Melody

Secrets, Bands, and Big Plans

School had been pretty good on Monday, and it just kept getting better. Allie was really becoming my friend, and Freya, Wren and Rose were well on their way too. On Tuesday, all five of us claimed a table together in the center of the canteen area. Allie soon stopped hanging out with the 'cool' group, admitting that she had never really liked them anyway. Freya still had her Thursday night book club, but she stayed with us most of the time. Wren had never had many friends because she was so shy, and Rose was the 'bad girl' in school who no-one wanted to be around, even though she was actually really nice (aside from her rebellious streak). Soon enough, we became our own little group, although we were (happily) the only group without a label from the other kids.

About that - labels. I thought it was a bit of a stupid concept, but what could I do about it? They're what the other kids see you as, but they had a hard time labeling us. We had bookworm Freya, but we weren't "nerds". We had popular Allie, but we weren't "cool". We had shy Wren, but we weren't what the other kids called "outsiders" - the people who were always on their own (a really rude label in my opinion). We had cheeky, rebellious Rose, but we weren't "bad". They didn't know what to make of us, and we liked it that way.

On Wednesday night, we had our first band practice. Freya had printed off some songs that we all liked, and after a couple of run-throughs, we were sounding really good. It was like before, in music class - when we played, there was nothing but the music. We were all in perfect timing with each other. 

When I got home later that night, I found Kaylie a bit grumpy. She had gotten home late from work, and Sam had to stay at his work for another two hours. 

"Hi, Kaylie." I called as I unpacked my school bag. 

"Hi, Isabella." Kaylie answered. "Where were you? I thought you were going to be home by five."

I glanced at the clock. Oops. It was quarter to six. "Sorry, I guess we run a bit overtime."

I walked into the kitchen, where Kaylie was throwing some leftover mac  cheese in the microwave. I took a seat at the kitchen bench, and after a moment, Kaylie joined me, the microwave whirring softly in the background.

She looked at me quizzically, then said, "What were you doing again?"

"I signed up to help the teachers prepare for the concert coming up. You know, decorations, lighting, stuff like that." I replied. "I'm doing it with a couple of friends." I had come up with that lie carefully. It wasn't so far from the truth, but it gave Kaylie and Sam no reason to suspect I was doing any music. 

"I'm glad you made friends, but don't let them interfere with your schoolwork, okay, Isabella?" Kaylie said, sounding satisfied. The microwave beeped, and Kaylie handed me a delicious-looking bowl of mac cheese. "Eat wherever you want tonight, I've got some things to do." Her eyes strayed to her work computer, which was sitting on top of a large pile of paperwork. I grabbed my dinner and rushed upstairs.

As soon as I was in my room with the door shut, I logged onto my computer and went onto Google. I had never had an email account before, but Allie had told me how to make one. 

I had to make up an email. As I stared at the computer, a tune started forming in my head. I hummed it absentmindedly, and words came to me that went with it. A song. I was making a song. I started singing it under my breath, matching the words to the tune, imagining how I could weave some piano in... maybe a bit of guitar, some bass in the background... and drums, definitely... 

The words spun around in my head, my voice singing them as they came. The melody slowly came together, and I finished the song, feeling the happiest I ever had at Kaylie and Sam's house.

Without thinking, I started typing an email address. When I saw it, I started smiling. Yes, that would work nicely.

To: DolphinGirl@gmail . com

SuperbFairyWren@gmail. com

FreyaD@gmail . com

ThornyRose@gmail. com

From: MelodySong@gmail. com

Hi, girls! It's Izzy. Practice today was fun... but if we're going to be a band, we  need a name. Any suggestions?

Reply

From: DolphinGirl@gmail.com

Hi, Izzy! You finally got an email address! :) Band name... maybe Beat Girls?

Xxx Allie

Reply

From: FreyaD@gmail.com

How about Dream On?

-Freya

Reply

From: ThornyRose@gmail.com

Ooh, I know! Crazy Division!

Rose xxoo

Reply

From: SuperbFairyWren@gmail .com

I like them all... but I saw Izzy's email address and I thought... How about Melody?

From,

Wren

Reply

From: FreyaD@gmail .com

Yes! That is the perfect band name for us! 

Reply

From: ThornyRose@gmail.com

I love it. Good job, Wren!

Reply

From: MelodySong@gmail.com

It's settled, then. Our band is called Melody. See you at school tomorrow!

Reply

From: DolphinGirl@gmail.com

See you at school!

I sat back in my chair and grinned. Our band had a name. Melody. I loved it - Wren was a genius. For once, I was excited about going to school, something that had never happened when Kaylie was homeschooling me. 

I had a band. I had friends. I could play music at school, and Sam and Kaylie could do nothing about it. I was actually going to a proper school, and enjoying it. At that moment, it seemed nothing could go wrong.

I tried to start singing my song again, determined to write it down this time, but instead of music, a yawn came out of my mouth. I looked at the clock on my computer - it was 11:00 already. Where had that time gone? Exhausted, I pulled on my pajamas and tumbled into bed.

In my dreams, Allie, Freya, Rose, Wren, and I were up on a stage in front of a huge crowd. Rose's shiny black guitar, now covered with an artistic splattering of paint, was in her hands, Freya held her red bass, Wren was seated at a magnificent grand piano, and Allie was at the drums. The bass drum had a treble clef on it, surrounded by letters, letters that spelled out 'Melody'. A microphone was in front of me. I grabbed it, and the crowd's roaring quieted as I opened my mouth to sing.