugh the way that show did! My family
would know I was watching "The Carol Burnett Show" when they found me
rolling on the floor laughing. I used to watch "The Julie Andrews
Hour"?that was a really cool show. But it wasn't on anymore. It got
canceled due to lack of audience and viewers. I remembered in 1972,
when I was 9, I was watching the Emmy Awards with Tia and Wendy. They
announced the nominations for Best TV Show Variety or Musical. "The
Carol Burnett Show" and "The Julie Andrews Hour" were both nominated
and I was torn. But I went for the latter. Before the winner was
announced the camera showed Julie Andrews and Carol Burnett sitting
together- and I wasn't the least bit surprised since they were best
friends. I remember feeling bad that best friends were competing for
the same award. That had to be hard. Well, then they announced the
winner, which was "The Julie Andrews Hour"! I got so excited that I was
jumping up and down like a maniac. When Julie went up and accepted the
award, I was gawking at her gorgeous green dress. I decided I'd wear a
dress exactly like it to my prom. And when I told Tia my idea, she told
me it'd cost a fortune. I laughed at her response. Nothing was too
expensive for my family! Practically everyday my mom came home with a
million dollar piece of jewelry in her shopping bag. Tia must have gone
off her rocker!

After watching "The Carol Burnett Show", I got up and played Candy
Land by myself. This way I didn't have to fight with anyone to see the
Snowflake Queen. Doing this did not lift my spirits at all. How could
they all leave without telling me? How cold-hearted can people get?
Then I made the decision to run away. Yeah, that's it. Then they'd all
feel bad! But where would I go?
"Oh, blast!" I muttered to myself, realizing that my plan just would
not work. I kicked the carpet, then yelped in pain.
At that moment, Tia walked through the door carrying four bags of
groceries. My first instinct was to run up and help her, but I was too
mad for that.
"Hi, Nassereen. A little help?" She asked, dropping and then catching
a bag.
"Oh, no thanks." I ran upstairs.
I flopped down onto my bed and looked at the stars I'd stuck to my
ceiling. Then I stood up on my tippy toes and pulled them off. They
were too childish for me now. I decided to give them to Wendy- if I
ever stopped being mad at her. Then another idea came to me. I could
run away and go to Aunt Marly's house! Yeah! Aunt Marly would never
turn me in. Or maybe she would. She couldn't betray Mom like that.
Darn! So much for that.
Well, that was that. There was nothing I could do. They left me all
alone without a word. Something inside me was seeking childish revenge.
I had to do something to get back at them. Then it occurred to me.
Mom's agent. I could go say bad things about her to him- that'd work.
It was devious and I knew it, but when you're a kid it's the more
devious the better.
So I had that settled, but how I'd get to the Agency was a problem. I
couldn't drive, no taxi would drive me without parental consent and I
surely was not going to walk! Scheming was my specialty as a kid and
the answer immediately came to me. I would call Aunt Marly, lie and say
Mom wanted her to drop me off at the agency and she'd come pick me up.
And it worked too!

I ran over to the phone, careful to see that Tia wouldn't hear me. I
dialed Aunt Marly's number and waited, hoping she would be home.
"Hello?" Marly's daughter Nicole answered.
"Nic, it's Nassereen. Is your mom there?"
"Um, yeah, hold on. MOM!!!!" She cried.
I could hear Marly prance down the stairs to the phone.
"Hello?"
"Aunt Marly! It's Nassereen."
"Hi?what's the matter? Who died?"
"No one! But I need a favor."
"What's that?"
"Mom needs to see me over at the agency. Harry Caldwell's. Do you
think you could drop me off?"
"Why is your mother at the agency?"
"I don't know. She just called me."
"Why can't Tia bring you?"
"Tia?Tia can't drive. Remember?"
"Oh, right. Ok, I'll be there in 15 minutes."
"Thanks!"
"Ok. See ya!"
I hung up the phone and jumped up and down. Tia ran in.
"What's going on? Why this obscenely hallibaloo?"
"Tia, it's not hallibaloo?.I'm just?.ah?.jumping."
"Why?"
"I'm a kid. I jump."
"Mm hmm?sure." She trotted back into the kitchen.
"Ha!" I ran out the door and decided to wait for Aunt Marly on the
porch.

I saw her car pull up and jogged down the driveway and hopped in the
car.
"Hi, Aunt Marly!" I said happily.
"Hi, hun. So what was so urgent that your mother needed to see
you?"
"Uh?I dunno. She didn't say." I stuttered.
"Really?.hmm." She looked straight ahead and backed out of the
driveway. I thought it was a rather peculiar way to back out, but it
wasn't my place to say.

About 10 minutes later we arrived at the agency. Neither of us moved
right away. Then I looked out the window and opened the door.
"Bye, Aunt Marly! Thanks!" And I ran into the building, noticing that
it had begun to rain.
I got inside and brushed raindrops off my shoulder and wiped a few
that were slithering down my forehead. Everything was dark. I turned
around and Aunt Marly had already gone. I couldn't see a thing. I
looked up and saw a sliver of light come through what I thought to be a
door.
"Must be Harry's door." I noted quietly to myself. I began to feel
around for the stairs or something that could give me a clue as to
where I was, when someone grabbed my arm. Before I knew it, I had been
pulled behind a curtain. A flashlight glowed and I saw that I was
kneeling face to face with my sister Wendy!
"Wendy!" I exclaimed, eyes widened.
"Shh!" She put her hand over my mouth.
"What is it?" I asked once she'd removed her hand.
"Be quiet!"
"Don't tell me to be quiet?."
"Nassereen, be quiet."
"What's all the fuss about? Why is it completely dark?"
"Shh?"
"Would you stop telling me to 'Shh!'!"
"I'm sorry?I just don't want anyone to hear us."
"Why, what's going on?"
Before Wendy could answer me, Michelle and Leyna appeared.
"What the?" I began, utterly confused.
"Nassereen! How did you get here?"
"Where have you been?" I counteracted.
"We've?well?we've?Leyna you tell her."
"I don't wanna tell her, you tell her."
"Wendy, you tell her."
"No way, Michelle! You tell her!"
"Fine. Nassereen, after you and your attitude went back to bed this
morning, Mom and Dad got a call."
"From who?!"
"Well, it was from Harry Caldwell's assisstant, Mr. J-?."
"Yeah, I know his name, get on with it."
"He called and said that apparently?Caldwell is dead."
"WHAT?!"
"Mom's reaction exactly."
"He's dead? What the heck happened to him? He was healthy as a horse
at last night's party."
"Nassereen?you see?Caldwell was?murdered."
I choked.
"Murdered? You're not serious. Michelle, this isn't very funny."
"It's not meant to be. Caldwell was murdered."
"Why? When? By who?"
"That's what we're all trying to find out." Leyna said.
"Why do we have to be so quiet?" I questioned.
"?.We're not supposed to be here. Mom and Eric told us to stay home.
But we just couldn't!" Michelle explained.
"But?but?why did you follow?"
"We want to know what's going on. You should know what that's like,
Nassereen." Leyna told me.
"Nevermind that, Nassereen, how did you get here? And why are you
here?"
"Well, I?um?oh yeah, Aunt Marly drove me."
"Why?"
"Because?.I asked her to."
"Why?"
"Because I wanted to talk to Caldwell."
"What for?"
"To?nevermind."
Michelle squinted at me suspiciously.
"Nassereen?."
"It's nothing important. Honest."
"Hmm. Well, whatever happens we can't let anyone hear us."
"Huh? Why?" I asked, naively.
"Because then we'll get in trouble, dingbat!"
"HEY!"
Michelle, Leyna and Wendy laughed quietly. I glared at them.
"Lighten up, Nass."
"Lighten up? Lighten up? Harry Caldwell has just been murdered and you
want me to lighten up? What is wrong with you guys?"
"Oh, cripes, now she's going to get into a state over it." Michelle
sighed.
"Don't talk about me like I'm not here!"
"I'm sorry."
Then we heard footsteps coming down the stairs.
"Shh!"
We all crouched down close together, trying to stay completely behind
the curtain. Soon the people we standing almost right in front of the
curtain. My eyes widened, my lips pursed together, realizing that I had
to sneeze! I tapped Leyna, who was right next to me. She put her hand
over my mouth. I pointed to my nose and she shot me a confused look. I
pointed to it again, and she still did not get the hint. She removed
her hand and at that very moment, I sneezed. We all cringed. Michelle,
Wendy and Leyna all hit me at once. Then it was quiet. To our surprise,
the people who had been in front of the curtain, had gone out the door
right before my sneeze erupted. Wendy peered through the curtain,
making sure the coast was clear. It was.
We all crawled out, stretched and stood up. Then Michelle, Leyna and
Wendy all hit me again.
"I'm sorry!" I insisted.
Before anything else exciting could happen, we found ourselves
standing outside the doorway looking in. We had been thrown out by a
guard. It happened faster than I could ever have imagined. We all
sulked and began the long walk home, ruminating on the fact that we
were just kids, never to be let in on the secrets adults kept. Even
celebrity adults.