“Coach?” Melody asked.
Rising to her feet, Coach Heucke showcased her stylish evening dress, appearing before everyone as a statuesque picture of grace and elegance. Melody thought no woman had ever looked more beautiful. Not wanting to be caught staring at her body, Melody kept her eyes on those of her coach’s. The woman Melody had long admired looked as if she had just stepped off the cover of a European fashion magazine.
“Congratulations, Melody” Coach Heucke began. “I can’t begin to tell you how proud I am. I’ve watched you grow from a meek, young teenager, to the confident woman you are today. It was a pleasure to be a part of your formidable years and I like to think I made a positive impact. Your parents invited me to celebrate with you tonight. I trust you do not mind?”
“No!” Melody exclaimed. “No, of course not! Thank you for being here.”
“The pleasure is all mine,” Ingrid said, bowing slightly before returning to her seat.
After everyone sat, a young blonde waitress, not much older than Melody, approached the table.
“Good evening, my name is Melissa,” the waitress began. “I will be your server this evening, can I take your drink orders?”
After asking for water, Melody watched Melissa write everyone’s request on her pad and wondered if she herself would soon be waiting tables. After Melissa departed, Melody folded her hands in her lap and looked down at the menu that had been placed before her. Without yet knowing what it was, she had already decided to order the least expensive meal.
Melissa soon returned with a large serving tray and placed everyone’s drink in front of them. With this task completed, she held the tray against the side of her body with her upper arm, retrieved her pad, and asked, “Is everyone ready to order?”
“Miss, would you give us a few minutes?” Douglas asked. “I’ll let you know when we’re ready.”
“Certainly,” Melissa answered with a friendly smile. “Take your time.”
As soon as Melissa departed, the table became quiet. Still looking down, Melody did not realize everyone was looking at her. She had just turned the menu over to see the specials when her father addressed her. Looking up, Melody saw everyone at the table intensely focused on her.
“Melody,” her father began. “We are all very proud of you. You excelled in ways that not only surprised us, but I’m sure, yourself as well. You know I’m not much of a speaker, so I won’t carry on endlessly. This is from me.”
With a smile, he slid a small box toward his daughter. Melody, who had not expected any gifts, reacted with a look of surprise. She opened the small cardboard box and saw two familiar keys. Melody then looked at her father questioningly.
“The keys to the Aspen,” her father said, still smiling. “I’ve already filed the paperwork with the DMV, I’m just waiting for the new title to come in the mail. She’s all yours. Take good care of her, she’s a part of the family.”
“Oh, Daddy, thank you!” Melody said with a heartwarming smile. “You enjoy your new truck too. It’s so… You.”
“That’s the only truck I will be driving from now on,” Douglas said. “I turned in the rig yesterday. Starting next week, I will be driving a forklift at the cement distributer. I’m home for good.”
“Oh, Daddy, that’s wonderful! But why? Why now?”
Douglas placed his hand on top of Barbara’s as he turned to his wife. As soon as their eyes met, Barbara gave her husband a weak smile before turning to Melody.
“Melody, your father has been driving an eighteen-wheeler for over twenty years. It was good money, better than we ever led you to believe. Since before you were born, we have been saving for this moment. Honey, all this time we have been living far below our means. You have gone without and accepted second-hand clothes and gifts without ever uttering a single complaint. Tonight, we give you the gift that has been waiting for you since before you could walk. You don’t have to start working two jobs. Not only do you have a car, you have the money to go to any school you want as soon as you’re ready.”
Stunned, Melody sat speechless. She felt selfish now for all the times she secretly wished for cable TV, designer clothes, records, and other frivolities. She looked at her parents now as if for the first time. Suddenly, Melody recalled all the old, worn clothes her mother had repeatedly mended for her father; the same father who rarely took a vacation and had worked his life away providing for his family. Melody then realized her mother never owned anything new herself, not a single dress, nor fancy shoes. The pots and pans she used to cook their meals were older than anyone knew. Her parent’s thrift now proved to be her salvation.
“I’m so sorry. I didn’t know,” Melody murmured as her eyes watered. “All this time, I just thought we were poor.”
“Don’t be sorry,” Douglas said. “It was our plan all along. Your mother and I finally have each other to ourselves and we have a lot of catching up to do. It’s time for us to do all the things we’ve been wanting to do.”
“We both love you so much, Melody,” Barbara added. “As you start your new life, your father and I will be starting ours. We have all worked hard and now is the time to reap what we have sown.”
“Thank you, Mama. Thank you, Daddy.”
“And don’t worry about your room,” her mother continued. “You can always sleep there whenever you come home to visit.”
“Mama, I’m not going anywhere for a while.” Melody stated.
“Yes, you are.”
“What?”
“Well, that’s our cue,” Uncle Frank said as he turned to Melody. “After I retired, your aunt and I left Virginia Beach. We found a nice, comfortable house for ourselves, in a good location. It’s a perfect place for me to begin my next career. There is an extra room we are not using, so if you are willing, you can stay with us, rent free.”
Melody looked to her aunt whose own eyes were moistening as she smiled back at her.
“Where?” Melody asked.
“Clearwater, Darling,” her aunt answered. “We moved to Florida a month ago.”
Aunt Holly’s voice sounded as sweet as a dream. Melody’s hands flew up to her face and covered her mouth as her eyes grew wide. She refused to believe it possible. Melody never thought she could ever be truly happy again without Becky, but now, as her body trembled, Melody was overcome with a joy she had never known. Melody felt faint as smiling faces looked back at her.
“I’m... Florida?” Melody whimpered, looking at everyone through reddened eyes. “It can’t be. No. I don’t deserve all of this. I can’t go. This is all too much at once.” Melody lifted her cloth napkin from her lap and sobbed into it, hiding her face. Considering her humble upbringing, this was a lot for Melody to suddenly accept without warning. When she woke up that morning, she had nothing. Now in a matter of minutes, she had a car, money, and free room and board in Florida. Aunt Holly tried to comfort her as everyone looked on.
“Melody, Melody, of course you deserve this. You worked so hard and you are the most unselfish girl I’ve ever known. Please, let us do this for you. We want to. We’d love to have you. You can skateboard to the beach in less than ten minutes. Melody, Florida is everything you’ve ever dreamed and more. It’s beautiful… And it’s waiting for you.”
“Yes, Melody,” Uncle Frank added. “Let this be our graduation present to you. We flew up here one way. This weekend, we’ll pack a U-Haul and move you down. I’ll drive the truck and you drive the car. It’ll be a road trip.”
Melody raised her head.
“There are plenty of community colleges in the area,” Aunt Holly added. “You can enroll this summer for the fall semester after becoming a state resident. If you want, after you earn a two-year degree, you can transfer to the University of South Florida. It’s not far from us.”
“Or, if you still want to take a diesel mechanic course first, I found two schools in Tampa,” Uncle Frank added. “You still have time to make up your mind this summer. Take some time to clear your head. I think you’ll know what you want to do after you’re settled in.”
Melody turned to her mother. “Can I? Can I go, Mama?”
“Melody,” Barbara began. “Of course, you can go, and with our blessings. From the moment the nurse first put you in my arms, I have been dreading the day you would leave me. I spent my life foolishly fearing the future, but now, all I want is for you to go. You will never be happy here. I will not watch the magic in your eyes fade away until it disappears forever. All your life something has been calling for you. It is time for you to go find it.”
“Thank you, Mama.”
Coach Heucke, who had been sitting silently the whole time, finally took her opportunity to speak. “Melody,” she said.
“Yes, Coach?” Melody asked as she wiped her eyes with her napkin.
“I have a confession,” Ingrid began. “After we talked in my office, I called your mother. I even came to your house while you were at work. That’s when your parents filled me in on this wonderful evening they had planned for you. Knowing you’d be in Florida this summer; I took it upon myself to make a phone call.
Ingrid paused as she produced a white envelope that had been resting in her lap. After running her fingers along the edge of the envelope, Coach Heucke pushed it across the table until it was within Melody’s reach.
“Coach, what’s this?” Melody asked.
“Inside that envelope is my personal letter of recommendation and the contact information for Amber Martin,” Ingrid answered.
“Amber Martin?” Melody asked. “Who’s she?”
“Mrs. Martin is the general manager of a professional beach volleyball circuit on the west coast of Florida,” Coach Heucke explained. “After you get settled in, call her. She’s expecting to hear from you.”
“Beach volleyball!” Melody exclaimed. “Professional? Coach, beach volleyball is for two-man teams, I’ve never done that!”
“I had a long talk with Mrs. Martin,” Coach Heucke replied. “She is very interested in your abilities. Schedule your tryout and show her what you can do. Her coaches will take care of the rest.”
“Coach… I…”
“Melody, you have a gift,” Ingrid interrupted. “Don’t hide it from the world. It’ll take a little adjusting, but you can do it. I believe in you. For the love of the game, please continue to play!”
Again, Melody choked up, unable to put her feelings into words.
“Well do you want to play volleyball or flip burgers?” Coach Heucke asked with a smile. “You still need a job!”
Without a word, Melody sprang from her seat, ran around the table and embraced Coach Heucke. Then she hugged her parents. Finally, she wrapped her arms around her aunt and uncle.
“I love you all!” Melody finally exclaimed. “Before this moment, I never could have imagined any of this possible. Thank you. You’ve all given me a great opportunity and I won’t let any of you down. I still have decisions to make, but right now, I’m going to play volleyball and go to school!”
***
Early Tuesday morning, just as the sun was rising, Melody stood in her front yard looking at the U-Haul. Everything she cherished was inside, including her rocking chair. With youthful excitement, Melody was ready to begin this next chapter of her life. Hearing the front door open, Melody turned to see her mother approaching with a large picnic basket in her arms. Judging by the way her mother carried it, Melody was sure it contained more than enough food for the long drive. For a moment, they stood next to each other, staring at the U-Haul.
“I’m happy for you,” Melody said, taking the basket. “You’ve done so much for me. I’m glad you won’t be all alone. If you were, I don’t think I could go.”
“We knew that,” Barbara answered. “Your father applied for the forklift job as soon as Frank called to tell us they had closed on the house. If you ask me, he’s been waiting for you to graduate just so he could get off the road.”
Ten minutes later, Melody gave her parents a last heartfelt farewell as Uncle Frank and Aunt Holley got into the U-Haul. With tears in her eyes and exhilaration in her heart, Melody got into the Aspen and started the engine. She would follow Uncle Frank, who had briefed her the night before. With his military background, Uncle Frank planned the entire trip proficiently, leaving nothing to chance. Melody had been given a road atlas, step by step directions, and a list of checkpoints. Uncle Frank had even provided walkie-talkie radios in case they were needed. Their first scheduled stop was the Indiana welcome center on Interstate 69.
Barbara and Douglas remained in the yard to watch the U-Haul and Aspen turn onto East Prairie Ronde. Gripping her husband’s hand tightly, Barbara tried to be brave. However, as the back end of the Aspen disappeared from view, the moment left her with conflicting feelings of emptiness, pride, sadness, and hope. Barbara had done her best to prepare herself, but the fact remained. Melody, her only child, was gone.
“You did a great job, Barb,” Douglas said, still looking toward the intersection.
“Heaven knows I made mistakes,” Barbara replied. “Even in times of uncertainty, when I prayed for guidance, I didn’t always have the answer.”
“She didn’t come with an instruction manual,” Douglas chuckled. “You have to look at the final result. I couldn’t be prouder of her, or of you.”
“My dear husband,” Barbara said, placing her other hand on Douglas’ forearm. “You had a hand in this too. You did a lot more than just watch television with her on Sundays. I wasn’t oblivious. You talked… You bonded… You guided.”
“You know,” Douglas said, turning to his wife with a comforting smile. “We’re still her parents. Our job hasn’t ended, its only changed. She still needs us, and we’ll be here for her.”
Barbara nodded. “The holidays will be here before you know it. I’m sure they’ll come up for Thanksgiving.”
“No,” Douglas said as he guided his wife toward the house. “How ‘bout we go down there?”
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