The Innocence of Stardust

One day while visiting a close friend, who was also a widow, she was introduced to chat rooms on the Internet. Until then Mary had never even heard of chat rooms and didn't know what they were. Her friend explained to her how she had discovered the computer world of chatting. It was a great comfort to her and she would be miserable without her chat room friends who she talked to everyday.

"I talk all over the world and meet lots of great people just like us. It is so exciting. It's almost like having a family again and in a way these people are part of my family now. Most of us never give our real names in chat. We use nicknames we make up ourselves. My nickname is Flower Power," her friend enthusiastically told her.

A few days later Mary bought a computer. Flower Power helped her get connected and introduced her to the fascinating world of chat. Mary chose the nickname Stardust. Henceforth I will refer to Mary Jenkins as Stardust.

It wasn't too long before Stardust became very popular in the chat rooms she visited. She found comfort and pleasure talking with her many acquaintances and friends she met on the Internet. Many of the chatters were like Stardust. They were widows or widowers who shared a lot in common. This newfound stay at home entertainment was just what Stardust had been looking for. She was not a very fast typist because of arthritis in her hands and wrists. It was difficult to type, but the pain was worth it when compared to boredom. She found her self' missing some of the greetings she would get whenever she entered a chat room.