Melinda’s Journal

Tuesday, March 6

When I was in middle school, my friends loved to read celebrity gossip magazines in the grocery checkout line. We spent all day texting each other news stories we found online about our favorite actors and musicians. We didn’t care how ridiculous the story or how grainy the photograph. We loved it.

Today, however, I met the people who take those photographs. I realized that people might be looking at me on the internet and in those magazines. People might wonder who Patrick McGregor’s new girlfriend is.

However, Patrick McGregor isn’t a real person. He is a Hollywood persona.

Unlike Melinda Luzzelli. She is real, and she doesn’t like the idea of paparazzi taking her picture.

What am I going to do?

Melinda’s Story

I had never been to California and was looking forward to seeing the sights. I was a little disappointed to see mostly strip malls and commercial buildings as we drove. When we finally reached a residential area, I realized what was missing.

“Where are all the palm trees?”

Walter shrugged. “They’re around. We’ve got some at the house.”

I looked back out the window. The view was still disappointing. After a while, we passed a movie studio. I recognized the insignia on the sign at the intersection, but all I could see was a guard house just past the open gate with some tall buildings on the other side. It looked more like a town than what I had imagined a movie studio to be.

“Is that where your mom is filming?”

Pat played with my hair. “No. The studio has two lots. That one’s used for shooting outside. Like there’s a backyard pool there we used to film—” Pat swore. “What was the movie?”

“House Arrest, right?” Walter suggested.

“I think it was GnomeWorld,” Mr. Adam said.

I giggled. “You do realize that’s not normal, right?”

“Anyway.” Pat drew out the word. “We’ll pass the main studio in a little while.”

“Kara’s filming there,” Mr. Adam said. “Maybe the boys can show you around one day this week.”

A few minutes later, Walter and Pat pointed out the studio. As we passed, they named the various buildings they could see past the concrete wall, such as the sound stages and commissary, which Walter explained was the cafeteria.

After the studio, we headed into a more residential area and there was less to see. We traveled along some winding hills until the car pulled into a driveway. Like their house in Connecticut, a gate secured the grounds. Mr. Adam was able to reach the call box from his window to unlock the gate, and the car brought us to the front door.

After taking my suitcase from the driver, I followed my friends inside. Miss Kara was waiting in the two-story foyer.

“Hi, Munchkin.” She wrapped one arm around Pat, then put out the other one to collect Walter. “Bubba.”

Both boys turned bright red. Walter glared at his mother. “Okay. Melinda now knows our most embarrassing family secret.”

I smiled as Miss Kara greeted me with a hug. “I think it’s sweet.”

Pat turned to his mother. “Aren’t you supposed to be on set?”

Miss Kara waved a dismissive hand. “I had the shooting schedule rearranged so I could have the afternoon off.”

I looked at her with wide eyes. “You can do that?”

Walter smirked. “She can. Normal people can’t.”

Miss Kara just shook her head. “Why don’t you boys bring your bags upstairs? Melinda? You’re going to be in Meghan’s room. Walter can show you where that is. We’re using the guest room to get ready for tonight.” She glanced at her watch. “The hair and makeup people will be here in about half an hour. I want you boys to have a snack, shower, and be ready by four.”

“Food!” Walter announced.

“Bring your bags upstairs first. Show Melinda to her room.”

I followed Walter up the curved stairs. At the top, Walter pointed to a double door on his right. “That’s my parents’ room.”

We crossed a bridge, below which I could see the foyer on my left and a large living room on my right. Walter turned into a bedroom on the left, throwing his bag on the bed.

“This is my room.”

I looked around. “It looks like your room in Connecticut. Just smaller.”

Walter nodded. “I liked the colors. Come on. I’ll show you the rest of the house.”

Walter continued down the hall, turning into an alcove on the right. At the end was a pink room whose ceiling sloped down on either side. Walter pointed to a door on the left.

“There’s the bathroom.” He pointed to a door on the opposite side of the room. “There’s a deck out there. Wanna see the rest of the house?”

“Sure!”

I left my bag near the bed and followed Walter back into the hall. He showed me the library where they liked to study and Pat’s room at the end of the hall. Across from it sat another staircase, with a playroom beyond it.

Walter led me downstairs and into the kitchen. Of course, he went straight for the walk-in pantry. “Hungry?”

“Is that a statement or a question?” I couldn’t help giggling at my own joke. Walter responded with a rude hand gesture. Unfortunately, it was right as his mother was walking past.

“Walter Ryan!”

Walter swore under his breath. “Sorry.”

Miss Kara glared at Walter before turning back to me. “You should probably have something to eat. There’ll be popcorn at the theater, but you won’t be near actual food until the after party.”

I frowned. “Do you have any lunch meat to make a sandwich?”

“Ooh. Good idea!” Walter grabbed a loaf of bread from a bread box, emerging from the pantry to raid the refrigerator.

Miss Kara turned her attention to me. “If you would like, my hair and makeup people would love to do you for the premiere tonight.”

I had no idea what I was supposed to say. “Umm . . .”

Pat came up behind me. “Just hair. The last time you wore makeup, you like looked like a clown.”

I sent him a confused look. “When have you ever seen me in makeup?”

“Your show.”

“I was a gingerbread cookie! You think I would do that on purpose?”

Pat raised his hands to his shoulders. “I was just trying to make a joke.”

His mother pursed her lips at her son. “You were being rude.” She turned back to me. “It’s up to you, Sweetie.”

“I’ve never had my hair done before. I mean, not like that. Just haircuts and stuff.”

“Think about it. I think you might have fun.”

Pat’s Story

As soon as we walked into the house, Mom was waiting for us in the foyer. As soon as we crossed the threshold, she drew me and Walter into a tight hug.

“Hi, Munchkin. Bubba.”

I could feel my face getting hot. My girlfriend was standing right there! What was my mother thinking?

Walter’s face was just as red as mine. He glared at Mom. “Okay. Melinda now knows our most embarrassing family secret.”

“I think it’s sweet,” Melinda said with a smile as she hugged Mom.

I turned to Mom. “Aren’t you supposed to be on set?”

“I had the shooting schedule rearranged so I could have the afternoon off.”

“You can do that?” Melinda asked.

“She can,” Walter said. “Normal people can’t.”

Mom ignored him. “Why don’t you boys bring your bags upstairs? Melinda? You’re going to be in Meghan’s room. Walter can show you where that is. We’re using the guest room to get ready for tonight. The hair and makeup people will be here in about half an hour. I want you boys to have a snack, shower, and be ready by four.”

“Food!” Walter looked ready to rush the kitchen.

“Bring your bags upstairs first. Show Melinda to her room.”

I was about to follow my brother and girlfriend upstairs when Dad called me. “Pat, can you help me for a second?”

“What’s up, Dad?”

He watched Melinda and Walter disappear up the stairs before turning back to me. “You are not allowed near her room.”

My mother sighed. “Adam, he just got here.”

Dad turned to face Mom. “They were sleeping together on the plane.”

I was horrified at what my father had just implied. “Dad! We were not.” I turned to my mother. “We fell asleep watching a movie. There’s a BIG difference.”

Mom pursed her lips. “Patrick.”

“Nothing happened! Mom, we were on the divan. Walter and I wanted to turn it into a bed because the three of us were watching a movie and there just wasn’t a lot of room. We do it all the time with Meghan. Besides, even if something were to happen with me and Melinda, which it isn’t, Dad was like right there!”

Mom sighed again. “Bring your bag upstairs. And stay away from your sister’s room.”

I stomped up the back staircase to my room. Melinda’s mother had no problem with me and Melinda falling asleep together. She let us stay home alone all night. Would it be asking too much for my own parents to trust me just a little?

I threw my bag in the closet, wondering if I had time for a quick swim before I had to get ready. Maybe I could get Melinda to join me.

I squashed that idea when I walked into the kitchen and overheard Mom asking Melinda if she wanted a session with the stylists. I snuck up behind them.

“Just hair. The last time you wore makeup, you like looked like a clown.”

Melinda turned to face me, a puzzled expression on her face.

“When have you ever seen me in makeup?”

“Your show.”

The incredulous look she gave me was absolutely adorable. “I was a gingerbread cookie! You think I would do that on purpose?”

I raised my hands in self-defense. “I was just trying to make a joke.”

“You were being rude.” Mom glared at me before turning back to Melinda and trying to convince her to meet with the stylists. I continued trying to persuade her while we had a few sandwiches. By the time I gave her a quick tour of the house, I had convinced her.

I brought Melinda back upstairs to Meghan’s room, kissing her just outside the door. My heart stopped beating normally, and I wanted more than anything to just stay in that moment for a while. The closer we got to the premiere, the more thrilled I was that she would be there to share it with me. I made sure to tell her that, speaking just above a whisper so as not to ruin the moment.

On my way back to my room, I remembered Mom’s stupid rule about swimming alone. I made a detour to visit my brother. He was sitting on his bed, playing on his phone.

“I’m going to swim some laps,” I informed him. “You can kill aliens by the pool.”

I left before he could respond, changing into my suit and heading outside. I didn’t wait for him before diving into the water. I swam crisp laps while I tried to empty my mind.

I had missed the Romeo and Juliet premiere because I was filming in Hawaii. I probably could have squeezed it in, but I was avoiding my ex-girlfriend, who played Juliet, so I didn’t bother putting in the effort. Even though my father and sister had cameos, it had been the first movie I had done without another family member.

As I swam, I realized that was one reason I was so anxious about tonight. This premiere wasn’t about me and my sister or the two of us with Mom. It was about me. For the first time in my life, I was going to be doing interviews on the red carpet alone. I was a little surprised that I was so nervous. I tried to swim away most of the butterflies, but I was still a little uneasy when I finally climbed out of the pool.

“Everything okay?” my brother asked from his lounge chair.

“Yeah,” I lied. “I just felt like a swim. C’mon. Mom’ll freak if we’re late.”

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.