Remember, I’m here for you. Lenny and I will help however we can.
Elana
August 10
Dear Jesse,
Today we went to Walt Disney World. it’s really fun, but I wish you were here to go on the rides with me. You’d like my grandma too. She’s been sick, but she is feeling better now. Please don’t be too worried about your mom and dad.
Parents argue. It’s normal. I’ll be home before school starts.
Melinda
You’re invited!!!!
Who: Melinda Skye, age 8
What: A Birthday Party
When: August 31, 3:00 P.M.
Where: Melinda’s house
(Jesse, please come to my party because you are my best friend.)
Dear Jesse,
The music box you gave me is my favorite thing. Thank you a whole bunch. I know it must be tough, but don’t let Toby tease you about coming to my house after school now that your mom is at work. I know it isn’t much fun for you when I have dance class, but that’s only three days a week. The other days we have lots to do. I’ll get better at Nintendo. Maybe even beat you someday! Your idea of building a tree house is great. My dad said he would help us. And he will, too, because he always keeps his promises.
Melinda
September 12
Thank you for the baseball cards for my birthday. I did not invite you to a party, because I did not have one. Life is not very happy around my house. Coming to your house after school is great for me because it’s fun. I am glad we are still best friends. I wish my mom and dad were happy like your mom and dad. You made my birthday a good one anyway. Thanks, Melinda.
Jesse
Greetings from the Atlanta Skyes!
Another year finds us all well and happy. We’ll begin with Lenny, who continues to earn seniority at America South Air Lines and rack up the miles as a pilot. We can’t believe he’s flown the equivalent of twice around the earth in the few years he’s been with the airline. For fun, he continues to terrorize local golfers with his formidable swing, and he says that his goal in life is to play every major course in the states before he’s fifty. (Golfers of America, you have been warned!)
I continue to chase after Melinda, who keeps me on the go with her ballet classes and school projects. Between helping sew costumes at the dance studio and running publicity for the upcoming presentation of The Nutcracker (in which Melinda will dance in the corps), I haven’t had time to catch my breath this fall. I also chaired the autumn auction and fund-raiser for the local children’s hospital. I’m pleased to say we met our goal! In fact, they’ve asked me to chair the event again next year, and of course I said yes.
As for Melinda, she’s loving school, dance and more dance. We never dreamed she’d stick with it the way she has, but she’s been fanatical about becoming a ballerina since she was five, so what can we do except support her?
My mom, in Florida, continues to decline in health, but she won’t move into a care facility no matter how much I beg. She says, “I don’t want to live in one of those. They’re full of old people.”
Sure hope this finds all our friends and family happy and healthy and ready to take on the New Year. Peace on Earth!
The Skyes
March 12
Dear Jesse,
I am very sorry you fell out of the tree house and broke your arm. Mom says that we can’t play Batman and Batgirl up in the tree anymore. I guess we should have waited for my dad to tie the rope on the branch, because our knot wasn’t a good one. My mom will make you good lunches while you stay at my house so your mother can go to work, and I’ll bring your homework every day until you can come back to school. I think your cast is kind of neat. Thanks for letting me be the first to sign it. Please don’t let Toby sign it. He’s mean.
Melinda, your (Bat) friend
Elana and Lenny,
How can I thank you enough for all the help you’ve given me this school year? I wouldn’t have made it without you, and neither would Jesse. He talks about Melinda and both of you constantly. You are so kind to include him in your family outings. And your offer to let him spend the summer at your house while I work is overwhelmingly generous. With my family way out in California, and John’s in New York, I really don’t have anyone to watch my son, and a day care center isn’t where he wants to be.
As you know, John and I are separating. I’m not sure what I’ll do when third grade begins in the fall, but something will work out one way or another. I feel blessed that you are so generous and kind to us.
As ever,
Ann
November 2
Dear Grandma,
Third grade is fun. Lots more homework, but I like my new teacher. My friend Jesse and I are in different classrooms this year, but he still comes over after school and we do our homework together. Guess what? Jesse now can sleep over when his mom goes out of town, because Mom fixed up the room in the basement. Jesse’s mom went to California this week, so Jesse’s staying with us, and it’s fun to do homework and go to school together. He’s better than a brother, I’m sure.
Here’s really good news! Mrs. Houston picked ME to dance the part of Clara in The Nutcracker this year. You know how much I love to dance. Someday I will be a famous ballerina, so stay healthy so you can come see me when I get to dance on the great stage.
For Halloween, me and Jesse dressed up like Frankenstein (Jesse) and Miss Piggy (me). Mom stuffed my leotard with foam padding and Dad made a pig snout for me. Mom took pictures and said she’ll send some to you. Jesse and I cleaned up in the candy department. We got a ton. But don’t worry, I won’t eat it all (at once … ha-ha). Did a lot of kids knock on your door? I still like little bags of chocolate kisses best.
Well, I guess that’s it for now. I’ll write again real soon.
XXXOOO Melinda
P.S. I LOVE the diary you gave me for my birthday, and I write in it every night. When I’ve filled it up, I’m getting another one! It feels great to write down my feelings.
Seasons Greetings
Dear friends and family,
It’s hard to begin a holiday letter on a sad note, but I must. After eleven years of marriage, John and I have agreed to split. This has not been an easy decision for either of us, but it is a necessary one.
Our house is on the market, and over the holidays Jesse and I will be moving to Santa Cruz, where we will live in the house I grew up in. I’m so glad I didn’t sell it after my dad died last year. It should be a good place to resettle, and I have plans for us once we’re there. I will work and also attend college so I can earn credits toward a degree in education. John has already moved out. He’s taken a position with a company in New York.
Our new address is on the envelope of this letter and on the enclosed sheet. Our e-mail address remains the same. Please keep us in your thoughts. I must admit, Jesse is having a very hard time with all of this. But what child wouldn’t? Maybe next year life will look brighter for us.
We still send our best wishes for a happy holiday!
Ann and Jesse
TO: Ballerina Girl
Subject: New Home
I am in California, but I don’t like it here. I miss my dad. I miss my old friends, I miss my house, and most of all, I miss you and your mom and dad. I don’t like my new school, and I have to go to an after-school program now. I don’t like that either. I think about the fun we used to have, my special room at your house, and how great you and your parents were to me. I feel so lucky because I have those memories. I wish things were the way they used to be. I hope you will e-mail me A LOT!
How are things for you? How’s school? When you are a famous ballerina, please don’t forget me. Please.
Jesse
Name: Melinda Skye
Date: September 10
Mrs. Garner, 6th grade
What I Did on My Summer Vacation
This summer was a dream come true! I went to dance camp in Tampa for two whole weeks! My ballet instructo
r in Atlanta, Mrs. Houston, learned that prima ballerina Petrina Milicoff, who once danced with the Bolshoi Ballet in Moscow, was offering summer classes to promising students. Mrs. Houston recommended me! My mother sent in my application plus a videotape of me performing. I received a letter of acceptance in June, right after school was out. I was so excited that I didn’t sleep for days.
When the date finally arrived, Mom and I flew to Tampa, where I spent the hardest (and best!) two weeks of my life in a dance studio with Ms. Milicoff. Twenty-five girls were invited. Only three of us were twelve years old. Ms. Milicoff said I have “the look of a dancer” (which is not too tall or too short, long neck, long legs, and small bones). She encouraged me to continue my training in Atlanta and said that when I turn sixteen, I should try out for the corps of a troupe that travels to Europe during the summers. Sixteen seems like a long way off when I want something as much as I want this!
The other thing that happened this summer is I made a new friend. In August, the house across the street was sold (it’s been empty for ages!) and Bailey Taylor—who is exactly my age (her birthday’s July fourth!)—moved in with her parents, her twin half sisters (six years old), a dog and two cats. When I found out she was coming to Rosswell Middle School, I promised to be her friend. Bailey doesn’t dance; she plays the flute (but she hates to practice). She reads tons of teen magazines and knows all the latest fashion news.
That’s most of what happened to me over the summer. It’s changed me some. If possible, I want to be a ballerina more than ever.
Melinda,
I’m in boring English and decided to write to you instead of taking boring English notes. I mean, who wants to know about Louisa May Alcott and her boring book? Besides, I already read one of her books at my school in Virginia. When we walk home today, let’s stop off at the Jiffy Store and buy some teen magazines so we can figure out what’s hot this fall. I have five dollars that I got for baby-sitting my bratty sisters.
Oh, before I forget, do you know Richie Manetta? He keeps staring at me and I don’t want to let him know it matters. Unless, of course, he’s really cool. Then I want to let him know it matters. But if he’s totally a brick I will ignore him. Your word is the law!
Bailey
MELINDA’S DIARY
November 16
All Bailey talks about is getting a boyfriend. She asked me if I’ve ever had one and I told her I have a friend boy—a best friend who moved away but keeps in touch. That’s Jesse, of course! He’s not a boyfriend in the romantic sense. At least not for me. (He still sends me birthday and Christmas cards from California.) OK, so maybe I’m being a little dishonest, but Bailey asked a hundred questions, so I dug out my memory box and showed her pictures of him. (Good thing he sent his school picture this year!)
Bailey said he is really cute (which he is, but I never thought about it). And then she started pumping me about whether I’d ever kissed him and stuff like that. I told her I didn’t want to get too personal, but she was like a dog with a bone and told me all about the boys she’s kissed and blah-blah-blah. More information than I wanted. But it has made me think about being kissed. I wonder what it feels like? And as long as I’m thinking about it, I guess I’d rather kiss Jesse than any of the guys at school. Not that I’ll probably ever see him again. Still, it’s fun to think about.…
Not that I have time for a boyfriend. Ballet and school take up almost every minute of my life … except for the small part Bailey takes up asking dumb questions!
Hi and Merry Christmas!
Thanks for the photos you sent on the Web. You look really pretty in your ballet dress, and I know you must have danced really great in The Nutcracker this year. I still remember the time I went backstage when we were in first grade. I thought you were pretty then too. I hope you remember.
I’m into skateboarding big-time and I’m in a competition in March, so I’m doing a lot of practicing at a park near my house where all us boarders hang. Mom’s still in school and working. The other big news is that my dad remarried and now I have two stepbrothers. Dad wants me to visit them this summer in New York. I don’t really want to go, but I’ll have to. He tries to keep in touch, but now that he has a new family the divorce seems even harder on Mom.
I’ll send you postcards from the city. Maybe we can e-mail each other too while I’m there. I know you’ll probably be going to some dance school this summer, but I still think about the fun we had when we were kids. I sort of miss it. You have the best family and I used to wish my dad was more like yours. Instead, I have a dad that’s like mine.
Your e-mails to me make me feel good. Have a good holiday and give a special hi to your great parents. Mom may take me up to the mountains to ski for a Christmas present!
Jesse
February 21
Jesse,
We had to make an emergency trip to Florida because my grandma is dying. I’m freaked. I really love her and I can’t imagine never seeing her again. I’m so sad. So sad.
___________________________________________________________
This is in two parts because Grandma died yesterday. The funeral is the day after tomorrow. I can’t stop crying. More later.
Melinda
To all your family,
Jesse and I are so sorry about the loss of Melinda’s grandmother and your mother, Elana. We both send our love.
With sympathy, Ann and Jesse Rose
Hi friend,
I’m so glad you’re home from Florida and I’m so sorry about your grandmother. I was almost five when my grandpa died, but I remember it like it was yesterday. Mom and Dad had just divorced and Dad had dropped out of our lives (whereabouts still unknown). Mom cried a lot. I was scared because I thought she might die too and then who was going to take care of me? Instead, she married Bill and had Brenda and Paula and talked about how much Grandpa would have loved seeing them and how they’d grow up and never get to know him. Which hurt my feelings because she never once mentioned how much he liked ME, or how much fun Grandpa and I used to have together.
Well, I didn’t mean to go on about myself. Here’s some happy news: My cat Bubbles is going to have kittens. Do you think your parents will let you have one? If so, you can pick out any one of the litter you want. Sort of in memory of your grandma.
Bailey
Bailey!
Mom said I can have the kitten! And I will always love her and take care of her. You are a true friend!
Melinda
MELINDA’S DIARY
April 4
I love my kitten! She’s pure white except for a black mask around her eyes, like Zorro. Jesse tells me I should name her Zorita because she’s a female. Zorita sounds pu-r-r-rfect, so that’s her name.
How are you, Jesse?
I’m fine. How’s Zorita?
Cute as ever. There’s somebody here I want you to meet.
Hi, Jesse. This is Bailey. I’m over at Melinda’s house and we’re IM’ing you together.
Hi, Bailey. Melinda says you play the flute.
That makes me sound so nerdy, and I’m not. I’m a real babe!
Yes, she’s Bailey the Babe. All the guys at school think so. Ouch! Bailey just slugged my arm for telling you she’s popular with the boys.
Don’t slug Melinda! I’ll be forced to polish you off like I did Toby Gillman. That’s a story you can ask Melinda to tell you sometime.
Who’s Toby? Someone tell me!
I just told her he was my tormentor in first grade. Now she’s really impressed because you defended me. You were my hero!
That was then. What about now?
You still are!
Oh p-u-l-ease! I know when I’m being shut out. Nice to meet you J. Adios.
Write me when you get back from New York. Okay? I’ll keep my fingers crossed that you like your “new” family.
I hope so too.… B
ye.
TO: Ballerina Girl
Subject: My New York Trip
The visit is over and I’m glad to be home. Because NY could never be home for me. The first week was awkward, everyone being extra polite and all. My stepbrothers, Richie and Darrin, didn’t know how to treat me. They played games on their computer until Dad chewed them out for ignoring me. Neither one is very athletic. Dad got all over them, but it didn’t make them want to hang with me at all. If we did do something together, it was just to be polite. His new wife, Donna, was nice to me, but she works, so she was not there during the day much.
Dad took ten days off work and we took trips into the city and out to some woods for hiking. That was okay. Sight-seeing highlights included the top of the Empire State Building, the ferry to Staten Island and the Statue of Liberty. One day Dad took us all to Yankee Stadium for a ball game, but it rained! We sat around for an hour waiting for it to clear up.
Truth is, Dad and I don’t have much to talk about. We’re strangers. That really hurts. When he put me on the plane home, we just stood there looking at each other. He said, “If you ever want to spend a summer here, just say the word.” I know he wanted me to hug him, but I didn’t want to. So I just said thanks and got on the plane. When I was younger, I used to dream about him begging me to come live with him and I would say no, hoping to hurt his feelings real bad. I still feel he shouldn’t have left me and Mom. He shouldn’t have. Your parents are so perfect. Maybe this is hard for you to understand—but thanks for being there to let me get it off my chest.
Jesse
TO: Ballerina Girl
Subject: Happy Birthday to my most Beloved Daughter!!!!