Rose for Melinda

Blossoms September 7 Dear Melinda Skye, Thank you for sharing your snack. You are very pretty. Signed, your friend, Jesse Rose September 7 Dear Jesse Rose, Thank you. I have new shoes. Do you like them? Your friend, Melinda Skye October 1 Dear Melinda, I don't like school. But I like you. Do you like me? Your friend, Jesse October 1 Dear Jesse, I like you. But I like school. Reading is the best part. Your friend, Melinda October 2 Dear Melinda, The best part of school is seeing you. Your very good friend, Jesse P.S. I like baseball. I want to play for the Braves. They are my favorite team. October 3 Dear Jesse, I like ballet. I take classes and want to be a real ballerina. I will be famous. Your friend, Melinda October 21 Dear Mr. and Mrs. Rose, I'm afraid that Jesse must be placed on an "in-room" suspension from recess for the next three days for fighting on the playground. Although he has assured me that he "only socked Toby Gillman in the nose because he shoved Melinda Skye off the swing," as his teacher, I can't allow physical attacks on fellow students to occur. Please understand that I think Jesse is a good child. He has never disrupted the class until this unfortunate incident. As you are aware, this school system has a zero-tolerance policy regarding physical violence, and therefore Jesse must be punished for his aggressive act toward another student. Please call our principal if you have any questions regarding Jesse's suspension. Be assured that Toby is receiving the same punishment for shoving Melinda. Sincerely, Nancy Barber October 22 Mrs. Barber, Jesse has told his father and me that he will not hit Toby again "UNLESS Toby hurts Melinda." We've always tried to instill a sense of right and wrong in our son, and he knows that hitting others is wrong. For some reason, Jesse has formed an attachment to Melinda and feels a need to defend her--like some kind of mini-Lancelot. We understand and accept his punishment and are confident that he will behave in the future if Toby behaves. Sincerely, Ann Rose Dear Jesse, Thank you for punching Toby for me. I am sorry you have to miss recess, but I will sit with you at lunch all next week because you are my hero. Friends forever, Melinda December 4 Dear Melinda, I made this picture for you. It's me playing baseball and you watching. Do you like it? Jesse December 5 Dear Jesse, I like the picture a lot!!!!! I put it in my room. Melinda An Invitation To: Jesse Rose From: Melinda Skye Date: December 16, Friday Time: 7:30 p.m. Place: Memorial Auditorium Jesse--Melinda wants you to come watch her dance in the "Nutcracker Suite" next weekend. She is one of the cherubs in the dance company and will be in the front row. Perhaps your parents will bring you, and after the performance, you can all come backstage and say hello. Elana Skye (Melinda's mom) [Transcript from the VCR of Leonard and Elana Skye. Scene of backstage bedlam as girls dressed in tutus and leotards scurry around shrieking and giggling.] OFF-CAMERA VOICE OF LEONARD SKYE: Slow down, Princess. There's somebody here to see you. [Camera swings around to show Jesse and his parents. Jesse walks over to Melinda, hands her a pink rose wrapped in tissue.] JESSE: I liked . . . I mean, you danced real good. I stayed awake the whole time! MELINDA [giggles]: A rose? For me? [Glances up at camera] Look, Daddy, Jesse brought me a rose. A rose from a Rose. [Giggles again] ELANA [Steps into camera shot, bends down]: This iMcDaniel, Lurlene is the author of 'Rose for Melinda' with ISBN 9780553570908 and ISBN 0553570900.