Chapter 9
TALENT SHOW ON MAY 31st AT 7:30PM.
THOSE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN PERFORMING IT, SIGN UP ON THE LIST BELOW THE PAPER.
REHEARSALS START NEXT MONDAY AT 3:30PM IN THE GYM.
After reading the advertisement, on the bulletin board, Melody took the pen and wrote down her name, along with her homeroom number (RM 13) and home phone number. As she was finishing writing down her phone number, a small boy about her age came up next to her.
"Is there still time for me to sign up?" he asked Melody. She turned to the boy. He had mousy black hair, with chocolate eyes, tanned skin, and dressed up in jeans and a white t-shirt.
"Yeah, it is not too late," Melody smiled. She stepped aside to let him write down his name.
"O..m..a.r...S..a..d..i..q," Melody read. "That is a pretty name,"
"Thanks," Omar blushed. "What is your name?"
"I'm Melody. Melody Sylvia Barnes,"
Just then another girl appeared, panting. She had been running. The girl had brown slightly curly hair in a half-ponytail. She was also wearing a blue skirt with a yellow t-shirt.
"It's… not..too… late… is..it?" she panted.
"No Rose, you can still sign up," Omar answered. After giving Rose the pen, she scribbled her name down.
"Rose, this is my new friend, Melody," said Omar, remembering the black-haired girl. "Melody, this is Rose,"
"Hi, Melody," smiled Rose.
"Hi, Rose," said Melody.
As the three kids walked down together to Recess, Melody felt a warm glow inside her heart.
Meanwhile, Ariel was at the grocery store, shopping with Flounder. While picking out apples, she couldn't help but feel a little bit guilty from last night.
Ugh! Why did I chicken out? I was going to ask Eric to come to Melody's show. I don't know why I panicked! Oh well. Maybe when he comes home, I'll try again.
"Ariel?"
Ariel snapped out of her thoughts. Flounder just came back with some whole grain bread and put them in the cart.
"Thanks, Flounder," said Ariel.
"Ariel, now that you are babysitting Melody, does that mean you don't want to be a teacher anymore?" Flounder inquired.
"No, Flounder," said Ariel. "I'll still apply. I only took the nanny job for to get better at caring for kids."
"Oh, that is good then! So how are you doing in the 'nanny business' anyway?"
"Well, so far, so good. Melody is a fun kid to be with. When we got home, she showed me her soccer trophies," Ariel explained.
"She likes playing soccer? I remember her telling me about her soccer games."
"Yes, Melody told me she loves playing soccer so much that she can do soccer tricks while sleeping!" Ariel and Flounder giggled.
"Flounder, what happened yesterday?" Ariel asked. Flounder was caught off-guard. Uh oh! She probably noticed his odd behavior from yesterday.
"What do you mean?" he said.
"You seemed tense, what is wrong?" Ariel asked.
"Nothing!" said Flounder. "I-I just-when you left…" he trailed off.
"Are you upset that I left?" Ariel asked, wondering if that is what was troubling him. Flounder nodded sheepishly.
"I know it has been a day, but I really miss you," Flounder confessed.
"Hey," said Ariel, as she hugged Flounder. "I miss you too, I know it is hard because of my busy schedule, I have a day off-every Sunday, so maybe we could do something together,"
"I guess," said Flounder. He'll be happy to spend time with Ariel, even for only a day.
"Somewhere next week on Friday or Saturday, I'll take Melody to the park, maybe we could hang out then,"
"Yeah, that sounds better!" said Flounder. "As long as it just the kid and not Mr. Barnes,"
"What makes you say that?" Ariel said.
" I don't know, the way he stared at you made it seem like he's crushing on you,"
"Flounder, don't be ridiculous," Ariel blushed. "He can't have a crush on me,"
"Well, do you have a crush on him?" Flounder asked.
"What! No!" Ariel denied, her face turning redder.
"You're lying," Flounder replied. "You can tell me."
Ariel try to deny it again, but couldn't. Normally, she is good liar and can fool her father and sisters just to save Flounder or herself from trouble but with Flounder, it's different.
"Oh, okay," Ariel sighed. "I..find Eric to be very handsome-but you can't tell anyone! Especially Father, do you promise?"
"I won't tell anyone," said Flounder. Ariel smiled, knowing that she can trust Flounder to keep her secret.
In the past, Melody never liked recess. Why would anyone want to play with a motherless kid? Whenever she saw a group of kids playing, and asked if she could join, one phrase, 'no motherless kids allowed,' broke her heart. Today is different, however.
"Do you guys want to play 'TV tag'"? Rose suggested.
"Sure!" said Omar.
"What's "tv tag"? Melody wondered.
"It is like tag, only except you have to squat down and say any name of a tv show before the person who is 'it' tags you," Rose explained.
"Yeah, and you can only say each title once. You can't say "Futurama," twice otherwise, you'll get tagged," Omar added. Melody nodded in understanding. The three friends began playing the game, starting with Omar being 'it'. ("Why am I always 'it'?" he grumbled). Rose and Melody laughed, having fun tricking Omar into not tagging them.
"You gotta catch me, faster!" Melody teased in a sing-song voice.
"Aw, man!" Omar whined. "I can't run fast!"
"Omar, you got to tag one of us, it's the rules of the game," said Rose in a matter-of-fact voice.
"How about I be 'it'?" Melody asked. "Would that make you feel better?"
"Okay," Omar beamed. Just then, a mean voice disrupted their fun.
"Why are you two playing with that loser?" Omar and the girls turned to see Anna, Joey, and Harry. The same kids that Melody met on her first day! Melody felt very small all the sudden.
"Back off, guys!" Rose barked. Omar didn't know who Anna, Joey, and Harry are but from their snickering looks, he could tell that they were mean. Besides, nobody calls his friend, a 'loser!'
"What do you guys got against her for?" He demanded. Anna, Joey, and Harry turned to Omar.
"None of your beeswax, brownie!" Joey sneered. Anna and Harry laughed. Omar, felt crushed, knowing that they were referring to his tone of skin. Hearing that remark, he was as mad as ever! Just before he could give them a 'knuckle-sandwhich,' Rose stepped in.
"Look guys! Stop picking on Omar and Melody! Go home if all y'all going to do is laugh like a bunch of hyenas! Go home and eat your undies! GO HOME!" The bell rang, before Anna and the boys could throw another insult.
As they walked away, they shouted, "Fine, but don't blame us if you got tired of hanging out with a motherless twit!"
School ended and all the kids went home except for one sad little girl and two concerned little kids. Melody tried not to blink but tears still swell up in her eyes. She curled up into a fetal position on the steps and cried.
"Melody, don't let those dorks get to you," said Rose. She was sitting next to Melody and tried to comfort her by patting her shoulder.
"What was that about?" Omar asked, referring to the bullies' interference. He, too, was sitting next to Melody.
"...Kids make fun of her because she doesn't have a mommy," Rose sighed. No mother! Omar felt sorry for Melody. Nobody deserves to be treated like that!
Just then, he heard an angelic voice calling Melody.
"Then, who is that red-haired lady coming toward us?" Omar raised an eyebrow. The girls turned to see who Omar was looking at. It was Ariel! She didn't know why Melody looked so gloomy but she ran very quickly to her.
"What happened?" she asked. Melody tried to answer but her sobs fumbled up her words.
"Anna, Joey, and Harry mocked her for not having a mommy," Rose answered for Melody.
"If Melody doesn't have a mommy, then who are you?" Omar asked Ariel.
"Oh, I'm sorry! I'm Ariel, Melody's nanny," Ariel responded.
"Ah, I see," said Omar. Ariel, meanwhile, felt sad and mad. Sad, that Melody is hurt. Oh! How she hated to see her cry! Mad, that someone would have the nerve to treat Melody like this!
"We should talk to the principal about this!," said Ariel, firmly, as she took Melody and went inside the school building. Rose and Omar followed her.
"Good idea!" said Omar.
Why didn't I think of that? Rose pouted.
"But Ariel! What if he doesn't listen?" Melody worried. None of her school principals listened to her about her bully problems so why should this one care?
"Don't worry if he doesn't listen, we'll still fix it," Ariel answered.
Meanwhile, Eric, was eating lunch during lunch break with Aladdin and Adam.
"Hey Eric," said Aladdin. "That cute blonde is checking you out!" Eric turned to see a pretty woman throwing him a flirty wink. He just said ignored her and turned back.
"Not interested." He replied. He knew that once he goes on a date with the blonde woman, she'd be proposing marriage, and he'd freak out.
"Man, you need to get out," Aladdin sighed. "You've been working too hard!"
"I don't need to get out," Eric retorted.
"Why not?" Adam asked, who just finished swallowing his food.
"I don't have time; I got a kid to feed!"
"Yes, but you need a break! You can't just sit in your office 24 hours a day, letting your life pass you by! You need someone someone special!" said Aladdin, waving his arms wildly. Eric just simply ignored him and took a sip from his water. Like he cared what Aladdin said.
"You need a wife," Adam added.
Eric spit water out all over the table. ("Eww," said Aladdin.)
"A WIFE! Oh no! Nooo way! Not going to happen!" He shook his head and waved his arms, wildly.
"But Eric-"
"No guys, you don't understand. Women are nothing but trouble! They trick you into thinking they are princesses when in reality, they are witches-scratch that! Witches with a 'b'"!
"You think all women are like that?" Adam confronted.
"C'mon, Eric, name one woman that is anything NOT like Vanessa,"
Before Eric could say 'forget about it,' he remembered Ariel. He remembered the way she smiled, the way she comforted Melody from the almost-car crash, the way she said hello.
"...Ariel," he said.
"Oo la la! Who's Ariel?" Aladdin smiled, wiggling his eyebrows.
"She's my nanny!" Eric said, feeling annoyed.
"So why are you blushing?" Adam smirked.
"I'm not blushing!" Eric claimed.
"Riiiight," said Aladdin. Eric, stood up and began to gather his half-eaten sandwich.
"Let's go, lunch is over!"
As he walked out, Adam turned to Aladdin.
"Looks like he probably found someone!" Aladdin agreed.
TALENT SHOW ON MAY 31st AT 7:30PM.
THOSE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN PERFORMING IT, SIGN UP ON THE LIST BELOW THE PAPER.
REHEARSALS START NEXT MONDAY AT 3:30PM IN THE GYM.
After reading the advertisement, on the bulletin board, Melody took the pen and wrote down her name, along with her homeroom number (RM 13) and home phone number. As she was finishing writing down her phone number, a small boy about her age came up next to her.
"Is there still time for me to sign up?" he asked Melody. She turned to the boy. He had mousy black hair, with chocolate eyes, tanned skin, and dressed up in jeans and a white t-shirt.
"Yeah, it is not too late," Melody smiled. She stepped aside to let him write down his name.
"O..m..a.r...S..a..d..i..q," Melody read. "That is a pretty name,"
"Thanks," Omar blushed. "What is your name?"
"I'm Melody. Melody Sylvia Barnes,"
Just then another girl appeared, panting. She had been running. The girl had brown slightly curly hair in a half-ponytail. She was also wearing a blue skirt with a yellow t-shirt.
"It's… not..too… late… is..it?" she panted.
"No Rose, you can still sign up," Omar answered. After giving Rose the pen, she scribbled her name down.
"Rose, this is my new friend, Melody," said Omar, remembering the black-haired girl. "Melody, this is Rose,"
"Hi, Melody," smiled Rose.
"Hi, Rose," said Melody.
As the three kids walked down together to Recess, Melody felt a warm glow inside her heart.
Meanwhile, Ariel was at the grocery store, shopping with Flounder. While picking out apples, she couldn't help but feel a little bit guilty from last night.
Ugh! Why did I chicken out? I was going to ask Eric to come to Melody's show. I don't know why I panicked! Oh well. Maybe when he comes home, I'll try again.
"Ariel?"
Ariel snapped out of her thoughts. Flounder just came back with some whole grain bread and put them in the cart.
"Thanks, Flounder," said Ariel.
"Ariel, now that you are babysitting Melody, does that mean you don't want to be a teacher anymore?" Flounder inquired.
"No, Flounder," said Ariel. "I'll still apply. I only took the nanny job for to get better at caring for kids."
"Oh, that is good then! So how are you doing in the 'nanny business' anyway?"
"Well, so far, so good. Melody is a fun kid to be with. When we got home, she showed me her soccer trophies," Ariel explained.
"She likes playing soccer? I remember her telling me about her soccer games."
"Yes, Melody told me she loves playing soccer so much that she can do soccer tricks while sleeping!" Ariel and Flounder giggled.
"Flounder, what happened yesterday?" Ariel asked. Flounder was caught off-guard. Uh oh! She probably noticed his odd behavior from yesterday.
"What do you mean?" he said.
"You seemed tense, what is wrong?" Ariel asked.
"Nothing!" said Flounder. "I-I just-when you left…" he trailed off.
"Are you upset that I left?" Ariel asked, wondering if that is what was troubling him. Flounder nodded sheepishly.
"I know it has been a day, but I really miss you," Flounder confessed.
"Hey," said Ariel, as she hugged Flounder. "I miss you too, I know it is hard because of my busy schedule, I have a day off-every Sunday, so maybe we could do something together,"
"I guess," said Flounder. He'll be happy to spend time with Ariel, even for only a day.
"Somewhere next week on Friday or Saturday, I'll take Melody to the park, maybe we could hang out then,"
"Yeah, that sounds better!" said Flounder. "As long as it just the kid and not Mr. Barnes,"
"What makes you say that?" Ariel said.
" I don't know, the way he stared at you made it seem like he's crushing on you,"
"Flounder, don't be ridiculous," Ariel blushed. "He can't have a crush on me,"
"Well, do you have a crush on him?" Flounder asked.
"What! No!" Ariel denied, her face turning redder.
"You're lying," Flounder replied. "You can tell me."
Ariel try to deny it again, but couldn't. Normally, she is good liar and can fool her father and sisters just to save Flounder or herself from trouble but with Flounder, it's different.
"Oh, okay," Ariel sighed. "I..find Eric to be very handsome-but you can't tell anyone! Especially Father, do you promise?"
"I won't tell anyone," said Flounder. Ariel smiled, knowing that she can trust Flounder to keep her secret.
In the past, Melody never liked recess. Why would anyone want to play with a motherless kid? Whenever she saw a group of kids playing, and asked if she could join, one phrase, 'no motherless kids allowed,' broke her heart. Today is different, however.
"Do you guys want to play 'TV tag'"? Rose suggested.
"Sure!" said Omar.
"What's "tv tag"? Melody wondered.
"It is like tag, only except you have to squat down and say any name of a tv show before the person who is 'it' tags you," Rose explained.
"Yeah, and you can only say each title once. You can't say "Futurama," twice otherwise, you'll get tagged," Omar added. Melody nodded in understanding. The three friends began playing the game, starting with Omar being 'it'. ("Why am I always 'it'?" he grumbled). Rose and Melody laughed, having fun tricking Omar into not tagging them.
"You gotta catch me, faster!" Melody teased in a sing-song voice.
"Aw, man!" Omar whined. "I can't run fast!"
"Omar, you got to tag one of us, it's the rules of the game," said Rose in a matter-of-fact voice.
"How about I be 'it'?" Melody asked. "Would that make you feel better?"
"Okay," Omar beamed. Just then, a mean voice disrupted their fun.
"Why are you two playing with that loser?" Omar and the girls turned to see Anna, Joey, and Harry. The same kids that Melody met on her first day! Melody felt very small all the sudden.
"Back off, guys!" Rose barked. Omar didn't know who Anna, Joey, and Harry are but from their snickering looks, he could tell that they were mean. Besides, nobody calls his friend, a 'loser!'
"What do you guys got against her for?" He demanded. Anna, Joey, and Harry turned to Omar.
"None of your beeswax, brownie!" Joey sneered. Anna and Harry laughed. Omar, felt crushed, knowing that they were referring to his tone of skin. Hearing that remark, he was as mad as ever! Just before he could give them a 'knuckle-sandwhich,' Rose stepped in.
"Look guys! Stop picking on Omar and Melody! Go home if all y'all going to do is laugh like a bunch of hyenas! Go home and eat your undies! GO HOME!" The bell rang, before Anna and the boys could throw another insult.
As they walked away, they shouted, "Fine, but don't blame us if you got tired of hanging out with a motherless twit!"
School ended and all the kids went home except for one sad little girl and two concerned little kids. Melody tried not to blink but tears still swell up in her eyes. She curled up into a fetal position on the steps and cried.
"Melody, don't let those dorks get to you," said Rose. She was sitting next to Melody and tried to comfort her by patting her shoulder.
"What was that about?" Omar asked, referring to the bullies' interference. He, too, was sitting next to Melody.
"...Kids make fun of her because she doesn't have a mommy," Rose sighed. No mother! Omar felt sorry for Melody. Nobody deserves to be treated like that!
Just then, he heard an angelic voice calling Melody.
"Then, who is that red-haired lady coming toward us?" Omar raised an eyebrow. The girls turned to see who Omar was looking at. It was Ariel! She didn't know why Melody looked so gloomy but she ran very quickly to her.
"What happened?" she asked. Melody tried to answer but her sobs fumbled up her words.
"Anna, Joey, and Harry mocked her for not having a mommy," Rose answered for Melody.
"If Melody doesn't have a mommy, then who are you?" Omar asked Ariel.
"Oh, I'm sorry! I'm Ariel, Melody's nanny," Ariel responded.
"Ah, I see," said Omar. Ariel, meanwhile, felt sad and mad. Sad, that Melody is hurt. Oh! How she hated to see her cry! Mad, that someone would have the nerve to treat Melody like this!
"We should talk to the principal about this!," said Ariel, firmly, as she took Melody and went inside the school building. Rose and Omar followed her.
"Good idea!" said Omar.
Why didn't I think of that? Rose pouted.
"But Ariel! What if he doesn't listen?" Melody worried. None of her school principals listened to her about her bully problems so why should this one care?
"Don't worry if he doesn't listen, we'll still fix it," Ariel answered.
Meanwhile, Eric, was eating lunch during lunch break with Aladdin and Adam.
"Hey Eric," said Aladdin. "That cute blonde is checking you out!" Eric turned to see a pretty woman throwing him a flirty wink. He just said ignored her and turned back.
"Not interested." He replied. He knew that once he goes on a date with the blonde woman, she'd be proposing marriage, and he'd freak out.
"Man, you need to get out," Aladdin sighed. "You've been working too hard!"
"I don't need to get out," Eric retorted.
"Why not?" Adam asked, who just finished swallowing his food.
"I don't have time; I got a kid to feed!"
"Yes, but you need a break! You can't just sit in your office 24 hours a day, letting your life pass you by! You need someone someone special!" said Aladdin, waving his arms wildly. Eric just simply ignored him and took a sip from his water. Like he cared what Aladdin said.
"You need a wife," Adam added.
Eric spit water out all over the table. ("Eww," said Aladdin.)
"A WIFE! Oh no! Nooo way! Not going to happen!" He shook his head and waved his arms, wildly.
"But Eric-"
"No guys, you don't understand. Women are nothing but trouble! They trick you into thinking they are princesses when in reality, they are witches-scratch that! Witches with a 'b'"!
"You think all women are like that?" Adam confronted.
"C'mon, Eric, name one woman that is anything NOT like Vanessa,"
Before Eric could say 'forget about it,' he remembered Ariel. He remembered the way she smiled, the way she comforted Melody from the almost-car crash, the way she said hello.
"...Ariel," he said.
"Oo la la! Who's Ariel?" Aladdin smiled, wiggling his eyebrows.
"She's my nanny!" Eric said, feeling annoyed.
"So why are you blushing?" Adam smirked.
"I'm not blushing!" Eric claimed.
"Riiiight," said Aladdin. Eric, stood up and began to gather his half-eaten sandwich.
"Let's go, lunch is over!"
As he walked out, Adam turned to Aladdin.
"Looks like he probably found someone!" Aladdin agreed.
