Melody was tired and sore, but still had plenty of fight left in her. Union High School was hosting the girls’ volleyball district semifinals game, and the Chieftains had struggled all night. The gymnasium was packed with students, parents, and fans from both schools. Becky was on the sidelines with her camera and Barbara sat in the bleachers watching her daughter, amazed at her athletic ability. Winning by the score of 15-8, the first set was an easy victory for the visiting Paw Paw Redskins. They overpowered Melody’s team and were extremely fast. Union High had not lost a game by that wide a deficit all season and the home crowd side of the gym was shocked into silence. After Coach Heucke made some adjustments, they lost again, 15-10. Melody and the Chieftains fought back, and thanks to some saves and excellent plays on her part, they managed to win the third set 15-12. Melody, along with the rest of her team, knew there was a very slim chance of winning the next two sets to win the match and save their season, but they were determined.
Melody looked over at Carrie Landers who was talking to Coach Heucke. She could not hear what they were discussing, but Carrie was talking very excitedly while her coach was trying to calm her down. Melody liked Carrie and thought she was the best captain she had seen since her freshman year. She did not want to let her and the rest of the seniors down. Carrie came back onto the court and the fourth set began.
Again, the Redskins were fast, and hit the ball hard. Wherever there was a hole in the Chieftain defense, they seemed to find it and take advantage. Union High was again on its heels as the Redskins continued to outplay them. Coach Heucke made two more substitutions when the score was 12-8, but it made little difference. Melody was frustrated but kept her composure. She almost believed the Paw Paw team had too many girls on their side of the net. Whenever a Chieftain went for a kill, it was either blocked, or easily returned. The Chieftains had lost their unity and were breaking apart. Finally, with the score 14-9, the Redskins served for game point, and the match.
Melody was in the center of the back row when the serve came over the net. The volleyball came directly at her like a bullet, but she successfully bumped it to Maria, who occupied the front left position. Maria then set it up for Carrie who was front center. Carrie timed the ball and jumped to spike it over the net as the defense took position to block. Unfortunately, Maria had not returned to her position quickly enough. She was too close to the net, leaving an opening behind Carrie’s left side. Melody recognized the situation but was too late. As soon as Paw Paw blocked Carrie’s spike, the ball came down exactly where Melody had predicted. Melody launched herself towards the floor with extended arms but was not quick enough. The ball hit the floor just in front of Melody’s fingertips and bounced away. Although her forearms absorbed most of the fall, Melody struck her chin on the highly polished wooden floor. Melody let out a cry of pain as she saw stars, but no one heard her over the cheers of the visiting crowd.
Maria bent down to help her up. “Melody!” she cried.
Melody accepted her assistance and stood while the rest of the team surrounded her to make sure she was alright. Melody rubbed her chin and asserted that she was fine. She then faced Carrie to apologize. “I’m sorry, Carrie. I didn’t see the hole in time.”
“It’s OK,” Carrie said. “It’s been a rough night. C’mon, let’s go.”
The two teams lined up and shook hands in a show of sportsmanship. Melody smiled and congratulated each player, trying to hide her disappointment. One Paw Paw player asked if she was OK. The Chieftains then returned to their sideline to face their coach who remained emotionless.
“Good effort tonight,” Coach Heucke said. “I’m proud of all of you. You did your best and that’s all anyone could ask for. We went down fighting.”
Despite the kind words, Coach Heucke was already mentally preparing for next season. If they were going to get to the regional championship matches, they were going to have to get past Paw Paw. After a team huddle and cheer, the team dispersed to find their individual fan bases. Becky came running up to Melody.
“What were you trying to do? Break your pretty face?” she asked. “Are you alright?”
“Yeah. I guess,” Melody answered. “It would have hurt less if I had saved the ball.” Becky hugged her tight and kissed her on the cheek as Barbara looked on disapprovingly.
***
Winter, as usual, had come too soon for Melody. Again, she braved the Michigan weather, going to both school and work with Christmas vacation on her mind. She had been working hard with her studies and felt overdue for a break. It was during this time that Melody and Becky worked out their own code. Two random nouns spoken together describing red objects, was Melody’s way of saying ‘I love you.’ Likewise, Becky used two blue nouns. They found this to be convenient at school, work, and on the phone. On the first Saturday morning of winter vacation, Melody called Becky to tell her the exciting news that her father had announced last night.
“Becky, you will never guess what!” she said as soon as Becky answered.
“What?”
“My Uncle Frank and Aunt Holly are stationed at Virginia Beach. We’re flying there Monday to spend the holidays with them! Becky, I’m going to see the ocean for the very first time. Can you believe it!”
“Oh my God, that’s great!” Becky exclaimed with genuine enthusiasm. “You are finally getting out of this town, at least for a little while.”
“I can’t wait. I’ll bring you back some cool stuff; I promise. I’m gonna get some beach sand for us too. I work today, but I will have to tell them that I’ll be gone until after the new year,” Melody said.
“Do you realize we’ve never gone this long without seeing each other?” Becky asked.
Melody lowered her voice even though her parents were upstairs. “I’m gonna miss you.”
“I’m gonna miss you too, but I’m happy for you. I’m glad you are going. I know how much you love your aunt. You haven’t seen her in a while. You’ll be back before you know it.”
The girls talked for a few more minutes, promising that they would be on each other’s minds. When Melody heard footsteps coming down the staircase, she said, “I got to go. Strawberry stop sign.”
“Blueberry sky.”
***
Despite the traffic, holiday airport crowd, uncomfortable seat, pressure in her ears, and a crying baby in the seat behind her, Melody was too excited to complain about anything during her flight. She had the window seat just behind the left wing and had watched in awe as the plane left the ground while she was thrust back against her seat. She observed the flight attendants in their official looking uniforms and wondered if it could be something she would be interested in doing. She pictured herself and Becky sharing an apartment in Florida, and working together, flying all over the country. She made a mental note to suggest this after she returned home. It was only a two-hour flight, and in no time, the aircraft was taxiing to the Norfolk terminal. After the plane came to a stop and the signal was given, passengers rose, grabbed their bags, and slowly made their way down the aisle. After departing the plane and collecting their luggage, the Mivsheks met Frank and Holly.
“Oh my God, is that Melody?” Aunt Holly exclaimed as their eyes locked.
“Aunt Holly!” Melody called out while running to her. They embraced with genuine joy as if they were long lost sisters. With all the initial greetings complete, everyone made their way to the parking lot. Melody watched Uncle Frank load the trunk and strap the rest of the luggage to the roof rack. When everything was secured, Melody got into the back seat with her parents.
“It’s warm here!” Melody observed.
“Only to you,” Uncle Frank laughed. “When you come from Michigan, it’s warmer everywhere, trust me, these Virginians are a might cold.”
Thankfully, it took less than half an hour to get to the military housing residences. After Frank pulled into his driveway and cut the ignition, both Douglas and Barbara sighed in relief. They were ready to relax. Melody, on the other hand, was just getting started. “How far are we from Chesapeake Bay? Can we go tonight?”
“Melody!” Barbara protested. “We just got here. Let’s get our suitcases inside.”
“We’ve been expecting this future beach bum,” Uncle Frank teased. “Melody, you take it easy tonight and get some rest. Tomorrow is a day you will not soon forget. We have the whole day planned out just for you.”
Melody made sure Aunt Holly got caught up with her life that night. She told her aunt all about her classes, McDonald’s, and volleyball, but kept Becky a secret. Holly was attentive and also told Melody what she had been up to. She had taken up cycling and was working at a general store. She also mentioned that this would be Uncle Frank’s last duty station and would be retiring soon. Melody asked where they were planning to retire.
“We don’t know yet,” Holly admitted. “We’ve talked about Hawaii, but it’s so far away. We’ve been here over a year and we both find it agreeable, so we might stay for a while. We’ve also talked about going back to San Diego. I guess we are pretty much up in the air right now. We have time to decide. No rush.”
***
As promised, Uncle Frank did have a day of sight-seeing planned. Melody had her first chance to see the ocean when they all drove out to see the Cape Henry lighthouse. Uncle Frank explained they were on the southern entrance of Chesapeake Bay and George Washington himself had authorized the lighthouse’s construction. After climbing to the top, the view left Melody speechless. She no longer had to imagine what the ocean smelled like. She breathed in deeply, savoring the salty aroma blowing in from the shore. Her senses came alive as she felt the cold wind blow on her face and whip her hair. As the sunlight sparkled like diamonds on the waves, Melody envied her uncle who had spent almost twenty years of his life seeing the oceans of the world. “Oh, Mama, isn’t it fabulous!”
Barbara only smiled and nodded. As she watched the expressions on her daughter’s face, Barbara knew her time with Melody was growing short. Melody’s heart had ached all her life for this moment, and now she was hooked. With melancholy in her heart, Barbara looked out over the horizon without understanding how Melody, or anyone, could be so taken with the ocean.
“How could Lake Michigan be any less grand in her eyes?” Barbara thought. “If Melody wants to live by the water, she can move to Benton Harbor or South Haven, somewhere close by. Why the ocean? What power does it hold over her?”
As soon as Barbara asked herself, she knew the answer. Her brother Frank was the same way, and it was no wonder he had made a career out of the navy. After his first day at sea, he knew he had found what he was looking for. Barbara saw the peace in Melody’s eyes. It was the same look her brother had the very first time he came home on leave.
Frank then took the family to his favorite crab shack. From the road, it appeared to be a run-down old shanty, but once they were inside, it had a comfy atmosphere. Nautical decorations and artwork covered the walls. The staff wore old fashioned sailor uniforms, and unfamiliar aromas came from the kitchen. The family was seated at a large oak table and given menus. The waitress told them she would be back in a moment to get their drink orders. Melody looked at the menu and though she knew what these creatures were, she had no idea what they tasted like.
“Aunt Holly, do you eat here?” she asked.
“Of course! We come here often.”
“I have no idea where to even begin,” Melody admitted
“Well, I’ll tell you what,” Aunt Holly said as she flipped Melody’s menu to the next page. “We can both order this, the sampler. That way you can try everything. What you don’t like you can give to me, and what you do like, I’ll give you mine.”
The service was fast and not long after everyone had placed their orders, the food arrived. A plate with clam strips, steamed oysters, crab legs, a catfish fillet, and fried okra was set before Melody. She was also provided with a cup of melted butter, a cup of cocktail sauce, and lemon wedges.
Uncle Frank, amused by her confusion, said, “Melody, just start digging in anywhere.”
Melody began eating and was amazed. Her taste buds were now sharing in the day’s delights along with her other senses. She ate everything without offering anything to her aunt. She liked the fish and clams the best. The crab meat was good, though she had difficulty breaking the shells. Melody was surprised at how much she enjoyed the oysters after they were dipped in butter, and she liked the okra when it was hot. It was not as appetizing after it cooled down. She would know next time to eat the okra faster.
“Well Honey, what do you think?” Uncle Frank asked when he saw that Melody had finished everything.
“Thank you, Uncle Frank!” she said. “That was a meal fit for royalty!”
“Just wait until you are old enough to have a beer with it!”
Shortly after the meal was finished, they were all back in the car and headed towards the next destination that only Frank and Holly knew. Melody had asked for a window seat so she could see better. She was amazed at how tiny and insignificant Dowagiac now seemed. Virginia Beach had more stores and shops than it probably needed, and there was so much more to do. She tried to imagine what it was like during the summertime, with local sun worshipers and vacationing tourists. Melody wondered if she could convince her parents to let her and Becky visit in the summer, before they started their senior year of high school. Melody now thought about Becky and began to feel guilty. While she was having such an amazing time on her first day, poor Becky was alone in Dowagiac without her. Becky probably had nothing better to do than work extra shifts at McDonald’s and study her Spanish. Melody felt a little better when she thought about all the stuff she would bring back for her. She was so lost in thought; she didn’t notice the car had been parked.
“Well, here we are!” Uncle Frank announced, turning his head over his shoulder.
“Where?” Melody asked, momentarily bewildered as she came back to reality.
“Why, Virginia Beach of course! This is it!”
Melody looked and saw the ocean approximately fifty yards away. She gasped as she reached for the door handle. The door swung open as Melody leapt out. She did not wait for anyone, but instead took off running.
“Melody!” her mother called out, but it was too late. Melody was sprinting like a deer and was not stopping for anything.
The four adults exited the car and walked through the parking lot at a leisurely pace. They soon stepped off the curb and began walking over a small sand dune. When they reached the other side, they witnessed a scene that could best be politely described as irrational. Melody’s family, along with everyone else in the immediate vicinity, had their complete attention focused on the young blond girl who had apparently lost her mind.
Melody had discarded her shoes and socks in the sand along with her jacket and had rolled up her jeans to just below the knee. After rolling in the sand, she got to her feet, looked up at the sky, extended her arms, and spun like a top, all while laughing maniacally. When dizziness overtook her, she began doing cartwheels. Barbara was so shocked by her daughter’s behavior that she could not even call out her name.
Melody then ran along the wet sand as the small waves lapped at her feet. The water was ice cold, but she was too ecstatic to realize the soles of her feet had already gone numb. She stopped running and pushed her toes into the wet sand, watching in amazement as the water went over her ankles. She walked in deeper, halfway up her calves, before coming to her senses. Melody knew she could not stay in the water much longer, but there was one thing left she had to do. Something she had dreamed about ever since falling in love with Flipper on Saturday mornings. She reached down, gathered up some water with cupped hands, and splashed her face. At long last she had finally kissed the sea, and now her heart would forever belong to it. Melody splashed her face two more times before her feet demanded warmth and exited the water as if they had a will of their own.
Now realizing how cold her feet were, Melody began stomping the dry sand, trying to bring feeling back to her toes. It was when she began running in place that she noticed she was being watched by curious strangers and a stunned family. It was her mother who spoke first.
“Melody! Is it necessary to make such a spectacle of yourself?”
“Mama, we’re on vacation. Nobody knows me here!” Melody answered with complete innocence.
“That doesn’t mean you need to catch pneumonia!”
“Your mother’s right,” Uncle Frank said. “Dry those feet with your jacket and get your shoes and socks back on. Let’s not get hypothermia.”
Melody did as she was told and dressed her feet. The five of them walked down the shore but did not stay long. The adults wanted to get Melody home and into a hot shower, despite her protests.
“Oh, there’s nothing on earth more beautiful than a beach!” Melody proclaimed to her Aunt Holly as they returned to the car. “I can’t wait to go swimming when it’s warm and get the salt in my hair!”
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