Chapter Seventeen

"Hi honey," Wanda said sweetly as Melody returned home from the prom. She looked up at the clock. It was only just before midnight. "What happened?"
"I don't want to talk about it!" Melody tore into her mother as she fled upstairs to her bedroom and slammed the door shut.
Uh oh, Wanda said to herself as she chased after Melody as best as she could. Listening at the door, she heard muffled tears coming from behind it. "Sweetie? Honey, what happened?"
"I told you, me going to prom would be a bad idea."
"Okay, okay, so you didn't have a good time at the prom."
Just then Melody emerged, her makeup even more smeared than before. She walked right past Wanda toward the shower, where she proceeded to tear off her dress and wash off most of her makeup. She returned to her bedroom, fumbling for her glasses.
"I have your glasses, honey," Wanda said, handing them over as Melody put them on. "You looked gorgeous tonight, darling. I bet you were the prettiest girl there."

As Wanda left, Melody walked to her computer, where she went to her favorite chatroom.
UBERGIEKE: How was it?
TINKERBELL: What?
UBERGIEKE: Your prom. You said you were going.
TINKERBELL: A disaster, like I thought it would be.
UBERGIEKE: That bad huh?
TINKERBELL: Picture hundreds of sweaty kids crammed in our school auditorium, with loud music, spiked punch, and dancing. I'd rather have been home.
UBERGIEKE: I'm glad I didn't go to my prom. What about the guy you went with? Derek something or other --
TINKERBELL: Dirk Dreamer, Darren's son. I could smell the alcohol on his breath. He tried to hit on me. I got to the garden and he was standing there. Luckily there was a telescope there, so I could stargaze.
UBERGIEKE: ROFL! Stargazing on prom night. Somehow, Tinkerbell, that doesn't surprise me.
TINKERBELL: Believe me, that was the best part of the evening.
UBERGIEKE: Going slightly off topic, have you read Dr. Hyden's latest, From the Earth to the Stars?
TINKERBELL: I have to confess I haven't yet, usually I read all his books on the origin of the universe. When did it come out?
UBERGIEKE: Last week.
TINKERBELL: I don't know how that could've escaped me, probably because I was busy preparing for prom.
UBERGIEKE: Anyway, he mentions the Big Bang, kind of glossed it over, but he also talks about the universe's expansion.
TINKERBELL: Hmm, interesting. I think I'll have to check it out. Does he talk about the possibility of communication with aliens?
UBERGIEKE: Actually, this book isn't about aliens or extraterrestrial activity.
TINKERBELL: Wow, that's interesting. Well, I'll still have to check it out.

After prom, Melody began counting down the days until graduation -- until she would finally leave the halls of misery known as Hanover Academy. She took her final exams and turned in her books to the principal and the librarian. To no one's surprise (except maybe Tracy Glick's) Melody was named valedictorian, and it had also been revealed that she'd received a full-tuition scholarship to the prestigious Academie Le Tour.
"Mel," Sarah called, watching Melody walk through the halls of Hanover for the final time.
Melody turned around, facing the person who'd broken her heart at the beginning of the school year. Somehow, she'd gotten through it. But in her mind's eye Sarah looked upset, and her body language told the story. "What's wrong?" Melody asked, hesitating.
"I'm not graduating," Sarah replied, wiping a stray tear from her eyes. "I didn't pass the test."
Melody let out a deep sigh. "Sarah, I'm sorry. Really, I am."

Facing Melody again, Sarah heaved a deep sigh. "Do you even care?" she asked angrily, shaking her head. "This whole time you've cared about no one but yourself and your studies. I guess that's why you're graduating valedictorian tonight. Congratulations."
Melody detected the bitter tone in Sarah's voice when she said the word 'valedictorian.' "Thanks," she muttered to herself. "But what am I going to say?"
Managing a chuckle, Sarah shook her head. "You'll do fine, Mel. You always find a way to knock 'em dead." As Sarah walked away, she engendered thoughts of their very painful breakup in Melody's head. Eight months removed, and the wound was still as fresh as ever.

As the Hanover auditorium began filling with other students, parents, and guests, Tracy asked Melody to adjust her gown, but not before taking her opportunity to talk. "So -- you're valedictorian," repeated Tracy, making a face as she flicked her hair. She couldn't hide her disappointment.
Melody took a deep breath. "I would easily switch places with you, so I wouldn't have to make that speech."
Jerking away, Tracy dusted off her shoulders in disgust. "Yeah, sure you would," she responded sarcastically.
"I'm serious, Tracy!" cried Melody. "I'm petrified! I'm going to have to talk in front of everybody."
Tracy scoffed. "Mel, seriously, you're gonna do fine."
Melody shook her head. "Easy for you to say. You've been public speaking since you were in diapers."
"And you have been smart as a whip probably since then too," teased Tracy as she turned to face Melody. Then her tone turned reflective. "Can you believe this is it? Goodbye, Hanover Academy."
"I sure won't be sad to leave this place," mused Melody. "I'm ready to move on."
Suddenly, startlingly, Tracy reached for Melody and gave her a hug. And even more surprisingly, Melody reciprocated. The pair of them walked, arm in arm, to the auditorium and took their assigned seats, right next to each other in the graduation line.

The annual Bluewater Village summer festival was taking place over at Hunter's Park, sponsored by Landgraab Enterprises. Lisa Ramirez was making all the arrangements again this year, of course, with Wanda Tinker and Denise Jacquet bringing up the rear providing toys, trinkets, and cakes. Of course, with Lisa arranging all the festivities, she naturally made time to pipe Wanda about goings on at the Tinker place.
And Wanda, of course, was all too happy to oblige. "Stephen took a leave of absence from work for us to deal with Harmony," she said. "We've been in the middle of potty training all over again. You know we haven't had to do any of that kind of stuff since Melody was a toddler."
"Speaking of Melody, isn't she off to college soon?"
Wanda grinned. "Academie Le Tour, on full scholarship. She graduated tops in her class."
"Le Tour, full scholarship, wow, I'm impressed. Hope Tessa could do as well."
"Wanda, is it true that your daughter's a lesbian?" Denise asked.
Wanda was aghast. "Where'd you hear that?"
"It's all over town, really. Supposedly it was some girl from Sim City. Dirty people --"
Wanda shook her head. "Of course it isn't true," Wanda vehemently denied, continuing to set up her table for the raffle of a handmade water wiggler sponsored by Tinker Toys. "She went to her prom with that nice Dreamer boy. Derek, I think his name was --" Wanda lost her train of thought as she gazed down at Harmony, who was sitting at her feet.
Meanwhile Melody had elected to skip the annual festival this year. It was evident by now that she had blossomed into a beautiful young woman. Gone was her teenage gangliness, replaced by womanly curves and a sculpted physique, crafted from hours of work in the Hanover gym, aided by a sudden six-inch growth spurt, and nurtured by a healthy diet. Her black-rimmed glasses had been replaced by frameless versions that flattered her face. Her hair was now somewhat longer and just dusted her shoulders, curling in just the right places to frame her face. Everyone seemed to notice it -- except Melody herself.

It was six-thirty on an otherwise ordinary Saturday morning. Stephen rose from his bed, gazing at the thunderclouds hovering overhead. Groaning, he then walked toward Melody's room. Realizing that she was probably working out, he then walked to the exercise room, a set of gym equipment he'd purchased specifically for Melody because she'd wanted it. "Say, Mel," he announced cheerfully, "how about you and I go on a little trip?"
Melody looked confused. "What trip?"
"A fishing trip, just you and me."
Melody was still confused. "Dad -- why is it all of a sudden you want to go fishing? With me?"
"I haven't been able to spend as much time with you as I want to, sweetheart. And besides, you used to love to go fishing with me when you were a little girl."
"Yeah, but I was little then."
Stephen reached to tickle Melody. "I bet you still -- ooh! -- I bet you still like to go fishing!"
Wanda crept in the room, vehemently objecting. "Why are you taking her fishing? It's about to pour! It's hard enough dealing with this teething baby!"
"Oh well," Stephen said, walking out with Melody, "we'll be bonding together."
Particularly perturbed that two years at Hanover had not quite cured Melody of her tomboyish ways, Wanda gave her daughter a once-over. Dressed in a T-shirt and a pair of jeans, she glared at her mother as she pushed up her glasses and her father wrapped his arm around her.
Despite the low clouds hovering overhead, the pond was fairly still, with only a slight breeze rustling the bullrushes, as Stephen hauled his fishing reel, rod, and stool to a shady spot. Melody remembered the peace and tranquility here as she helped him to set everything up. The occasional chirping of the cicadas cut through the silence as the two of them, father and daughter, stood side by side, casting their own lines.
"I remember the day you were born like it was yesterday. It was a day much like today, and I can remember looking into your big brown eyes and just losing it. I had to pinch myself to make sure I was dreaming. You were mine, all mine, and I wasn't going to let you go." Stephen cast a fond glance at Melody, who was intently concentrating on her line. "Now I look at you and wonder where all the time went. Soon you'll be off to college."
"Oooh, I feel something biting!" exclaimed Melody excitedly.
Stephen turned to look at her. He instantly recognized that expression on her face. It was the one she got when she figured out the robot crafter.
But alas, she reeled in an old boot. Then her overactive mind got to thinking. "I wonder who this old boot belonged to?" she wondered aloud. "Did he drown in the pond?"
Stephen couldn't help but laugh aloud. This was still his little girl, all right, the child whose insatiable curiosity was both endearing and daunting to her parents.
"There's an old wives' tale that if you put the boot in the puree mixer and drink the juice some 'crazy' things might happen to you."
Stephen chuckled again. "I'm sure that you wouldn't put that boot in the mixer. Throw it back out in the water."
"And risk catching it again?" asked Melody with a wide grin on her face.
"Well, I suppose that's true, I guess." Stephen decided to change the subject. "So, you're going to Academie Le Tour, right?"
Melody grinned. "Yep. And I got a scholarship, too."
"I thought you were going to Sim State. My alma mater."
"Dad," Melody pleaded, "not this again." She sighed at the prospect of hearing the story she'd heard many times since she was a girl -- how Stephen had been a llama mascot at Sim State and courted Wanda, who was on the spirit team.
"It was always a given that you'd go to Sim State -- like I did and my father before me did."
Melody scoffed. "I've always wanted to go to Le Tour," she retorted, "ever since I was little. And now I'll actually be there in a couple weeks."
But Stephen dismissed her. "I'm really proud of you, Melody," he said fondly as he reeled in a minnow. "I remember when you were younger and my tools kept disappearing. I had a sneaking suspicion where they were going, so I'd come by your bedroom door and peep at you. You'd be spread out with something you'd taken apart, with my screwdriver in your little hand..."
"Oh, Daddy," Melody teased, lightly punching his arm.
"There isn't a day that goes by when I don't realize how lucky I am to have had you for a daughter." He lovingly wrapped his arm around her shoulder. "I love you so much."
Melody looked at her father. "I love you too, Daddy."
"And I'm going to miss you terribly when you're gone." They stayed at Hunter's Park until dusk, determined to catch the 'big one.'

The morning of Melody's departure was crystal clear, bright, and sunny. Her parents and baby sister rose at six am, and she would leave in another hour. She took one last look at her girlhood home, as she wouldn't see it for awhile. She cooked herself her last breakfast, an omelette, and packed her suitcases to leave for Academie Le Tour.
The horn blew. Melody walked outside, suitcases in hand, inhaling the fresh coastal breezes with which she'd grown up for the last time. Melody didn't even wave back, and her anticipation of what her life would hold in store for her at Academie Le Tour consumed her. These thoughts filled her head as she closed the door of the cab.
Stephen ran out of the house to the middle of the street, watching Melody get in the cab and waving her goodbye. When his oldest child finally disappeared, he screamed her name.
Upon arrival, she took out her suitcases and inhaled the air. Finally, she was free. No uniforms, no curfew, no parents or chaperones. She could do what she wanted, when she wanted. It was a strange feeling, being so free.
She had been assigned to the Aldrich Honors Dormitory, which, Ubergieke had told her, was clearly the best one on campus. It was larger than Mariel Simwell and even more imposing, having the air of a small castle. Each room had a private suite, featuring a personal bathroom, a bookcase, a desk, and a comfortable bed.
After she looked around and claimed her room, which was on the second floor, she watched as some of the other kids moved in. She had never met any of these people before, and she didn't see any familiar faces, which, in a way, she was glad of. She could make a fresh start, free of the baggage of Hanover.
After she finished unpacking her things, she saw a chubby, solitary girl with black braids wearing a purple oxford and beige skirt seated at the chess table, with a confused expression on her face. The girl looked up, seemingly in awe. "Could you teach me how to play?" she asked shyly, her green eyes pleading behind thick, round glasses.
Over the years Melody had become a fairly good chess player, but her mind flashed back to those times when Sarah used to beat her time and again. There was something about this poor girl that appealed to Melody, but she wasn't sure exactly what it was. The two girls involved themselves in the finer points of rooks and kings, and even strayed from chess-related topics with current events and the environment. "What's your name?" Melody got the courage to ask.
"Marla," the girl whispered shyly. "Marla Biggs. You?"
"Melody Tinker."
The two girls smiled at each other. Each of them had made their first new acquaintance.
Declaring a major at Academie Le Tour was now done by computer. She wasn't sure what she'd study, so she decided she'd try the school's general studies program for incoming freshmen.
Melody's first class was scheduled at 3 in the afternoon, so she left the dorm an hour early just so she could find the building. When she got there, though, she discovered she'd amassed enough credits in her advanced-placement courses in high school to skip her entire first semester of freshman year, so she could immediately declare a major and skip all the introductory classes other freshmen had to take. But what would she major in? She liked art, but she also liked math and science. She liked history as well. In general, though, she just loved to learn. Diving headfirst into her coursework, she enjoyed every moment of the intellectual stimulation it provided.
She was also surprised to have made the acquaintance of a couple of other new students. Edwin Sharpe, a chubby, sweet-looking guy with blond hair, had moved back into the dorms after an almighty bustup with his sister's loser boyfriend. Chaz Whippler and Ellen Frost were a couple of other new students she'd seen. She spotted Chaz trying to make a move on Ellen, but Ellen repelling his advances. With this diverse group of students, she knew it would be an interesting year.
On her way to class, Melody picked up a copy of the campus newspaper, the Le Tour Ledger, and thumbed through it. In it she noticed that Chester Gieke, the paranormal activities editor, was looking for an assistant. "I think I might check this out," she thought to herself.
So after class, she wandered into the student union press center, and she saw a mop-haired redhead wearing a shirt that matched his hair and dingy black shorts. He seemed to be so lost in thought as he was concentrating on his article that he didn't even see her come in. Finally he looked up and saw Melody standing in front of him. "Uh, what can I -- do for you?"
"I'm answering your ad, for an assistant editor for the paranormal activities section."
Chester burst into laughter. He had no illusions about his appearance. Many students had passed through but none had stayed due to his geekiness. "You?" he asked, giving Melody a once-over. "But you're gorgeous. What would you want to do with a geek like me?"
Melody brushed the comment aside. "I'm interested in the position."
She's serious, Chester thought to himself. Okay, I've got to quit joking around. Chester told Melody to have a seat next to him, beside the vacant terminal. They proceeded to talk for nearly half an hour about alien conspiracy theories and various paranormal phenomena. Chester was amazed. "Have we met before?"
Melody managed a grin. "Sure seems like it," she mused. "I feel like I've known you forever."
After a brief pause, Chester asked in astonishment, "You're Tinkerbell, aren't you? From the AlienNation newsgroup." Then, tipping her a wink, he whispered, "Don't worry, honey, your secret is safe with me."
Melody was floored. In that moment she realized she was face to face with Ubergieke, her online pal, the one to whom she'd told the full details of her abduction to. "I don't believe this!"
"I knew we would meet one day, Tinkerbell," Chester said, grinning from ear to ear, "I just knew it."
Melody, of course, had mixed feelings about finally laying eyes on Ubergieke. She knew that the anonymity she enjoyed online, at least temporarily, was gone. And there was the possibility of her secret getting out. But at the same time, she was surprised to learn that at Academie Le Tour, there were others who shared her interests.
"Hey, what's your real name?" Chester asked, "so I don't have to call you Tinkerbell all the time."
Melody smiled shyly and gave him her name. Chester gave her another once-over. "Hey, Melody is a pretty name," he shouted as she turned around and left. He then muttered to himself, "...a pretty name for a pretty girl." His prayers had been answered in an unexpected manner.