Out of My Heart

Melody tells herself to stay calm. After all, one leg is still fastened securely, and she knows that she cannot fall off. As Jolie moves quickly along the trail and the rain starts coming down harder, Melody calmly thinks what Trinity would do. Gently, Melody struggles to grab the reins, but finally pulls on the reins hard enough for Jolie to respond and slow down. Melody pulls the reins to the left hoping Jolie will turn around, and she’s successful. Even though Melody is not sure where she is in the woods, she trusts Jolie will go back to camp. Watching Josie head back, Melody thinks, “She moseyed along as if we were on a Sunday drive” (280). When she gets closer, Melody hears the counselors calling her name.

When Trinity on her own horse catches up to Melody, the counselor is in tears. As Trinity leads Jolie back to the camp, Melody wants to tell her she is fine, that she handled the runaway horse herself, but she doesn’t have her Medi-talker.

When everything is settled, the counselors tell Melody she is required by state law to tell her parents about the incident—Melody decided not to tell her folks fearing they would never let ride a horse again. She and Trinity write the email telling her parents what happened. Melody ends telling them how proud she is of herself.

After lunch, the rain still falling, Trinity gives the four girls some chill time in the cabin. The girls chat about the dance scheduled for the next night on the last night of camp. They share stories about school, and Karyn tells about a disastrous fire drill when she was on the third floor of her library. A substitute teacher, not interested in helping a girl in a wheelchair, just told her to stay in the school until the drill was over. For that infraction, the sub was fired. The girls understand Karyn’s frustrations and they cry. They talk about being in “special class” and how other kids make fun of them or just ignore them (293). Some classmates even steal food off their trays in the lunchroom. Before the conversation ends, Melody gifts each of her new friends with one of Mrs. V’s bracelets. When Trinity returns, the group takes a picture holding up the bracelets. 

On the last day of camp, Melody eagerly goes to the pool, sure now that she is not a sinker anymore. She hopes maybe when she gets home her mother might let her take swimming lessons or even horseback riding classes. In their last art class, the counselor plays classical music, and the girls paint what they hear. Melody is surprised when, as she swirls purple and blue, she remembers how badly her friends back home treated her when she was on the Whiz Kids quiz team. The colors become like a “giant bruise” (300). Then the colors blur, and Melody sees a “night sky color” (300). Without anyone’s help, she reaches for the orange paint bottle and squeezes, on her own, five tiny drops of paint. Trinity sees her work and understands: “You painted fireflies” (301). Melody, however, knows what the dots of paint represent. What she painted was her and her new friends.

Before the dance, Trinity helps Melody with her hair and makeup. Melody decides to wear the pretty red dress her mother packed, thinking, “I felt almost magical” (303).

At the fire pit, Melody finds large pieces of wood placed on the ground to make a dance floor. Each camper was invited to do their own dance to their own music selection. Everyone laughs and claps along. Noah, who arrives using a wheelchair, performs with a friend to Bob Seger’s “Old Time Rock and Roll.” Melody debates for a moment but decides to perform. She decides to head to the stage. In her wheelchair, she swirls, her party dress rippling and ruffling about her legs, to Little Mix’s inspirational ballad “Wings.”

The campers go crazy. As the dance party winds down, Noah, using his walker, comes over to talk with Melody. He sheepishly asks Melody if she would like to dance. Melody types a resounding YES. Leaning on the back of her wheelchair, Noah leads her to the dance floor. The two move together to the music. “He swirled [the] chair like it was weightless” (315). The counselors play the song again, and Melody feels weightless, like she is flying. Tomorrow, she knows, she must leave. But tonight, she tells herself, she danced.

In the morning, all the campers, packed and waiting for their parents, assure each other they will stay in touch and will be back next summer. Melody says a tearful goodbye to Trinity. Melody’s family arrives right before the closing convocation at the fire pit. Melody tells them the week was awesome.

At the fire pit, the campers gather for the last time. Melody, happy to be back with her family, looks around at all the campers and their families and feels part of a community. Each camper is given a special citation. Noah gets an award for his dancing skill. Melody blushes as she watches Noah accept his citation.

When it is Melody’s time, she is given a trophy for her courage, for facing her fears of riding the zipline, swimming, and riding a horse. Her parents are in tears as she accepts the trophy. As they head home, Melody knows she will never forget her week at camp, her friends, her victories, and, of course, “the magic and mystery of starlight, fireflies, and flickering flames” (334).