One Star, Two Star

Chapter One

Melissa Tanner hefted the bag holding her costume and equipment, it was her mothers old duffel bag from her Marine days and held everything perfectly, in fact had space for several of Melissa’s school books as well. Slipping the heavy strap over her left shoulder the young woman headed downstairs, Martha Baker had already sent her car, there would barely be time for breakfast before she was picked up.

“Where to this time” her mother asked, she was making breakfast for the entire family though everyone knew that their father wouldn’t be getting up before ten, he had ended up having to stay up doing remote support for his companies computer systems and would probably be driving in by lunch to yank some young guns tail out of a fire, of his or her own making. Louise Tanner was still a quite athletic woman, even ten years out of the Marines. This was because she kept up her exercise program and forced her children, even the bookish Melissa to learn the combat training she had learned during her service. It also kept her quite attractive, something that Melissa felt that she herself wasn’t, attractive that was.

“Some island in the Devil’s Triangle” Melissa reminded her mother, what with raising five children and her own career training people how not to get mugged it was no wonder that her mother forgot the odd bit of information given her as much as a month ago. Melissa sat down, making a large plate of food for herself, this was for two reasons. One, her mother’s cooking was the best that any of the family had found anywhere (her mother had hated what Marine cooks did to food) and two, what Martha called food was nothing more than painted colors on a plate, usually much to sweet, sour or both. “I think its name is Little Whale Cay, Martha’s family rented the entire island for Spring Break.”

“Lucky you, being big friends with a rich spoiled brat” her younger brother Karl sneered, only to find himself getting up from the floor, never having seen Melissa’s backhanded slap coming.

“Coming from someone who can’t keep two pennies in his pocket without finding a way to spend them” Melissa answered, reaching for fresh baked blackberry muffins, “I think that you should keep that foul cavern closed.”

Karl looked to his mother, who simply stared back, then to his sister who, for all her bookishness, had cleaned the back yard with his face to many times to count and decided that this time, yes this time he would take her advice. Besides, both of his lips were split, kissing his girlfriend at the beach was not going to be easy. At least his only sister would be gone, that meant that he could bring Goldie into the backyard swimming pool, as long as his parents allowed. Goldie was scared to death of Melissa since her brother had gotten into a fight with what he thought was a geek little freshman last summer when he tried to put more moves on the redhead than he honestly should have. It took six weeks for the football players leg to heal and he missed a part of his Junior varsity year because of it.

“Next time Karl, I won’t stop your sister from breaking your neck” Melissa’s mother warned. “Now Melissa” she said, looking at her only read headed child, “You will e-mail me nightly?”

“Not possible” Melissa answered around a glass of Chocolate milk. “It’s Alien Assault this time, Marthawants to spend as much time under the stars as she can. Albert left her feeling greasy.” She looked to her brother who pulled away, “Go ahead and say it, this is her what, thirtieth boyfriend since middle school?”

“Thirty-third” her brother corrected, keeping the smugness from his voice. When it came to boyfriends it was one of the few subjects that he felt bad for his sister, try as she might, Melissa had managed only two boyfriends in High School and so far exactly none since entering The University of South Florida. He knew she wanted a boyfriend but hadn’t the time to nurture one not already mature, while the mature ones already had girlfriends, or wives. Secretly Karl doted on his sister, she helped him with his class work without arguing and was honestly the hottest redhead he knew, even if she was his sister.

“Thirty third, thanks. She burns through men like a race car burns through fuel.” the redhead continued. “I’ll bet a dollar she has a lover before we’ve been on that island a day.”

“Twenty minutes” Karl countered, noted his sisters look and shrugged. “Sis, everyone knows she gets no love from her family, maybe you ought to date her.” He ducked that swing, but the look on his sisters face was enough to tell him she wasn’t angry, just not interested.

“I’ll get a boyfriend soon” Melissa shot back, “Before you get that girlfriend of yours pregnant.”

A laugh drew both siblings attention to their mother. “Then you better hurry Mel” Louise Tanner explained. “Those pennies? They went for an engagement ring, your brother turned eighteen last month remember, and he wants to join the Air Force.”

Melissa looked at her younger brother like he was something the dog had brought in after a hurricane. “The Air Force? What’s wrong with the Marines?” she demanded.

“Mom was a Marine and we both know that there are marines that remember her, she didn’t get three Purple Heart’s ironing uniforms” Karl admitted. “I couldn’t fill her shoes, besides the Air Force needs Translators and I speak killer Farsi.”

A knock on their front door ended the conversation so grabbing two pieces of toast and jamming what was left of her eggs, ham and hashbrowns between them Melissa said her good-byes then headed for the door, where she stopped. “You name a daughter after me kid and they will find your remains in an alligator’s stomach” she warned, then opening the door she stepped out into Florida’s bright sunshine. Little Whale Cay, in the middle of no-where and though she wanted a boyfriend, she wanted one intelligent enough not to have to work as a servant to make ends meet. Her chances of finding one on that little spit of sand was slim to none, and Slim was on vacation to Scotland.