A Rose for Melinda (18 page)

October 1

Dear Jesse,

I loved getting a letter from you and I've tied it up with a red ribbon and stashed it in my memory box (along with your other notes and cards from first grade till now). I hope you don't think this is silly—the memory box, I mean. It holds all my
most treasured possessions, and your correspon
dence ranks right at the top of my favorite-things list. So there!

Having you around all summer would be a dream come true. My mind keeps playing back the night of our picnic like a videotape (except unlike a tape, it doesn't wear out). I will never forget a single minute of that night. Never! In class, I find myself staring down at my ring instead of listening to my teacher. It's like I share a secret with the ring. The ring knows and I know that you and I love each other. I haven't even told Bailey anything more than that we had a good time.

And speaking of Bailey, she still hasn't found a special guy. I feel sorry for her (which is another reason I don't talk to her much about us. I don't want her to think, “Melinda has a boyfriend and I don't and she's rubbing it in.” Know what I mean?).

Keep writing. I miss you every minute.

Love always,
Melinda

Hey M

Here I am in study hall with time dragging. Thank God Christmas break starts on Monday. I'd love to go with you and watch you dance in The Nutcracker this Friday. Thanks for asking me, but please don't think I'm a charity case just because I don't have anyone in my life like you do. After my bad experience with Kerry, I've reevaluated myself and decided that until I can have something as special as you do with Jesse, I'd rather have nothing with anyone. Don't be shocked. …I know what I'm saying.

Any word on your dance internship for next summer? What will you do about Jesse coming if you get an invite to Denver?

B—

I don't know. I want both—Jesse and a dance apprenticeship. First I have to see if Jesse can really stay and work in Atlanta, which will help me decide about the other. I've heard nothing from Denver, so I guess my audition tape and the influence of Ms. Blackbird wasn't enough. It was a long shot anyway.

Oh … don't come over after school. I feel like I'm coming down with the flu. Wouldn't you know it? Just when the holidays are coming. Oh, about Saturday, let's hit the mall early. I want you to help me pick out the perfect Christmas gift for Jesse. Two heads are better than one and I need to get it in the mail ASAP.

Thanks for being my friend. I don't know who I'd talk to if it weren't you!

Hugs …M

MELINDA'S DIARY

December 25

Christmas Day and it actually snowed in Atlanta! One whole inch! Bailey and I made pathetic little snowballs and threw them at each other. The snow was wet and sloppy and it hurt when it hit. I have a huge bruise on my arm and another on my leg, but one of my snowballs hit poor B. right in the face. I hope she doesn't bruise like I did.

Jesse called and hearing his voice was like magic. I miss him so much. He sent me a charm bracelet with a single gold rose on it. I told him I'd never put a charm on it that didn't come from him, and he laughed and said that we both may be graduating from high school before he can afford to add another.

's Diary

December 25

Melinda gave me this for Christmas and so I feel obligated to write in it. I'm not like her, though, and I can't imagine keeping this up every day like she does. But she's my friend and I said I'd give it a try. Besides, it's cute, with drawings of dresses and shoes on the cover.

Melinda showed me her charm bracelet from Jesse and I said it was beautiful, because it is. Jesse loves Melinda and she loves him. End of story. But I have to say that taking a vacation from having a boyfriend has helped me see some things. So far, I've picked a lot of losers. But no more! Here's my New Year's resolution: When classes begin, I'm going to look more closely at the less high-profile guys (the ones who aren't so cocky and stuck on themselves. Guys who are NICE to me).

I guess this is it for my first entry (and maybe my last). EOM (end of message). I saw that in a movie once.

MELINDA'S DIARY

March 17

I feel punky today. Too tired to write. Performed horribly in dance class. Got a C on a history test and shouldn't have. Just an all-around bad day.

March 30

I have to go for a bone marrow aspiration. Geez, I hate them so much!!!!! But Mom dragged me to
our family doc, who did a blood test and said my white count's up (which totally freaked Mom, be
cause it could signal the end of remission). He said I could just have a cold or maybe mono (it's going around at school) but that I should get another as piration just to make sure. Easy for him to pre scribe. He doesn't have to have one. So no dance class. Half day at the hospital. This really stinks!

April 4

The Denver Dance Theater
1234 Yates Drive
Denver, CO 80202

Dear Ms. Skye:

After carefully reviewing your dance tape and your credentials along with the strong verbal recommendation of Natalie Blackbird, I am pleased to offer you a summer apprenticeship with the Denver Dance Company. Your expenses to Denver will be paid, along with room and board for the summer, plus compensation for your performances.

If this is satisfactory, a contract will follow for
you to sign and return, as well as a complete schedule of performances. Congratulations! We look forward to working with you as a member of our dance corps.

Sincerely,

Jeremy McAllister

Director
Denver Dance Company

MELINDA'S DIARY

April 4

Long horrible day at hospital, seeing doctors and getting needles shoved in me. I'd almost forgotten the horrors of chemo, but they all came back today. It's only been a little more than a year since I went through this. Thought the day was going to be a bust. Then the letter from Denver came and I about fainted. THEY WANT ME!!! I can't believe it. A whole summer as a professional dancer. Mom looked dazed and said we should wait until Dad's back home before we “firm up any plans.”

Now that I've had time to think, I'm feeling very mixed up. Just when I thought Jesse and I might
spend the summer together, the letter came. I want to do both—spend the summer with Jesse AND dance with the Denver company.

I took a time-out because Bailey called, and I told her what had happened. She said Jesse's plans weren't set in stone and I should tell him about the offer because she was betting that Jesse, being Jesse, would tell me to take the dance offer.

This just isn't fair! I've wanted to be a dancer all my life, but now I want other things too. Why does it all have to be so complicated? Whatever happened to a straight course? I can't imagine not dancing. But now I can no longer imagine my life without Jesse either. I love him so.… What am I going to do?

121 East 18th Street, Suite 318
Atlanta, GA 30020
Phone: (800) 555-4567 Fax: (800) 555-4568

Referring Physician:
Janet Powell, M.D.
Specimen Number:
JL01-99438
Hematology Associates

Emory University Hospital, Suite 2010
Atlanta, GA 30020

Date Collected: 4/04
Date Received: 4/04
Date Reported: 4/05

Gross Description

The specimen consists of 6 slides and 3 additional aliquots of 3 cc each, labeled “Bone Marrow Aspirate, Melinda Skye.”

Microscopic Description:

The bone marrow aspirate demonstrates extensive hypercellularity with normal bone marrow elements essentially replaced by infiltrating lymphoblasts. There are multiple mitotic figures seen. The lymphoblasts demonstrate a high nuclear/cytoplasm ratio and clumped nuclear chromatin. Some nuclei display a folded appearance. Scattered among the abnormal cells are small numbers of erythroid, myeloid, and megakaryocytic cells.