Melody drove home hoping she could go to bed without having to answer any questions. Her father always waited up for her when she worked late, but there was a chance he would be in front of the television and not notice her reddened eyes. Surprisingly, her father could read her better than her mother, and could usually tell when something was wrong. When Melody came through the door, her father was standing next to the refrigerator.
“Melody, you’re late,” he said. “I was getting worried.”
“Sorry,” Melody answered. “We had a late rush and I stayed behind to help clean up.”
Her father eyed her suspiciously but said nothing. He then opened the refrigerator door and took out a can of soda. “As long as you’re home safe,” he said. “You doing OK? Seems you’ve been acting differently since school started back up. Want to talk about anything?”
“I’m OK, Daddy,” Melody said. “You always see me on Friday when I’ve had work and school all day. I’m just tired. I’ll be back to normal in the morning.”
“OK, Dear. I won’t keep you. Goodnight.”
Melody walked over to her father and hugged him tightly in an attempt to dissipate any remaining suspicion he may have had. Melody bid him goodnight and hurried upstairs. Once within the security of her own room, Melody undressed and threw herself into bed. She buried her face in the pillow and cried again as she recalled everything Becky had said to her this evening. Over and over, the words ‘it’s over’ and ‘move on’ haunted her. Melody then allowed a flood of memories to overtake her, the day they met, Friday night monster movies, double dates, all the hugs and kisses, and the night they made love. Melody had so looked forward to doing it again with her, but now she was nothing to Becky, a discarded yesterday’s girl. The pillow muffled her sobs as she wished for just one more kiss. Knowing her first relationship had come to an end, Melody never suspected the depth of pain Becky could cause. When she had finally exhausted herself, Melody turned over and began thinking rationally.
“The entire time I’ve known her, Becky never once mentioned that she was interested in having sex with a boy. What changed her mind? Is she really pregnant, or is it a lie to get rid of me? If she is pregnant, will she keep it? What if Becky keeps the baby and wants me back one day? Would I be willing to help her raise it? Do I want that responsibility? How will she finish high school? Who will watch the baby while she is in class? She can’t be on the lacrosse team anymore. What about her mother? Is she really gone? Where would she have gone? What kind of fight could have possibly caused her to leave in the middle of the night? Shit! I forgot to ask Becky about her teeth!”
Melody’s mind finally wound itself down. She could deal with this no more today. Melody rolled over again, but before succumbing to a peaceful, dreamlike state, she had one final thought.
“This is not over Becky Valentine. You are not getting rid of me this easily. If I have to fight a boy to keep you, I’ll fight!”
The next morning, Melody woke up with her thoughts immediately returning to where they left off only hours before. She looked at her clock and saw that she would see Becky again in two hours. Melody rolled out of bed and went straight to the bathroom for a hot shower. She planned on putting on a little extra makeup today, hoping Becky would notice.
After getting herself ready, Melody walked out the door after wishing her parents a nice day. She promised she would be home shortly after six but did not mention Becky would be with her. She started up the car and got to Becky’s house as quickly as she could. When she arrived, Becky was not waiting outside for her. Melody naturally assumed she was inside because of the temperature. She parked along the curb and honked her horn. After two minutes, she exited the car and walked up to her front door. As she walked, Melody kept a wary eye on the window curtains that had always parted to watch her. When Melody reached the door, she saw a note taped to it.
I got a ride. See you at work.
Melody frowned suspiciously and turned to the window. The curtains were closed tight and had not moved. She considered knocking but decided it would be no use. The house was surely empty. She walked back to her car and got inside. Before driving away, Melody looked back at the house one last time and thought she saw movement behind one of the upstairs windows. She squinted her eyes and stared at the window a moment longer but saw nothing more. Perhaps the winter air and a quick, gentle wind, compliments of Jack Frost, had played a trick on her. Melody drove to work believing Becky would be there. She always kept her promises.
After arriving at McDonald’s and clocking in, Melody searched for Becky. There was no sign of her. Almost in panic, she asked if anyone had seen her. No one had. She went into the manager’s office to double check the schedule, momentarily forgetting the note that had been taped to Becky’s front door. The schedule had Becky working ten to six, same as her. Melody stepped back from the wall in disbelief.
“Becky lied to me! She never had any intention to spend the night or go to church. She would have said anything last night to get rid of me. Becky is either out with her new boyfriend, or there really was someone in that window. What’s going on?”
Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of Henry’s voice.
“Melody!” he barked.
“Yes, Sir?” Melody answered as she turned to face him.
“Where is Becky? Do you have any idea?”
“I was just at her house, but there was no one home. When I dropped her off last night, I told her I’d pick her up this morning. I don’t know where she is.”
Henry reached for the employee Rolodex to retrieve Becky’s phone number. He then dialed as Melody watched with uneasiness. With the receiver by his ear, Henry looked at Melody, shook his head, and hung up.
“Her phone’s been disconnected,” he said. “Now I got to find someone to cover her shift. Who am I going to get on a Saturday morning? I’ll end up having to pay someone overtime and then corporate will be on my ass.” Henry placed his palm over his forehead to regain his composure. “When you see Becky again, you tell her she’s fired. She will get her last check when she turns in her uniforms… OK, Melody, get to work.”
“Yes, Sir.”
Melody worked most of her shift in silence. Knowing she could not trust Becky anymore, Melody assumed everything she had been told last night was a lie. Similar to the inner conflict she once had with God, Melody was now tearing herself apart over Becky. Her impulsive and emotional side demanded answers immediately and would not be appeased by anything less, while her understanding and patient side held to the belief there was a reasonable explanation that would reveal itself in time. Melody tried to control herself and concentrate on her work, but her patience with Becky was hanging by threads. Finally, with a heavy heart and dark thoughts, Melody clocked out at six o’clock and drove home.
As soon as Melody entered her front door, she went to the phone. She called Becky’s number, only to receive the same recording that Henry had heard.
“The number you have dialed is no longer in service. If you believe this message to be an error, please check your directory and dial again.”
After the third attempt, Melody accepted that Becky would not or could not answer. She then entertained the idea of driving to her house. She would knock on the door, and if no one answered, she would just wait in the car. Becky had to come home or leave the house sooner or later. In the end, Melody decided it would be a foolish gesture. “If Becky wants me, she knows my number and knows where I live.” She went upstairs to complete her weekend homework but left the door open in order to hear the phone downstairs in case it rang. It never did.
Melody woke up Sunday morning and went to church with her parents as usual. All through the service, she prayed for Becky. During the sermon, Melody no longer cared about the truth, but only begged God for Becky’s safety. With a little guilt, she also prayed for herself. Melody asked for the inner turmoil to cease and have some peace return to her heart.
As Melody rode home in the backseat, she stared out the windows, hoping to catch a glimpse of Becky on the street. She was prepared to tell her father to stop the car on a second’s notice, but Becky was nowhere to be seen. Later, as the afternoon dragged on, Melody sat with her father as the NFL playoffs aired on the television. It was merely to pass the time and keep her mind occupied while waiting for the phone to ring. Douglas, becoming increasingly concerned about his daughter’s recent behavior, failed in his attempts at making any meaningful conversation.
Emotionally exhausted, Melody retired quietly to her room after dinner. She had no tears left and could pray no more. As she lay under the covers, she clutched her silver charm, hoping Becky was still wearing her half. In spite of everything, she could not imagine Becky carelessly discarding it. Melody silently reaffirmed she would still be wearing her most precious possession long after she had been laid to rest. As she waited for sleep to temporarily ease her burdened mind, Melody had only one thought. “Becky… Where are you?”
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