A Rose for Melinda (16 page)

Now comes the challenge of finding a job. I've sent out résumés to high schools throughout the area and already have four interviews scheduled. Jesse wants us
to return to Atlanta, of course. Naturally, I know why. He's still smitten with Melinda, even after all these years. Goodness knows I've tried to make a life for the two of us here, but he still yearns for what he can't have. I've told him that he can apply to any college he wants, and frankly his grades are good enough that I know he'll qualify for scholarship money somewhere. He tells me he wants to study medicine. Can you imagine? My son, the doctor!

Thank you for your encouragement over the years. Friends like you are few and far between.

Ann

TO:
Melinda
Subject:
Summer Vacation

There's no getting out of it. I have to spend most of the summer with my dad in New York. Mom and I had a fight about it, but she says her hands are tied, there's nothing she can do to keep me from having to go. She says I have to do what he says until I'm eighteen. It sucks.

Jesse

I was online when your
e-mail arrived, so don't go away.

Hey! Why are you up
so late?

Term paper due
tomorrow and I'm
behind. I'm feeling tired and I crash as soon
as I get home instead of getting
right to my work. 'Nuff about
me. Sorry about your messed-
up summer, but you just might
have a good time. It wasn't
nearly as bad as you thought it
would be last time you went.
Remember?

But I only had to stay
a few weeks last time. This is
for the whole summer. What will
you be doing?

Dad surprised me
and Mom with plans for a six-
week vacation to Europe. We
leave on June 11. I was
planning on taking extra dance
classes this summer (since I
missed out on Washington this
year), but that's out now. I've
always wanted to see Europe.
Of course, I thought it would be
with a dance troupe instead of
with Mom and Dad, but Dad
made me a promise when I was
in the hospital.

Your dad's the best!
Will you have e-mail?

Yes … Dad's taking
his laptop. Give me your New
York snail mail and e-mail
addresses, and I'll keep in
touch. Well, I've got to get back
to my paper, but it's been really
nice talking to you.

It sure has! I wish I
could see you this summer. Even
though my visit last summer
wasn't under the best conditions,
at least I got to see you. Just
wait until I'm eighteen …I'm
moving to Atlanta.

I'll hold you to that!

June 25

Hello, dear Melinda. I hope this finds you well and happy. I am writing you this brief note because I wanted to tell you that I have spoken to our director, Jeremy McAllister, about your considerable talent. He is most curious to see your audition videos, so when you can, please send your tape to the address on the front of this envelope, to my attention. I will see to it that Jeremy views it immediately. Who knows, perhaps he will offer you a summer apprenticeship!

As you well know, the world of ballet is most competitive, and with companies folding continually for lack of funding, spots in a good company are difficult to earn. However, I do believe you have a chance of achieving your goals. Work hard this summer, and I'll look for your package for Jeremy.

Ciao
,

Natalie Blackbird

Dear Jesse,

Paris is awesome. So far, we've visited the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, the Arc de Triomphe, lots of shops and two art museums—the Musée du Louvre and Musée d'Orsay. Just walking through the galleries made me feel a part of history. When I saw the Mona Lisa, I got goose bumps, but when I saw some of the original Degas ballerina series, I cried. The paintings seem to glow and the dancers look as if they might stand or turn or smile at any moment. I was surrounded by the ghosts of greatness and long-dead images of once-living people. It was eerie.

M

Hey Bailey,

You would absolutely LOVE Paris! A paradise for a fashion diva like you. The teens are très chic like nothing I've ever seen before. I look so totally frumpy by comparison. Biggest turnoff for me is that they all smoke. I'm not kidding; kids 11 and 12
years old stand at bus stops with cigarettes, puffing away. Ugh. And little motor scooters dart around with girls holding on to some guy who's driving. No helmet laws either. I bought you a present at the cutest little boutique (the salesgirl said Madonna shops there). You must come to Paris someday (maybe to visit me when I dance here one day in the future!).

Hugs, M

Jesse,

Arrived in Madrid yesterday. Today it rained and we spent the day at the Prado. More art treasures to see. I guess this might be boring to most American teens, but not to me. Dragging around with my parents can be a bore—honestly, they are so CONSTANT—but still I'm having a good time. It would be more fun if you and Bailey were along on the trip, but I can't have everything. Hope you're surviving your stay in New York.

M

P.S. Will try for e-mail hookup 8 P.M., July 4 (six-hour time difference should catch you at 2 P.M.).

Are you there?

You bet! Didn't get
your postcard until yesterday
though.

I mailed it ten days
ago! Talk about s-l-o-w…
What's going on?

Fireworks tonight at
Shea Stadium after Mets game.
How about you?

We've toured most of
Spain. Loved Granada and
Seville best. No fireworks here
because no one cares that it's
America's birthday. It's funny
being in a foreign country for one
of our holidays. Anyway, last 4th I
was in D.C., and my troubles
began. Hard to believe it's been a
year since my diagnosis. Sure
glad it's all behind me.

Me too. Where are you
headed next?

We leave for
Germany tomorrow and then
we'll take a tour of what Dad
calls “the blond countries”
(cute, huh?) … you know,
Sweden, Holland, Denmark. I'm
having fun, but I'm getting
homesick.

I guess you're not
dancing.

No. And I feel stiff
and fat from nonmovement.
Oh, before I forget, today's
Bailey's birthday. I sent her an
electronic card, but it would be
nice if you e-mailed her and
wished her a happy birthday.
OK?

Will do. When will you
be home?

August 1. Europe's
nice, but there's no place like
home. (Didn't someone named
Dorothy say that?)

It depends on where
your home is, I guess. Mine is
definitely not in New York! Keep
writing. Your postcards keep me
going.

MELINDA'S DIARY

August 3

I'm glad to be home, but I'm so jet-lagged that I haven't even unpacked. While we were away, Dad had a gazebo built in our backyard as a surprise for Mom. She's always wanted one and it is really cool. I'm looking out my bedroom window and seeing her sitting there with her morning coffee and the newspaper. The lawn service planted vines around the base, and by next summer, it'll be covered with flowers. It'll be so romantic!

Bailey loved her B-day gift from Paris and had a fit over the things I brought back from all the countries we visited. My big project before school starts will be a scrapbook full of photos and ticket stubs and programs. I'll call it “Europe on $500 a Day,” which Dad thinks is very funny (and accurate, according to Mom, because Dad spared no expense!).

Bailey has gone all summer without a boyfriend—some kind of record for her, I think. She says she's not hooking up with any guy who doesn't treat her good (the way Jesse treats me, she says). She told me he sent her a B-day e-mail, but she seemed kind of disappointed when I told her I'd suggested it to him. Probably my imagination.

Back to the studio on Saturday, and boy am I ever rusty. Sooo glad I have the mini-studio in the garage to work out my kinks before Mrs. Houston sees me. But I am looking like my old self again. All hair has made a complete comeback. Weight's gone. Boobs no bigger. Oh well. …Two out of three ain't bad.

August 3 (night)

Mom sorted through stacks of mail held at the post office and gave me the note from Natalie Blackbird. I almost fainted! And I can't believe it arrived just AFTER we had left on vacation. What bad timing! Anyway, we'll get a package together tomorrow and send it off FedEx. Mom said she'd write a note explaining why it took so long for us to respond. I hope the delay won't count against me!

TO:
Ballerina Girl
Subject:
Can I Visit?