Aj and Denise walked back into the living room. Everybody was chatting with Melody trying to make her feel better. While they were gone Brian had suggested going to pick up Chinese and bring it back.
“I’ll get it,” Nick volunteered.
“Kevin and I will go with you. There are a lot of people here, so you’ll need help carrying it,” Brian said, pulling himself from his spot on the floor.
“Here, let me give you some money,” Mr. Hartford offered.
“No, my treat,” Brian said, refusing the money.
“Our treat,” Kevin corrected him. They got everybody’s order before they left.
“I’m really sorry, but I have to go. I had planned a meeting, and I can’t miss it. If I didn’t I would have stayed, but you know how things go. Goodbye Melody, I’ll come back and visit again before Saturday,” Denise said. Aj shot his mom a dirty look, he knew the meeting wouldn’t start for another five hours. Aj could tell she was up to something. After Denise left everyone started his or her conversation again.
“Melody do you remember the first time we met in third grade?” Suzy asked her. Melody nodded and smiled at the memory.
“Okay class, today we are going to the computer lab,” Mrs. Richie informed the class. They immediately lined up, ready to go. Melody got in the line towards the end next to her friend Jill. They were best friends, and they never could stop talking.
“Melody, Jill, stop it right now! I won’t have you two giggling all class. Melody you work with Suzy, she just moved here and doesn’t have an assigned partner yet. Melody grumbled and sat down next to Suzy once they had reached the lab.
“No, I get to use the computer first!” Melody yelled at Suzy, as Suzy had already started the math game they were supposed to be using. Suzy kept going, and Melody was already in a bad mood because she had to work with someone besides Jill. Melody pulled Suzy’s hand off the keyboard violently.
“Owww, you bent my fingers back!!” Suzy exclaimed.
Melody laughed a little, “I hated you when I first met you.”
“I know, but then you had problems with Jill, and I was there for you. That’s when we became friends. You needed someone to help you, and just to be there and care. Remember that, and remember that I am still here for you,” Suzy told her.
“Thanks Suzy, I know.”
“Hey, me too!” Vallery exclaimed.
“I love you too Val,” Melody said, patting her on the head like a puppy.
“What are we going to say to everyone?” Suzy said suddenly.
“What are you going to say to whom?” Melody asked, confused.
“All your friends at school. You know, Tiffany, Christina, Jess, Carinne, Desiree, Caitlin, Matt, Carl, Kandi, Trisha, Vikki, Mike, Sheila, Laura, Kurt, Alisa, Karen, Amanda, Bj,”
“Okay, stop, I get your point!”
“So what are we supposed to tell them?”
“I did think about that once, and I was gonna ask you two to do a favor for me.”
“What?” Vallery and Suzy said at the same time.
“Could you have the school make an announcement on the first day of school?”
“Of course, what do you want them to say?” Vallery said.
“I want them to say I passed away over break, and that I wanted to say goodbye to all of my friends and to thank them for being there for me whenever I needed them.”
Vallery was busy writing down what Melody said. She wrote ‘A student of Arundel High has passed away. Melody Hartford passed away of heart troubles over break. Her only request was to say goodbye to each of her friends and thank them for always being there. Melody will be missed.’
While Melody was talking, she had not even noticed her mom leave the room until she had returned. Melody noticed a large black book in her hands.
“It’s my photo album, its all pictures of you as you’ve grown up,” Mrs. Hartford said, handing the book to Melody. She opened the book and flipped through the pictures.
“That’s your first steps, and you’re first friend, do you remember him?”
“Yes, I do. His name was Christian and he lived next door,” Melody said, running her finger over the old picture. They flipped through the pages of memories. Melody recognized each and every picture. All the things that were so dear to her were in that album. A school picture from each year, her family, her friends, her life. My whole life wrapped up in a small album, she thought. Melody began to cry again.
“How could my life be so short that it can all be wrapped up in a few pictures?” she asked out loud.
“Melody, your life couldn’t be wrapped up in a million pages of pictures. You are so special and so wonderful, no one could ever describe you with so little. If I could be as great a person as you for one day, I would die the next day the happiest man alive,” Aj said, leaning over the back of the chair and wrapping his arms around her.
All of the sudden there was a knock on the door. Howie opened it, since he was still standing there. Brian, Kevin, and Nick walked in, arms loaded with food.
“Time to eat,” Brian announced, holding up a bag.
“I guess we can all just eat in here, I’ll go grab some plates, silverware and napkins,” Mrs. Hartford said, bustling into the kitchen.
