Out of My Mind

Mrs. V wins an ecology contest and receives a trip for six to the newly opened aquarium. She invites the whole Brooks family, and Melody begs for the final ticket to go to her friend from school, Rose. They arrange the trip for Thanksgiving weekend.

Little Penny amuses Rose, and Melody’s friend converses easily with the adults on the trip. Melody is so happy to see her friend getting along with her family that she says, “this has to be the best day of my life” (118). The aquarium is packed with visitors, but Melody likes this as no one pays attention to her, and she can try to forget her condition for a while. Melody and Penny are overwhelmed by the varieties of fish they see, and Melody is grateful that her parents are relaxed and enjoying the moment for once.

Unfortunately, they run into a Girl Scout troop with Molly and Claire in attendance. The girls immediately harass Rose when they realize she is not there with her parents, but with Melody. They laugh at Rose, who quietly defends her position by saying, “It’s not so bad” (120). Mrs. Brooks moves to reprimand the girls, but Mrs.