title: A Kiss on the Keppie
author:  Leslea Newman 
description: Lesla Newman is the author of 64 books for readers of all ages including the teen novel in verse, OCTOBER MOURNING: A SONG FOR MATTHEW SHEPARD; the middle grade novel, HACHIKO WAITS; the poetry collection, STILL LIFE WITH BUDDY; the short story collection, A LETTER TO HARVEY MILK; and the children's books, A SWEET PASSOVER, THE BOY WHO CRIED FABULOUS, THE BEST CAT IN THE WORLD, RUNAWAY DREIDEL! and MATZO BALL MOON. Her literary awards include poetry fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Massachusetts Artists Foundation. A past poet laureate of Northampton, Massachusetts, she is a faculty member of Spalding University's brief-residency MFA in Writing program.
zlib_text: 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  **TO KISS THE STAR**
  
  
  MELODIE KICKED HER HEELS restlessly against her wheelchair footrests. At last
  he had come.
  
  
  The bare whiff of bitter smoke told her that John, her Friendly Visitor, had
  lit his usual pre-visit cigarette on the Mary-Le-Bow Center patio.
  
  
  How Mel loved the smoke. It reminded her of the bonfire her younger brothers
  had set on a long-ago, lazy autumn afternoon while she watched from the caned
  rocker on Mum's porch. Before she had lost her sight.
  
  
  The leaves, brown and yellow and orange, had fired up with a crackle as the
  boys laughed madly, the smoke billowing skyward, nearly the same color as the
  icy gray Midlands clouds.
  
  
  John's cigarettes, like the burning leaves. He had told her the name of his
  brand. An elegant name, vaguely exciting. Mel wouldn't forget it, because it
  was like his name: John. Her voiceboard was ready. She hit the up arrow just
  as she heard his feet padding into the dayroom.
  
  
  "John Player Special," the voiceboard said.
  
  
  "