Chapter 1: Fall
It was a busy Saturday morning at Number 37, Maple Street in Stars Hollow, Connecticut. Rory Gilmore was hoofing through the house, doing chores to help her mother. Lorelai had been called in to work at the Dragonfly Inn on this weekend day. Rory didn't mind the extra duties. At 16, she was adjusting well to Chilton, and had a new boyfriend in Dean Forrester, who had recently moved to the sleepy little town from the Chicago area.
Just then, as Rory was approaching the top landing of the stairs, she paused to adjust the full laundry basket in her arms. Her foot caught, she didn't know on what, and before she knew it, Rory was tumbling down the stairs, landing in a heap at the bottom.
It was a struggle to get to her feet, as she was a bit dazed, and she throbbed over most parts of her body. Rising in front of a wall mirror, something caught Rory's eye in the light, and she twisted, the hem of her tank top shifting up to reveal a ghastly bruise along her back.
Recovering, Rory gathered the spewed clothes and threw them back into the basket, then turned for the landline phone. If anyone had an accident in the house while alone, it was family policy to call the other person immediately. Lorelai's enforcement of the rule had been calmed by hilarious mockery of the LifeAlert commercials, complete with imitations of the phrase, "I've fallen and I can't get up!" Rory chuckled to herself as she dialed the Inn's number.
"Independence Inn, Lorelai speaking."
"Mom?"
"Oh, hey, sweets. What's up?"
"Nothing. I just fell down the stairs while shuttling laundry. I'm up, though."
"Oh my gosh, are you OK?"
"Just a bruise on my back; I'll be fine."
"All right, if you're sure. I'll be home for dinner. I love you."
"Love you too."