Melinda’s Story

JavaTwist was the newest self-serve frozen yogurt establishment in town, but it also seemed to be one of the busiest. I counted fifteen machines built into the wall along the back wall, each with three handles: two flavors and a twist. Along the side was the largest topping bar I had ever seen, with syrups, candies, fruit, nuts, and even cereal. Behind the register was a large chalkboard listing various coffees, smoothies, and sandwiches.

Pat looked around as we made our way to the back wall. “Gourmand must be in heaven. You want me to help you?”

I nodded. He grabbed two cups, and we examined each machine to explore our flavor options. After Pat filled one cup with chocolate peanut butter yogurt for me and a second cup with cookies and cream for himself, I put toppings on my sundae and headed to the register. I turned to Pat as he joined me with the two bowls.

“Can I get yours for you? Since it was my idea?”

Pat smiled as he placed both cups on the scale, then scanned the room for his siblings as I paid. “Found them.”

I followed him to a table where Meghan was sipping a hot beverage and Walter was digging into a large mound. Pat raised his eyebrows as he sat beside his sister.

“How many flavors are in there?”

Walter shrugged. “Ten, I think. I sort of lost track.”

“This is why you don’t have a girlfriend.” Meghan sounded repulsed.

Walter pointed the back of his spoon towards me beside him. “No. Her ignominious ex-boyfriend is the reason I don’t have a girlfriend.”

“Igno—what?” I sent him a confused look as Pat reached across the table to try some of my sundae.

Although Walter’s mouth was full of ice cream, I had no problem understanding him. “Ignominious. Contemptible. Disgraceful.”

Meghan glared at him. “Kind of like your table manners.”

“Melinda!” squeaked a voice from the doorway.

I looked up to see two girls approaching our table, both wearing tight-fitting pants, low-cut sweaters, and too much makeup. The blonde one pulled up a chair, placing it on the end between Meghan and Walter and the two girls squeezed onto it. I didn’t like the way they were eyeing Pat, who pulled his ball cap a little lower and began a whispered conversation with his sister.

I had lost my appetite. Playing with my spoon, I glared at the girls. “Hi.”

The blonde ran her hand along Walter’s arm. “Melinda didn’t tell us she has a new boyfriend.”

I instinctively glanced at Pat as Walter raised his eyebrows at the girls. “Who are you?”

I pointed to each girl in turn. “That’s Casey. And that’s Brittany. This is my friend Walter. And his sister Meghan and his brother Pat.”

“Walter?” Casey looked at Brittany. “I think I remember Smelly Melly talking about a Walter.”

“Ooh! She did!” Brittney giggled maniacally. “Last time she was home. She had a crush on him or something.”

Walter and Pat both raised their eyebrows in my direction, but I hardly noticed. I was trying to see if there was any shred of my old best friends under all that makeup. I did my best to keep the anger out of my voice.

“Actually, I just said we did homework together.”

“But now he’s your boyfriend. That’s so cute!”

“Actually—” Pat raised his spoon as he tried to say something, but Casey cut him off.

“Clint likes me to do homework with him.”

Pat caught my eye, mouthing who. I shrugged. I no longer had any idea who these girls’ friends were.

Brittany turned to Casey. “Did Clint pass his driving test yet? I wanna go to the mall.”

Casey rolled her eyes. “His parents are being dumb. They said he can’t drive with anyone but them for six months. Won’t let him have the keys.”

Pat sent her a pointed look. “That’s kinda the law.”

Brittney and Casey laughed as if this was the funniest thing they had ever heard. “He’s cute, Bookworm.” Brittany cocked a head in Pat’s direction before pointing her finger between me and Walter. “So, how long have you two been together?”

“We’re just friends.” I gestured across the table. “Pat and I have been together for about seven weeks.”

“Yeah, okay.” Casey rolled her eyes at Brittney.

“Hey guys?” Meghan made a point of glancing at her phone. “We should probably get going. Tony wanted us to come watch him play down at the club tonight.”

“Oh, okay.” I stood awkwardly, waiting for Pat to pass me my crutches. He carried both our sundaes as we followed Meghan and Walter back to the car.

“Who’s Tony?” Walter asked in a singsong voice as soon as we left the building.

“Is he the mystery boyfriend?” Pat wiggled his eyebrows at his sister.

“Melinda first.” Meghan opened her door. “Who were those girls?”

I climbed into the car. “I’m so sorry about that.”

Pat kissed my head as he exchanged my crutches for the sundaes. “Who were they?”

Walter climbed into the car. “Wait. I don’t wanna go home.”

I shrugged. “There’s this sports complex nearby. It’s new; I haven’t been. But, I know they have minigolf.”

“Ahmb dame.”

“Me, too,” agreed Pat.

Meghan shrugged. “I guess. I’m not that good at mini-golf.”

“I’m playing with a broken foot.” I plugged the address into the GPS.

“So, who were those girls?” Pat repeated his earlier question.

“They used to be my best friends.”

“How were you friends with those—” Walter called the girls an unflattering name.

I giggled, but Pat seemed upset. “How are you okay about what just happened in there?”

“Because they either were trying to be friendly and forgot how, or they were trying to embarrass me.”

“Friendly?” Walter sounded nearly as distressed as Pat. “They insulted you. Smelly Melly? Bookworm?”

I shrugged. “They used to be my best friends. Those were my nicknames.”

“Are those the girls from Long Weekend?”

I nodded. “I’m surprised you remembered.”

“It was a memorable story.”

“Actually, that was the first time I’ve spoken to either one of them since that night.”

“I still don’t get how you’re so calm. I think they were trying to embarrass you.”

“You guys are my best friends. You’ve seen me completely melt down. A few nicknames can’t embarrass me.” I turned to Meghan. “So, who’s Tony?”

She smiled. “My roommate and I have this thing. When we’re out together and we get into an uncomfortable situation, we just say that Tony invited us to the club to watch him play. It can usually get us out of any situation pretty easily.”

---

The sports complex was comprised of several wings branching from the lobby. Behind the counter, brightly colored arrows pointed in all directions. Neon green pointed to the left with Arcade printed in black. Bright red pointed to the right, directing people to the mini golf. Pointing straight up was a gold arrow labeled Snacks, which I assumed was pointing to the snack bar I could see through a door beside the counter. Other arrows mentioned a driving range and ice rink on an upper level and laser tag and bowling on a lower level.

The bored-looking girl behind the counter said nothing about my crutches as she handed us four brightly colored balls and pointed us towards the rack to select our clubs. I found if I balanced on my crutches just right, I could swing the club with both hands. Pat graciously volunteered to carry it for me between holes.

We entered the mini-golf room, which was dimly lit and had black lights that made Meghan’s white shirt glow in the dark, as well as the golf balls in Walter’s hand. My eyes were still adjusting to the dimness when someone waist-high hugged me.

“Hi, Melinda! We haven’t seen you in forever!”

I recognized the voice as belonging to Casey’s younger sister, Gracie. When Gracie was an infant, an illness left her with developmental delays. Although she appeared to be a nine-year-old girl, she acted and spoke about the same as her six-year-old brother, who was standing beside his parents just behind her.

 “Hi, Gracie!” I patted top of her head as I tried to release her grip. “It’s good to see you, too.”

“What happened to your leg?”

“I fell on the ice and broke my ankle.” I balanced on my crutches, waving my brace a few inches in front of me.

Her mother came to stand beside her. “While you were at school? That must have been horrible.”

I shrugged. “Well, it wasn’t fun, but it’s not all bad.”

“Are you here alone?”

I shook my head, gesturing to my friends standing off to the side. Since the boys were playing rock, paper, scissors, I had a feeling they were arguing over whose turn would be first.

“I’m here with some friends of mine.”

“Mighty Max!” Gracie shouted as she pointed at Pat, then Meghan. “Rose!”

Her mother looked embarrassed. “Gracie, sweetie. That’s not really Mighty Max. You have to excuse her. She’s been obsessed with that Mighty Max movie lately. She watches it at least once a day.”

Pat flashed his famous smile, shaking his head as he approached. “Nah. It’s no a big deal.” He turned to me. “Aren’t you gonna introduce us?”

“This is my friend, Gracie. That’s her brother, Kevin. And their parents, Mr. and Mrs. McCrory.”

Pat kneeled down so he was closer to Gracie’s height. “Hi Gracie. It’s nice to meet you.”

“Melinda?” Kevin inched closer to his sister. “You’re friends with Mighty Max?”

“We go to school together.”

“Melinda? Does your mother know you’re here?” I could hear the concern in Mrs. McCrory’s voice.

“Not exactly. I mean, she knows I’m with these guys.” I waved my hand at my friends. “We were supposed to go to their house, but we decided to make a detour.”

“My mother knows we’re here,” Meghan said quickly. I wasn’t sure, but I thought I heard a note of disapproval in her tone.

“Casey will be sad she missed you. She’s at the library with Brittney today. They’re both having a little trouble adjusting to high school, so they’re using this week to catch up on some of their homework. I’ll tell her you said hi.”

I sent Mrs. McCrory a quizzical look. “Really? Is it open again?”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, I was going to go there earlier this week, to get a few books for while I was on break. But, when I went to check the hours, the website said they were closed all week because of a burst pipe.”

“I didn’t realize.”

“We should probably go.” Mr. McCrory put an arm around each of his children. “It was good seeing you, Melinda. Kevin? Gracie? Let’s go!”

“Nice meeting you.” Pat waved to the children.

Gracie hugged Pat and me before joining her parents.

“Bye, Mighty Max!” Gracie and Kevin both waved enthusiastically behind them as they left.

Pat put his hand on the small of my back as we walked to the first hole. “That was pretty sneaky.”

“I wasn’t lying.”

“I know.” Pat kissed the top of my head as he handed me my club. “That was what made it so sneaky.”

Pat’s Story

Melinda hadn’t been kidding when she said this place was perfect. Like a lot of these frozen yogurt places that seemed to be popping up everywhere, it had a bunch of machines against one wall and an amazing topping bar. It also served, according to the menu anyway, many coffees, smoothies, and sandwiches.

“Gourmand must be in heaven.” I looked around but didn’t see my brother and sister.

I helped Melinda, since she couldn’t carry her bowl with her crutches. She wanted chocolate peanut butter, which sounded delicious, but I really wanted cookies and cream. I loaded it with candies and some chocolate syrup while Melinda put some cookie crumbs and sprinkles on hers.

As I brought the bowls to the register, she turned to me. “Can I get yours for you? Since it was my idea?”

She was so adorable, I wanted to kiss her. But there were too many people around. Instead, I just smiled and put the bowls on the scale, scanning the room for my siblings while Melinda paid.

“Found them!” I took the sundaes and led Melinda to a table near the window. Meghan was drinking a large hot beverage, probably some sort of stupid latte or something. Walter was sitting across from her, eating from one of the largest sundaes I had ever seen.

I sat next to Meghan, passing Melinda her sundae and looking questioningly at my brother. “How many flavors are in there?”

Walter took a bite. “Ten, I think. I sort of lost track.”

“This is why you don’t have a girlfriend,” Meghan said. She sounded grossed out. I couldn’t understand why. She should be used to Walter by now.

Walter used his spoon to point at Melinda. “No. Her ignominious ex-boyfriend is the reason I don’t have a girlfriend.”

“Igno—what?” Melinda’s bafflement was adorable. I wanted to kiss her. Instead, I reached over to steal a spoonful of her sundae.

Walter took another bite. “Ignominious. Contemptible. Disgraceful.”

“Kind of  like your table manners.” Meghan sounded thoroughly annoyed. I was glad I still had the car key. She looked like she was considering ditching us.

“Melinda!” squeaked a voice from the doorway.

I had forgotten we were in Melinda’s hometown. That we were someplace someone could recognize me or my sister. I just wanted to enjoy an ice cream with my girlfriend.

Tugging my hat a little closer to my eyes, I turned more towards Meghan. I saw her shrink back in her chair and bring her coffee closer to her face. She was lucky someone still tucked her red hair into her ski cap.

“So, how long until the screaming starts?” I whispered.

“I don’t think they’re gonna notice,” Meghan whispered back. She rolled her eyes. I didn’t understand eye rolls.

I heard Melinda greet someone. I chanced a glance. She was playing with her sundae, not actually eating it. I wanted to go hold her and comfort her and get rid of the two girls who had made her obviously uncomfortable.

I turned a little more to get a better look. The girls were a little taller than Melinda, but not as slim. Their black pants looked painted on, their sweaters were cut entirely too low, and they wore entirely too much make-up. But, more than that, they were looking at me lasciviously. It was more discomforting than screaming fans.

The blonde one turned to Walter, glancing up and down at him with an approving smile. “Melinda didn’t tell us she had a new boyfriend.”

I exchanged looks with Melinda, but Walter voiced the question running through my mind. “Who are you?”

“That’s Casey.” Melinda’s voice was like ice as she pointed to first the blonde, then the brunette. “And that’s Brittany. This is my friend Walter. That’s his sister Meghan and his brother Pat.”

It hurt a little that she didn’t introduce me as her boyfriend.

“Walter?” The blonde one smirked at her friend. “I think I remember Smelly Melly talking about a Walter.”

“Ooh! She did!” the friend bounced a little in her seat. “Last time she was home. She had a crush on him or something.”

I raised my eyebrows at Melinda. I noticed Walter doing the same. She had always insisted she didn’t like Walter in that way. Had she lied to us?

When she spoke, I could hear the anger in her voice. “Actually, I just said we did homework together.”

“But now he’s your boyfriend,” the brunette said. “That’s so cute!”

I tried to correct her. “Actually—”

Meghan put her hand on my arm. I looked at her and she shook her head slightly. I didn’t understand, but I had a feeling it was a girl thing. It didn’t really matter, because the blonde started talking as if she hadn’t even heard me.

“Clint likes me to do homework with him.”

Who? I mouthed to Melinda. She shrugged. Her friends were still talking.

“Did Clint pass his driving test yet?” asked the brunette. “I wanna go to the mall.”

“His parents are being dumb. They said he can’t drive with anyone but them for six months. Won’t let him have the keys.”

“That’s kinda the law,” I reminded them.

The way the girls laughed, I’m not sure they believed me. The brunette considered me for a moment, and I looked away quickly. “He’s cute, Bookworm.” The girl pointed her finger between Melinda and Walter. “So, how long have you two been together?”

“We’re just friends.” Melinda said it so quickly, I thought it might have become an automatic reflex. I was pleased to see Melinda point at me. “Pat and I have been together for about seven weeks.”

Had it been that long? It felt like forever and just yesterday at the same time. Then again, I had been crushing on her for a good month before we even got together.

“Yeah, okay,” the blonde rolled her eyes at her friend.

I didn’t understand the eye roll, but Meghan obviously did. She checked the time on her phone and stood.

“Hey guys? We should probably get going. Tony wanted us to come watch him play down at the club tonight.”

Melinda played along. “Oh, okay.”

I reached for her crutches, passing them to her as she rose. I carried both our sundaes as we quickly left.

“Who’s Tony?” Walter asked as we headed to the car.

“Is he the mystery boyfriend?” I added eagerly.

“Melinda first,” Meghan said. “Who were those girls?”

“I’m so sorry about that.” Melinda climbed into her seat.

I traded her sundaes for crutches and kissed the top of her head. “Who were they?”

Walter got into his seat as I was putting the crutches in the trunk. “Wait. I don’t wanna go home.”

“There’s this sports complex nearby,” Melinda suggested. “It’s new. I haven’t been. But, I know they have minigolf.”

“I’m game,” Walter said with his mouth full.

“Me too,” I declared.

Meghan shrugged. “I guess. I’m not that good at minigolf.”

Melinda entered the address on the GPS. “I’m playing with a broken foot.”

“So, who were those girls?” I ventured to ask.

Melinda waited a moment before answering. “They used to be my best friends.”

“How were you friends with those—” Walter called the girls a very unflattering name. Mom probably would wash his mouth out with soap for using such language, but it fit the girls perfectly.

Melinda giggled. I was angry. I could tell by Walter’s expression that he was, too. He wasn’t even eating, a sure sign he wasn’t happy.

I looked at Melinda. “How are  you okay about what just happened in there?”

“Because they were either trying to be friendly and forgot how or trying to embarrass me.”

Walter didn’t hide his anger. “Friendly? They insulted you. Smelly Melly? Bookworm?”

Melinda shrugged. “They used to be my best friends. Those were my nicknames.”

“Are those the girls from Long Weekend?”

Melinda nodded. “I’m surprised you remembered.”

“It was a memorable story.”

“Actually, that was the first time I’ve spoken to either one of them since that night.”

Walter frowned. “I still don’t get how you’re so calm. I think they were trying to embarrass you.”

“You guys are my best friends. You’ve seen me completely melt down. A few nicknames can’t embarrass me.” Melinda turned to Meghan. “So, who’s Tony?”

My sister gave a sly smile. “My roommate and I have this thing. When we’re out together and we get into an uncomfortable situation, we just say that Tony invited us to the club to watch him play. It can usually get us out of anything pretty easily.”

---

I couldn’t remember the last time I had played mini-golf. I certainly had never been to a place like this. According to the sign behind the counter, this one facility contained an arcade, ice rink, mini-golf, driving range, laser tag, bowling, and snack bar. The look on Walter’s face suggested he could live here contentedly for the rest of his life.

After we each paid for a game and received a neon ball in return, we headed over to the rack of clubs near the door labeled Mini-Golf. I watched Melinda lean forward slightly on her crutches, putting a little weight on her bad foot, while she swung a club. She put the club back and selected another one, which must have been more to her liking because she smiled brightly.

I took the club from her. “I’ll carry that for you.” My brother was already carrying her pink golf ball.

“Thanks.” When she smiled, I snuck in a quick kiss before holding the door for her.

I hadn’t realized this would be a glow-in-the-dark golf. Everything was painted in neon colors and the lanes were lined in glow-in-the-dark tape. Meghan’s white shirt was glowing, as was the green ball in my hand.

“Who’s first?” Walter asked as we approached the first hole.

Someone behind us started shouting. “Hi, Melinda! We haven’t seen you in forever!”

I looked over to see a small girl, probably about nine or ten, with her arms around Melinda.

“Hi, Gracie!” There was something in Melinda’s tone that suggested the girl might be younger than she looked. She patted the girl on the head. “It’s good to see you, too.”

“I wanna go first.”

I turned my attention back to my brother. “Rock, paper, scissors.”

I won the first round. Walter insisted we do it again. I won the second round. He pouted.

“Mighty Max!” I turned to back to the shouting little girl. She pointed at me, then saw Meghan. “Rose!”

Meghan turned towards Walter, but I glanced over. The mother was apologizing. “She’s been obsessed with that Mighty Max movie lately. She watches it at least once a day.”

I smiled and walked over. I liked kids when they weren’t my annoying cousins. “Nah. It’s not a big deal. Aren’t you gonna introduce us?”

“Gracie? These are my friends.”

Again with the friends. I was going to have to teach her how to introduce me as her boyfriend.

“This is Pat, and that’s Meghan, and that’s Walter. This is my friend Gracie. That’s her brother Kevin, and their parents, Mr. and Mrs. McCrory.”

I got down on one knee so I could look Gracie in the eye. “Hi Gracie. It’s nice to meet you.”

The little boy came closer. “Melinda? You’re friends with Mighty Max?”

I nodded. “We go to school together.”

“Melinda?” The mother’s voice was full of concern. “Does your mother know you’re here?”

“Not exactly. I mean, she knows I’m with these guys.” Melinda shrugged as she pointed to me and my siblings. “We were supposed to go to their house, but we decided to make a detour.”

I saw Walter cringe. I don’t think Melinda realized what she had just implied. Meghan jumped to her rescue.

“My mother knows we’re here.”

The woman didn’t look very pleased. “Casey will be sad she missed you. She’s at the library with Brittney today. They’re both having a little trouble adjusting to high school, so they’re using this week to catch up on some of their homework. I’ll tell her you said hi.”

Melinda cocked her head slightly. “Really? Is it open again?”

“What do you mean?”

This was one of those times I realized how awesome my girlfriend was. I would have said her former friends were at the fro-yo bar trying to pick up guys. She simply said the library was closed because of a burst pipe. Needless to say, concern was written on both adults’ faces as they hurried their smaller children along.

“Nice meeting you.” I patted each child on the head as I stood up.

Gracie gave me and Melinda hugs, then she and her brother followed their parents. They turned to wave. “Bye, Mighty Max!”

I followed Melinda to the first hole. “That was pretty sneaky.”

“I wasn’t lying.”

I handed her the club and kissed the top of her head. “I know. That was what made it so sneaky.”

Melinda’s Journal

Friday, December 29

Although I am a dancer, I have never considered myself an athlete. But, I do like spending time with my friends. Even though I’m not great at it, minigolf has always been a favorite activity of mine. It’s always been a great way for me to spend time with my family. But, it was also something I really enjoyed doing with my friends. When I started attending Hartfield, I worried that I would have to give up things like playing mini-golf with my friends. I’m really glad that boarding school doesn’t mean I have to stop having playtime.

Attention Hammerheads

Melinda is always trying to build her vocabulary. What were some words in this episode that were new to you? She will add them to her vocabulary journal.