"Jeez! This is useless!" Rory Gilmore said exasperatedly as she closed her copy of "Grapes of Wrath." She had been desperately trying to read on her 10-hour flight from Connecticut to Kansas, but she was having no success. Then to top it off the flight attendant kept trying to convince her to eat her lunch. Airline food was unappetizing on a good day, but right now Rory didn't even think she could eat Luke's food. The events of the last several months had been filling her mind.

First, there was the fact that her boyfriend and her had broken up when he moved two months before. Then the Jess stuff happened. Then to top it off, her mother and Sookie, her mom's best (other than Rory) had just bought the old Firefly. The cupcake lady had finally headed off to the big bakery in the sky. So Lorelai and Sookie would be stuck there fixing it up all summer. Then Rory's best friend Lane was sent to Korea for the summer. So they decided it would be best and safest if Rory got a break for the summer. Lorelai remembered an old friend that lived in Kansas so she called and arranged for Rory to spend the summer on their farm.

Most kids her age would be outraged at being sent to the middle of nowhere for three months. But Rory wasn't. Of course most kids her age probably have mothers that are more than 16 years older than them. She was actually looking forward to the summer away, although she was a little nervous. She had never even see a real farm, much less had to stay on one, she wasn't quite sure what to expect. The fact that in order to stay she had to help a little didn't help either. But Martha had assured her it wouldn't be anything difficult.

So here she was on her way to Smallville Kansas. "Ladies and Gentlemen we are now beginning our descent into Metropolis, Kansas. Please fasten your seatbelts and return your trays and seats to their full and upright positions. Thank you and have a nice day." A voice said over the speaker. So Rory put away her book and prepared to land. * Well here I go! * Thought Rory as the plane landed.



After fighting with the swarms of people, getting lost twice, and having to wait for a fat man to move, Rory finally made her way to the Luggage Claim. Since they were no longer aloud to wait at the gate, the Kents had agreed to meet her there. After a moment Rory found a woman holding a sign that said her name, so she made her way over. "Hi. Martha?" she asked. "I'm Rory." She stuck her hand out to the woman.

"Hi Rory! It's so nice to meet you!" the woman replied and shook her hand. "This is my son Clark." She continued, motioning to the boy next to her that Rory hadn't noticed before. "Clark this is Rory Gilmore."

"I guessed that much." He said in his usual shy way. "It's nice to meet you." He greeted her. * Wow! Mom wasn't kidding when she said she was pretty! * He though to himself.

"It's nice to meet you too." * Wow! Mom wasn't kidding when she said he was cute! * She thought to herself.

"Uh, can I help you get your bags?" he asked as the luggage from her flight started to fill the conveyer belt.

"Sure. There should be one big blue suitcase, a black duffel bag, and a smaller red suitcase." She told him as she too started to watch for her bags.

After they had found all her bags and had them in front of them Clark looked at her and said "Not a light packer I see."

"Well, this one has clothes," she said pointing to the big suitcase, "This one has shoes and last minute stuff" she said pointing to the small duffel bag, "And this one has my books." She said pointing to the smaller suitcase, which was still nearly as big as the blue one.

"You brought an entire suitcase of books?!" Clark exclaimed.

"Yea, um, some of them are summer homework, and the others are just for leisure. I like to read… a lot." She said as her face began to blush.

"Well why don't we get these out to the car." Martha suggested, seeing that Clark had embarrassed Rory.

"Oh I can get those." Clark said when he saw Rory trying to manage all her bags.

"Are you sure?" she asked but knew the answer when she saw him pick all three up with ease.

"Yea, it's no sweat." He said honestly. His gift of strength made it easy. So they headed out to the car.

"Oh! COFFEE!!!!" Rory exclaimed when she saw the Starbucks sign. "Can I go get some?" she said remembering that she was not with her coffeeholic mother and regaining her composure.

"Sure coffee sounds great." Martha said, remembering Lorelai obsession with the ebony liquid. After they had bought enough coffee to keep Rory satisfied until the got home, the trio finally made it back to the car and headed off to Smallville