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Last time on Starry Love Dream!

 

Melanie’s narration:

 

Melanie: “My name is Melanie!  I’m 9 years old and I attend Grade 4 and I would like to become a singer!”

Melanie: “What a rough day I had at school…It was the worst school day of my life.  My teacher doesn’t like me, the other kids don’t like me, and some girls even ripped up a song that I was trying to write!”

Melanie: “There are so many kids in my school that don’t like me.  I tried my best to smile and to be friendly to them, but they just said mean things to me or did really bad things to me.  I tried to help this girl who got hurt in the park, but her brother came and told me to get away from her.  And I tried to share some paper with someone in my class but she didn’t accept anything from me.  Then, there was lunch time, when someone spilled juice all over me!  And then, there were these two girls who tore up a song that I was trying to write.”

Melanie: “Then, there’s my Grandma Annabelle.  She told me some really nasty things about my Mama and Papa, that it was his fault that all kinds of horrible things are happening to him and that my mother was stupid for marrying him.  But if they didn’t get married, I wouldn’t have been born!  Does that mean that Grandma wished I was never born?”

Melanie: “Anyways, it’s time for Starry Love Dream!  I wonder what’s going to happen next.  Stay tuned!”

 

Opening theme song

“Starry Love Dream” by Starry~en~Luv

 

(Happy dreamy love, wings like a dove)

(To the starry night, in the starry light)

 

A dream can’t just stay a dream in my mind

It would just be a waste and I would be in a bind

No matter where and how far you have to go

You’ve got to chase your dream so much so

Never ever lose sight of the love, of the dream

Let your dream flow like the never-ending stream

I know things are tough and it’s easy to get sad

But as long as we’re together, even if things go bad

I want to sing like a lovebird and touch your heart (touch my heart)

Please stay with me and stay close to my heart (close to my heart)

Starry love dream!

 

I wanna be your happy dreamy love

I wanna spread my wings like a dove

Fly with me all the way to the starry night

Fly to the sky and bask in the starry light

I wanna be your happy dreamy love (happy dreamy love)

I wanna spread my wings like a dove (wings like a dove)

Fly with me all the way to the starry night (to the starry night)

Fly to the sky and bask in the starry light (in the starry light)

Starry love dream

 

Hold my hand tight and always stay by my side

Let’s hold onto the dream as we go along the ride

Stay with me, my love, and don’t try to look back

If we lose our way, we’ll always try get back on track

There are so many obstacles to fight your way through

But as long as you believe, your dream will come true

Oh, my love, even if things don’t always go right

We have our love, our dream, never lose our sight

I want to sing like a lovebird and touch your heart (touch my heart)

Please stay with me and stay close to my heart (close to my heart)

Starry love dream!

 

I wanna be your happy dreamy love

I wanna spread my wings like a dove

Fly with me all the way to the starry night

Fly to the sky and bask in the starry light

I wanna be your happy dreamy love (happy dream love)

I wanna spread my wings like a dove (wings like a dove)

Fly with me all the way to the starry night (to the starry night)

Fly to the sky and bask in the starry light (in the starry light)

Starry love dream

 

(Happy dreamy love, wings like a dove)

(To the starry night, in the starry light)

 

Starry love dream, I love you!

 

The Prologue

 

Melanie was reading a book in the library.  It wasn’t really that good of a book, but it was something that could pass the time while she was waiting for class to start after lunch period.  Instead of going outside, she stayed inside and went to the library to read.  She thought it was much more peaceful here for her.

      There was a boy who was sitting nearby and it was that boy whose name was Jim Castro.  He was one of her classmates.  He had been the one who congratulated her father for winning the election.  But that was before accusations against her father had started so who knows what he could be thinking of now?

 

“Hey, Melanie,” said one of the boys.  Melanie turned towards that boy.  He whispered to her with a delighted smile.  “Congratulations to your dad for winning the election.  My mom and dad voted for him, you know.”

      “Mr. Castro!” shouted the teacher, and the boy stiffened and stood at attention.

      “Yes, ma’am!” he said.

      “I don’t want to hear any talk about the new so-called Premiere of Ontario!”

      “Yes, ma’am!  I’m sorry, ma’am!”

      “Now take a seat, please.”

 

      Melanie looked up at him for a second, but he did not look at her as he sat down a few seats away and started going through a book.  She looked down again to keep on reading.  After about a minute, he started looking through his bag and was becoming a little bit frantic and there was a worried look on his face.

      “Oh, no, where’s my pen?  Where could I have left it?” he whispered.

      Melanie heard him but she did not do anything yet.  She glanced to the side and saw some of her pens in a pencil case, but she was scared to offer one to him.  He…might suddenly become unfriendly towards her, just like those other kids.

      Jim looked around, and then he saw Melanie.  She had a few pens on the table in her pencil case.  He hesitated, thinking about whether he should ask for one or not.  He looked around to see if anyone would notice him.  There were very few kids in the library so it seemed safe.  He stood up from his chair and approached Melanie.

      “Um, hey, Melanie?” he said.  His voice seemed uneasy, as if he was afraid of being discovered.

      Melanie looked up at him and she looked almost frightened.

      “Do you have…do you have a pen that I could borrow for a while?” he asked her.

      “Oh, a pen?” she said softly and she smiled slightly.  She took a pen from her pencil case and offered it to him.  “Here you go.”

      Jim hesitated again, and then he took the pen from her.  “Oh, thanks,” he said.

      Melanie smiled brightly.  “You’re welcome!”

      It was almost as if roses appeared behind Melanie as she smiled and sparkling diamond dust swirled around her.  But, of course, it was just his imagination.  He went back to his seat.

      Melanie got back to her book, but she wasn’t reading.  She smiled and felt good.  She was able to help one person today and it made her feel a little bit happier.  She has not been able to help anyone for a long time.

 

A few minutes from now, classes would resume, so Melanie stood up from her chair in the library and she put her book into her schoolbag.  She turned around as she was about to head for the exit when she suddenly noticed a girl who was standing just a few feet away from her, looking at her.  Melanie gasped and immediately felt awkward.  The girl did not say anything.  Melanie knew that she was one of the girls in her class.  She was very pretty and had medium-length dark hair.  She also wore a red ribbon in her hair.  She was very slightly taller than Melanie was.

      “Um…class is starting soon, I guess,” Melanie whispered very shyly.  She felt frozen with fear.  What was this girl going to do to her?

      Suddenly, the girl smiled.  “Yes, that’s right.  We have to get going now.  I was going to tell you but I guess you already knew,” she said to her.

      Melanie was puzzled.  “Huh?”

      “Melanie is your name, right?” asked the girl.

      Melanie felt nervous.  “Um, yes, my name is Melanie.”

      “Oh, I know.  I was just making conversation to start with,” said the girl and she giggled slightly.  “I just wanted to meet you because you seem like a nice person!”  She extended her hand towards her, offering a handshake.  “My name is Hazel Callaway.  Pleased to meet you, classmate!”  And she smiled brightly.

      Melanie felt a wave of warmth flowing through her.  It was the first time anyone in the school was this nice to her.  Hazel Callaway.  Melanie smiled brightly, too.

      “Pleased to meet you, too!” said Melanie, and the two of them shook hands.

 

Starry Love Dream

Episode 3: I met a new friend!  It’s Hazel!

 

Melanie walked down the hallway out of the library and Hazel was with her.  They were both carrying their schoolbags.  Melanie had never walked with anyone before in this school, let alone this close to her.  She looked down, feeling like she was not worthy of Hazel’s friendship.

      “Melanie?” said Hazel.  “Do you know anyone in this school?  I know it’s kind of silly to ask, since you’ve been here like a month, I think.  But do you know anybody?”

      Melanie looked up slightly and she shook her head.  “No.  I don’t know anyone in this school.”  Then, she was startled.  “Well, I mean, I know you now, but a few minutes ago, I didn’t.”

      Hazel smiled.  “You know one person now.  You know me!”

      Melanie smiled.  “Yes, you’re right.”  She sighed.  “Thank you…”

      “I hope you don’t mind, but in the last few days, I’ve been watching you.”

      Melanie lost her smile and she was very puzzled.  Actually, she also felt a little bit uneasy.  Was this girl stalking her?  “Huh?  Um, what do you mean?”

      “Don’t take it the wrong way.  I wasn’t stalking you or anything,” said Hazel, as she laughed.  “I was just watching you.  You were trying your best to be nice to people, but all they did was blow you away.  They would say mean things to you or do mean things to you.”

      Melanie looked down.  “Um, yeah…”

      “Well…you didn’t hang around with anyone…and it looked like you didn’t have any friends either.  Am I right?”

      Melanie closed her eyes.  “Um, yeah…”

      “So…I just thought that maybe I can change things a little for you.  I can’t stand it when someone is so depressed all the time and not having any friends and not being with anyone.  So, you could say that I came to your rescue or something.”

      Melanie looked up at her, a little bit puzzled.

      “I can tell that you’re a very nice person.  I want to be your friend,” she said with a smile.

      Melanie smiled, too, after a while.  “Oh…okay,” she said softly.

      They approached their classroom.  There were a few students inside already and they both sat down on their seats.  As Melanie sat down on her seat, Hazel called out to her.

      “Melanie.”

      Melanie looked up at her.  The other students looked up, too, wondering who was calling out to her.

      “You’re always friendly to people, so keep it up, no matter what awful things they say to your or do to you.  Never stop, okay?” she said.

      Melanie smiled and she nodded.  “Okay.”

 

Miss Langley was asking the students questions regarding some geographical locations.  As she asked each question, she chose the student who raised their hand first, and the student who raised their hand first would try to answer.  If they got it wrong, the next student who raised their hand first would try to get the answer.  Miss Langley seemed to be enjoying it and so did the students.

      “Okay.  Next question,” Miss Langley said, flipping through some cards that were in her hand.  “What is the capital of Canada?”

      The students raised their hands.  A boy named Jimson Reeve was first.

      “Jimson.”

      “The capital of Canada is Ottawa, miss,” Jimson answered.

      Miss Langley smiled.  “Very good.  That’s an easy one.”  She flipped through some cards again and she found the next good question.  “Alright, how many provinces are next to the Pacific Ocean?”  She looked up and saw the person who raised her hand first.  “Martha.”

      It was Martha Truong.  “Just one, ma’am.  Only British Columbia,” she answered.

      “Very good,” said the teacher.  She flipped through more cards and found another good question.  “What is the name of the smallest province in Canada?”  More hands were raised.  “Hazel.”

      Hazel Callaway had raised her hand first.  She put her hand down and she said something that surprised everyone.  “I know the answer, but I want Melanie to answer the question.”

      Melanie gasped and looked at Hazel with shock.

      “Pardon?” said Miss Langley.  She was a little confused and the students around her were even more confused.  “Is that why you raised your hand?”

      “Yes, ma’am,” she said.  She looked at Melanie.  So did everyone else.

      Melanie blushed and felt like her entire body went red as everyone in the class looked at her.  “Um…smallest province in CanadaPrince Edward Island…”

      Everyone looked at the teacher.  Miss Langley hesitated.  “That’s right, Melanie.  That’s very good.”

      Melanie sighed with relief and put a hand on her heart.  She glanced at Hazel, who winked at her.  Melanie smiled slightly.

 

They were in the school park during afternoon recess.  Melanie was walking by herself and that’s when Hazel suddenly joined her.

      “Melanie,” said Hazel.  “You left the classroom so fast.  I had to run to try to catch up with you.”

      “Oh, I’m sorry,” said Melanie.  “I didn’t know you wanted to walk with me.”

      “That’s okay.  Where are you walking to?  Are you going to the swings?”

      Melanie stopped and both of them looked at each other.  “Nowhere, really.  I don’t really go anywhere when it’s lunch period or recess time.  I just…I just walk around and I don’t really do anything.  But…you probably know that already.”

      Hazel nodded.  “I kind of do,” she replied.

      A tiny Grade 1 student walked by and looked up.  She saw Melanie.  Melanie saw her, too, and realized that she was the same girl who had fallen down the other day.  She remembered trying to help her stop crying but then, her big brother came to get her and yelled at Melanie, blaming her for making his little sister cry.

 

“Hey, you!” someone shouted.

      Melanie looked up and saw that a boy was coming towards her.  He appeared to be one of the slightly older students, probably in Grade 5.

      “You’re that girl, aren’t you?  The one whose father is the Premiere of Ontario?  He’s a criminal!  You get away from my little sister!” shouted the boy and Melanie gasped.  The boy took hold of his little sister and had her get up.  The boy glared at her again.  “You made my sister cry, didn’t you?  You’re just like your father!  You’re a bad person just like him!”

      A horrible pain shot through Melanie’s heart.  The boy began to walk away with the little girl behind him.  His sister looked back at Melanie, who was still kneeling on the ground, her hands at her heart, as if she was feeling the pain physically.

 

      The little girl stared at Melanie and Hazel was a little bit puzzled.  Melanie hesitated, but then she smiled and knelt down on the ground.  “Hello.  How are you?” Melanie said very softly and sweetly.

      The little girl looked a little bit worried suddenly.  “My big brother said that I’m not allowed to talk to you,” she said, and she started walking away quickly.

      Melanie felt crushed as she stood back up and looked down.  Hazel wondered what that was all about.  She put a hand on Melanie’s shoulder.

      “Hey, don’t let that bother you,” she said.  “Her brother must be a mean person.  He’s totally unlike you.”

      Melanie hesitated for a second and she nodded.  “Oh.  Her brother doesn’t like my Papa.  And he doesn’t want his little sister near me because of that.”

      “I see.  Your father is Premiere Mark Thompson, huh?”

      Melanie nodded again.

      Hazel sighed softly and she shook her head.  “Well, I don’t really know anything about politics.  Do you know anything about it?”

      “Not really.  I don’t understand it.”

      Hazel giggled.  “Oh, good, so I’m not alone in my confusion then.”

      Melanie looked up at her a little bit puzzled.  “You’re not going to say anything bad about him?”

      “Am I supposed to?”

      “Oh, um, no, of course not, but a lot of people do.”

      Hazel shook her head.  “Oh, no, no, no, like I said, I don’t know anything about politics.  So I shouldn’t have to talk about anything or anyone that has anything to do with politics.  Other people talk about people and things that they don’t understand, trying to sound like experts, but that’s just not the way I do things.  To me, it doesn’t make sense to act like that.”

      “Oh, I see…” whispered Melanie, and she smiled a little.  “It is better that way, I think.”

 

Melanie and Hazel went to the swings after all.

      “Hey.  Melanie.”

      Melanie looked up at Hazel, who jumped off the swings and stood in front of her.

      “Tell me some stuff about you.  We haven’t told each other things about each other yet,” she said.

      Melanie blushed slightly and looked down.  “Oh.  I’m sorry.  What would you like to know about me?  There’s not really much to say, actually.”

      “Really?  I would think that being the daughter of the leader of the Ontario province would have lots of things to say about herself.  But then again, it’s probably better to be modest.  You are so modest, Melanie.  I know you have lots of things to say.”

      “Um…”  Melanie tried to think.  “What about me?  I mean, what do you want to know?”

      “Oh, like do you have sisters and brothers and stuff like that.”

      Melanie began to swing on the swings slowly.  “I don’t have any sisters or brothers.  I’m the only child in my family.”

      “What does your mom do?” Hazel asked.

      “She supports my Papa.  She supports him in everything that he does.  I’m not really sure how to explain that part.”

      “Oh, that’s okay.  Don’t worry about it.  How about hobbies?  Things that you like to do.”

      Melanie thought for a moment.  “Um, well, I like to read a lot of books.  I like reading drama and romance,” she said softly.

      Hazel blushed and was surprised.  “Really?!  Drama and romance?!  That’s so sweet!” she cried out.

      Melanie looked around her and was relieved that there was no one around her.  “Not so loud, please!” she said.  Her face was blushing, too.

      “Sorry.  But that’s the kind of sappy stuff that I read, too,” said Hazel, and she started laughing.  “What else do you like to do?”

      “I like playing with dolls.  I have some dolls at home.”

      “And what else?”

      Melanie stopped suddenly and it made Hazel wonder why.  After several moments of silence, Melanie told her another thing that she liked to do.  “My favorite hobby is singing and writing songs.”

      Hazel gasped.  “Really?”

      Melanie looked up at her stopped swinging on the swings.  “Y-yes…” she said softly.

      After several more moments of silence, Hazel looked like she was very glad to hear it.  “That’s so nice.  That’s so nice that you like singing and writing songs.  I could never do something like that.  You must be really smart.”

      Melanie smiled at Hazel.  “It’s really nothing.”

      “Do you want to be a singer when you grow up?”

      A warm glow enveloped her heart.  “Yes.  Yes, I do.  It’s my dream to be a singer when I grow up,” Melanie said, in such a way that she sounded like a dream.

 

For the next few days, Hazel and Melanie would spend a lot of time together.  When Melanie arrived at the school property in the morning, Hazel was there waiting for her.  In fact, while she was hanging out with her own friends, once she saw Melanie, she would excuse herself and go to her.

      Since that day when Hazel raised her hand to Miss Langley’s question just to get her to acknowledge Melanie, whenever Melanie raised her hand, Miss Langley allowed her to answer.  She always seemed to get the answer right to every question that was asked.  Not only was Melanie very sweet and friendly, she was also very smart and clever.

      When it was lunch time, Melanie would be at the table in the corner, but she would not be by herself this time.  Hazel would be eating her lunch with her.  And when they were finished lunch, they would go outside together and go to the swings in the school park, far away from everyone else.

      At the end of the day, when Melanie had to go home, Hazel would tell her that they would see each other again the next day and she looked forward to it.  It made Melanie feel all warm inside.  It’s been a long time since she felt this way about other people.

 

Melanie was eating her dinner at home with Grandma Annabelle.  She did not even notice the fact that she was very softly humming to herself.  Grandma looked up and she looked at Melanie for a little while, seeing how peaceful she looked.  And there was something else about her, too.  She seemed a little bit happier than usual.

      “Melanie?” said Grandma.

      Melanie stopped humming and she looked up.  “Yes, Grandma?” she said.

      “You seem to be in a good mood today.  Did something happen at school?”

      Melanie smiled at Grandma.  “I met a new friend.”

      “You have a new friend?”

      “Yes.  And her name is Hazel.  Hazel Callaway,” replied Melanie, with a bright smile on her face.  “I’ve known her for only a few days now, but she’s really nice.”

      “So it wasn’t just today.”

      “No.  How did you know that something happened though?”

      Grandma hesitated to answer for a few seconds.  She took a sip from her glass of water to clear her throat.  “You seemed different the last few days.  Before that, you were always so dark and gloomy.  It just seems that you’re feeling a little happier.  Is that right, Melanie?”

      Melanie nodded and smiled.  “Yes, Grandma,” she answered.

      “She hasn’t done anything to hurt you in any way?”

      “No, of course not,” said Melanie, and she wondered why Grandma would ask a question like that.  It sounded almost accusing, but not towards her.

      “She hasn’t said anything to you that would make you feel bad?”

      “No, she hasn’t.  I don’t think she would do that, Grandma.”

      Grandma thought about it for a while.  She looked a little bit worried about her granddaughter and Melanie noticed it really quickly.

      “Are you worried about me?” asked Melanie.

      Grandma suddenly looked strict and Melanie gasped.  “I’m your grandmother.  Your welfare is my responsibility while you are living in this house.”

      Melanie put a hand on her mouth and she looked down.  She felt like she said something wrong, even though in reality, she did not.

      “But…I’m glad that you met a new friend, Melanie,” said Grandma, as she stood up and took her plate and glass and utensils to the kitchen sink.

      Melanie’s eyes brightened and she smiled.  That was the first nice thing that her grandmother had said to her since she moved in and she was very happy to hear it.  Her heart seemed to mend itself.  It also felt like a warm blanket had surrounded her and comforted her.

      “However…”

      “Huh?”  Melanie looked up at Grandma.

      “Be careful.  People are not always what they seem on the outside, Melanie.  Many people will hurt you in this life, even though they promised the whole world to you.  It’s good to trust others, but it is also not good to trust too much.”  Grandma said this without looking at Melanie as she washed the dishes.

      Melanie was finished with her dinner as well, so she took her plate, glass, and utensils to the kitchen sink.  When she did, Grandma looked down on her.

      “Always be careful,” she said.

      Melanie thought about what she said for some seconds and then she nodded.  “Yes, Grandma.”

      Grandma went back to washing the dishes while Melanie slowly headed for the exit of the kitchen.  She turned around towards her Grandma once again.

      “Thank you so much for the dinner, Grandma.  It was very good,” she said.  Of course, as usual, Grandma did not say anything.  But Melanie knew that she heard what she said.  However, she was not always sure if her Grandma cared about her show of gratitude.  Maybe she cares, maybe she doesn’t, but Melanie hoped that she did care.

 

When it was later in the evening, Melanie was in her room, sitting on her bed, and she was looking at a photo album.  It was a photo album that showed her with her two best friends who lived in Ottawa, Jenna Hisakawa and Janice Love.

      Melanie smiled as she looked at some of the pictures.  There were so many good times that she shared with them and she was missing them very much, but she wasn’t as sad as before whenever she thought about the fact that she missed them.

      “Jenna, Janice, I have a new friend in school now.  But please don’t think that she’s replacing you.  That’s never going to happen.  You’ll always be my friends.  I hope that one day…you can meet my new friend Hazel…and then we can all hang out together.”

      Melanie closed her eyes and she remembered some of the wonderful times that she spent with her two loving best friends.

 

It was early morning and Hazel was already at school.  Her friends were here as well.  She was not the most popular girl in the school since she did not know that many people, but she had some friends.  She was with her group of friends from Grade 4 and Grade 5.

      “Hazel, you’ve been hanging out with that girl lately,” said one of the girls whose name was Anita.

      “What was her name again?  Melanie, right?” said another girl whose name was Karen.

      Hazel was leaning against the wall, her schoolbag on the ground.  She was perfectly calm and relaxed, while the 4 girls who were around her seemed a little bit troubled.

      “Yup, that’s right.  Her name is Melanie.  Why do you ask?” said Hazel.

      “She’s the daughter of the Premiere of Ontario, right?  My mom told me that her dad is trouble and that he ripped off everyone in the whole province,” said another girl and her name was Tara.

      “That’s what I heard, too.  She’s just like her father.  You can tell just by looking at her,” said the last girl and her name was Dinah.

      Hazel looked like she was very confused.  “You can tell just by looking at her?  I’m not sure I know what you mean by that.  When I look at her, she looks like a nice girl.”

      “A nice girl?” said Anita.  “Everyone says that she’s a bad person.”

      “How can you be hanging around her anyway?” said Tara.

      “She might look innocent, but she’ll probably do stupid things to you later on,” said Karen.

      “You shouldn’t be hanging around her like that,” said Dinah.

      Hazel looked at each and every one of them and she shook her head.  She closed her eyes and sighed and she looked a little annoyed as well.  “You guys are saying such mean things about her!  You don’t even know her.  You don’t know anything about her.  How can you say something about a person you don’t even know?  Have you talked to her yet?”

      “I don’t think we need to talk to her to find out what kind of person she is,” said Tara.

      “Oh, yes, you do,” said Hazel.

      “You don’t,” said Karen.  “You can ask other people about her and if they know, they can tell you.  And what everyone is saying is that she’s a mean person and you shouldn’t be friends with her.”

      Hazel glared at Karen.  “That totally makes no sense!” she said loudly.

      That was pretty loud, too, and because of that, the four girls gasped and were startled.  They hesitated before saying anything else.

      “Do you like her better than us now, Hazel?” asked Anita, who started looking very worried.  She had some fearful sadness on her face.  Hazel saw that and she wondered if that was for real.

      “That’s a weird question.  You’re my friends.  That’s not going to change,” Hazel replied.

      “If you are still our friend, then stop being friends with Melanie Thompson!” Dinah said.

      Hazel stood straight up, for she was very shocked for being asked such a question.  “What?  What are you talking about?” she said loudly and in a way that showed them she was upset.

      “If you are still our friend, don’t be friends with Melanie!” all of them said to Hazel.  Then all four of them suddenly looked startled.  Their eyes fixed on someone who was standing behind Hazel.  Hazel realized that very quickly and she looked behind her.

      Melanie was standing there, several feet away, looking very shocked and scared.  Hazel gasped, her hands flying to her heart.  “Melanie!” she called out.

 

“However…”

      “Huh?”  Melanie looked up at Grandma.

      “Be careful.  People are not always what they seem on the outside, Melanie.  Many people will hurt you in this life, even though they promised the whole world to you.  It’s good to trust others, but it is also not good to trust too much.”  Grandma said this without looking at Melanie as she washed the dishes.

      Melanie was finished with her dinner as well, so she took her plate, glass, and utensils to the kitchen sink.  When she did, Grandma looked down on her.

      “Always be careful,” she said.

      Melanie thought about what she said for some seconds and then she nodded.  “Yes, Grandma.”

 

      Melanie took a few steps back and she started running away.  Hazel could have sworn she saw tears flying out of her eyes as she turned.  Hazel sighed loudly with frustration as she grabbed her school bag from the ground and she began to run after Melanie, who disappeared through the front entrance of the school.

      “Hazel!” Tara called out.

      Hazel stopped and turned around.

      “Don’t go after her!” all four of them said at the same time.

      Hazel glared at them.  She was quite angry at them for saying such insensitive things about her new friend.  She groaned with frustration and turned around and began to run towards the front entrance of the school to try to catch up to Melanie.

 

“Melanie!” Hazel called out as she entered the school through the front entrance.  She saw Melanie go around a corner and she went after her.  She went around the corner and saw that she was not there.  “Oh, great, where the heck did she go now?”

      Hazel walked the hallways of her school but she could not find Melanie anywhere.  She passed by her classroom.  She thought she saw someone inside so she went back to her classroom and looked inside and saw Melanie sitting at her desk with her face towards the window.

      “Hey.  Melanie,” Hazel called out as she entered the classroom.  There was no one in the classroom yet.

      Melanie did not respond.  Hazel walked around her desk and she stood between Melanie and the direction of the window.  Hazel was startled as she saw tears in Melanie’s eyes.  Melanie looked up at her with a scared face.

      “What those girls were saying…” Melanie whispered.

      Hazel looked angry but not at Melanie.  She sighed with great frustration.  “You know, don’t mind what they’re saying.  If you keep on worrying about what other people are saying, you’re just going to get depressed.  And you’re already depressed.  They’re just being stupid.”

      “But they’re your friends.  They don’t want you to leave them for me.  Please don’t lose your friends on my account,” Melanie said very softly as she looked down and wiped the tears from her eyes.

      Hazel stood for a while, trying to figure out what to say.  Actually, she knew in her heart what she wanted to say, but she was trying to figure out how she should say it.  It took her several moments, but she was able to find a way.

      “Melanie…they say they’re my friends, but I don’t think they’re real friends,” she said softly.

      Melanie looked up at her and seemed confused.  “What do you mean?” she asked.

      “I think you know what I mean.  I’m sure you’ve had real friends before.  Otherwise, you wouldn’t be such a friendly person.  Would a real friend ever say something like that to you?  Would a real friend ever make you choose between her and another friend?”

      Melanie thought about that for a moment and then she shook her head.

      “See?  That’s why, I think those girls I was with outside aren’t really friends.  Two of them are in our class, you know.  But anyway, they call themselves my friends, but how can friends say things like that?  Real friends don’t make you choose between one friend and another friend.  I could tell that if they found someone else they think is better than me, they would just forget about me and make friends with that person.”

      Melanie looked up at Hazel.  Her eyes were a little bit red as she took out a handkerchief and dabbed the corners of her eyes with it.  Hazel took out her hand and looked like she wanted Melanie to give her the handkerchief.  Melanie gave her the handkerchief.

      “If I were crying, they would never do this for me,” said Hazel as she wiped Melanie’s cheeks and eyes of the tears that were there before.

      Melanie was surprised by that as she looked up.  A blush formed on her face and a warm glow enveloped her heart once more and it was even warmer than before.  She closed her eyes.

      “You are my friend, Melanie…so don’t be worrying so much,” said Hazel, and she smiled.

      Melanie smiled at her and she nodded her head and looked up.  “Thank you,” she said softly.  “You’re my friend, too.”

      Outside the classroom, four girls started walking away from the classroom door and all four of them looked annoyed.  Tara, Karen, Anita, and Dinah all looked at each other as they gathered around at a corner.

      “Hazel…is out of our group,” said Tara.

 

Melanie was sitting on a park bench in the school park, as far away from the school as possible but still within its property.  She was writing on a paper pad with a pen and she looked up at the sky dreamily.  The clouds seemed to form pretty shapes in her imagination and she smiled.  The sky was blue and the sun was shining brightly.

      Graaaah!”  A face suddenly appeared above Melanie’s face as she was looking up.  She blinked, screamed a second later, and jumped out of the bench and fell on the grass.

      “Hazel!” Melanie called out as she realized who it actually was.  Hazel was laughing and she was laughing so hard that she fell on the grass, too, her hands on her belly because her laughter was starting to hurt her slightly after a few seconds.

      “I’m so sorry, Melanie!” Hazel said but she was still laughing.

      “You’re horrible!  That was really scary!  I thought I was going to die!” Melanie said softly with fear in her voice, but she was calming down quickly.  She stood up from the grass and picked up her paper pad from the ground.

      Hazel giggled as she stood up.  “You knew I was right here.  You sure do get scared really easily, huh, Melanie?” she said.

      Melanie shrugged.  “Yeah, I do.  I get scared easily.  That’s why I can’t see scary movies.”

      “Oh, I see,” she said.  Hazel looked embarrassed but with a smile on her face.  “Sorry.”  She noticed the paper pad that Melanie had.  “So, is that the thing I asked you to show me?”

      Melanie smiled at her.  “Yes, but it’s not finished yet.  I only did the first half and a little bit of the second half of the song, so far,” she replied.

      “I want to see!” Hazel said excitedly and Melanie gave her the paper pad.  Hazel began to read the song that Melanie was writing.  “Oh, wow.  ‘My Heart’.  Sound so romantic.”  She read the song line by line and there was a dead silence between the two of them for a long time.  Melanie started to feel a little bit uncomfortable and she wondered what was going on in Hazel’s mind now.  She hoped that it wasn’t anything bad.

      “Um, Hazel?” she asked, a little bit worried.

      Hazel put the paper pad down and there were tears in her eyes!  “Oh, my!  What a beautiful song!  I feel like I’m going to cry!”

      “You are crying,” said Melanie.

      “Oh, I am?”  Hazel wiped her eyes with a handkerchief and she smiled in a slightly embarrassed way.  “I’m sorry.  I love hearing songs like that.  Oh, speaking of hearing, I want to hear you sing this song.  It sounds so good.  It’s very emotional and dramatic.”

      Melanie was startled.  “What?  You want to hear me sing it?”

      “Yeah!” said Hazel.  “I thought you wanted to be a singer.”

      “I do,” said Melanie.

      “So, finish the song already.  And then you can sing it for me.  I really want to hear it, you know.”  Hazel looked really sincere and excited.  Melanie could have sworn that there were little sparkles hovering around Hazel’s face because she was so excited about Melanie finishing “My Heart” and singing that song for her.

      Melanie smiled at her.  “Okay.  I’ll finish it.  I’ll do my best.”

      While Melanie was sitting on the park bench, she read her entire unfinished song and she thought about the words once again and the feelings that she wanted to be expressed through those words.  And, of course, somehow they had to rhyme with each other.  As Hazel sat beside her and watched, Melanie wrote down a few more lines to the song.

      Melanie put her pen down and she closed her eyes and sighed and smiled.  Hazel looked like she was in awe at Melanie’s cool style.

      “Wow…you finished it,” said Hazel.

      Melanie looked up at her and smiled as well.  “It’s finally finished.  It took me several days to finish it but I finally finished it.  Usually, it doesn’t take me that long, but I really wanted the song to express my feelings as much as I could make it.”

      “Please sing the song, Melanie.”

      Melanie looked at Hazel and then she closed her eyes, sighed, and opened them again.  She wished there was music to go along with it, but this will have to do.  She stood up from the bench and began to sing her new song, “My Heart”.

 

My heart, oh, my heart, I feel like it’s been broken

Shattered pieces blown away, forgotten and forsaken

Carried away by the cold wind of the winter storm

That took my life away, too much pain to form

I feel like the whole world has crashed around me

I want to hide away, to a place where I can be free

But it might be nothing more than a cruel illusion

The cold world’s chill has broken my concentration

If only there was a way to pick up the pieces and move on

If only there was a way to dream again and carry on

Why does my heart continue to dream despite it all?

The starry love dream, I hope would give me a call

 

Why do I still dream when my heart has been broken?

Will my dreams be nothing but a memory forgotten?

Please help me find another way to realize my dream

Push away the cold currents of the torrential stream

This is my life, my wish, my world, and my heart

Help me find a way to mend the pieces of my heart

My heart must love again!

 

So far away, even if you’re so far away from me

I‘ll never forget you, I’ll fulfill my promise, you see

I feel sad and I feel lonely, like I’m the only one here

But I know that you’re here, to chase away my fear

My heart is longing for you; I don’t want to be alone

We have to bear the pain, the sadness, the hurt, all alone

Oh, I want to keep dreaming, oh, I want to keep singing

Diamond dust flying in the sky, my broken heart is crying

There is a way to pick up the pieces and move on

There is a way to dream again and carry on

My heart needs to continue to dream despite it all

The starry love dream, I know it will give me a call

 

Why do I still dream when my heart has been broken?

Will my dreams be nothing but a memory forgotten?

Please help me find another way to realize my dream

Push away the cold currents of the torrential stream

This is my life, my wish, my world, and my heart

Help me find a way to mend the pieces of my heart

My heart must love again!

 

This is my life, my wish, my world, and my heart

Help me find a way to mend the pieces of my heart

My heart must love again!

 

      Melanie turned towards Hazel and she smiled sweetly.  “Well, what do you think?” she asked.

      Hazel had tears in her eyes and she suddenly became highly excitable and hyperactive!  Aaaaaahhhhh!!!  That song is so beautiful!  I feel like I’m going to cry!” she cried out loud, looking almost like a star-struck music fan.

      “But you are crying,” said Melanie.

      Hazel suddenly jumped up from the bench and put her arms around Melanie suddenly.  Melanie was totally taken by surprise as Hazel wrapped her arms around her and squeezed her in a very tight hug.  Melanie was startled and looked uncomfortable because her breathing was suddenly cut off.

      “That song is so lovely, Melanie!  You should write lots of songs like that!  I feel like my heart is going to burst hearing that song!  I can’t believe how beautiful your voice is!  I’ve never heard you sing before, but I think you’re the best singer I’ve ever heard!”

      “Hazel…I…can’t…breathe…” Melanie whispered.

      Hazel was startle and let go of Melanie.  “Oh, sorry,” she said, smiling in an embarrassed way.  “I guess I got just a little carried away there, didn’t I?”

      “Just a little?”  Melanie sighed and then when she felt better, she straightened up and smiled sweetly at Hazel.  “But you’re right, that’s what I want to be.”

      “What?” Hazel asked.

      “I want to be a singer when I grow up!” Melanie said loudly and dreamily.

      Hazel was silent for a while as she stared at Melanie for several seconds.  Melanie wondered what Hazel was thinking about, because she looked like she was out of it for a little while.  Hazel smiled at Melanie.

      “Hey, Melanie.”

      “What is it?” asked Melanie.

      “Your voice is so beautiful.  Why wait until you’re grown up?  Why don’t you try to be a singer now?  I think you should!”

      Melanie gasped, for she was totally surprised.  She did not expect that.  “Right now?  What do you mean, ‘right now’?  I’m not grown up yet.  I don’t know if I’m good enough to become a singer now.  I know maybe I can be when I’m grown up, but I’m still a kid.”

      Hazel put her hands on Melanie’s shoulders.  “Melanie.”

      “Huh?”  Melanie looked back at her with wide eyed puzzlement.

      “Of all the singers I’ve heard, even the grown-up singers, you’re the best one I’ve heard of.  Why don’t you try?  Try to become a singer while you’re still a kid?  Become a professional singer.  You’d surprise everyone.”

      Melanie stared into Hazel’s eyes, and she could tell that Hazel was very serious about what she had just said to her.

 

Melanie was walking home from school.  She was deeply thinking about something.  She was thinking about what Hazel had said to her earlier at school.  Hazel told her that she should try to become a professional singer while she’s still a kid.

      “Can I really do something like that?” Melanie asked herself

 

The sounds of people cheering filled the air and the sky was filled with twinkling stars, little tiny stars that floated upwards from a stage, some kind of lovely special effect.  On the stage were a few young people, maybe in their teenage years, playing different musical instruments, such as guitars and keyboards.  Different-colored laser beams shot up into the sky in different directions.  On a large screen above the stage was the face of a famous pop singer.

      Melanie was singing on the stage and dancing at the same time, the ribbons of her costume flying around her.  Her costume sparkled like diamond dust as she danced and sang, holding a microphone in her hand.  Her costume was pure white and one side of her skirt was much longer than the other.  She wore a brightly jeweled necklace around her neck and there was a golden and diamond tiara on her head.  She sparkled like the stars as she sang like a beautiful angel.

 

I wanna be your happy dreamy love

I wanna spread my wings like a dove

Fly with me all the way to the starry night

Fly to the sky and bask in the starry light

I wanna be your happy dreamy love (happy dream love)

I wanna spread my wings like a dove (wings like a dove)

Fly with me all the way to the starry night (to the starry night)

Fly to the sky and bask in the starry light (in the starry light)

Starry love dream

 

(Happy dreamy love, wings like a dove)

(To the starry night, in the starry light)

 

Starry love dream, I love you!

 

      As she finished her song, people cheered and applauded loudly.  Melanie curtsied adorably and she smiled at everyone who loved her music.

      “Thank you so much!  I’m so happy that you came to my concert tonight!  I want to keep on singing and continue to touch the hearts of everyone in the whole world!  Thank you so much!  I love all of you!” said Melanie to her audience.

 

      Melanie started to giggle and she shook her head.  “Hazel’s a little bit silly, I think.  I know I’ve been dreaming of that…and I would love it if I can do it when I grow up…but can I really do something like that now?  I’m not really sure about that…” she whispered.

 

“Hey, Melanie.”

      “What is it?” asked Melanie.

      “Your voice is so beautiful.  Why wait until you’re grown up?  Why don’t you try to be a singer now?  I think you should!”

      Melanie gasped, for she was totally surprised.  She did not expect that.  “Right now?  What do you mean, ‘right now’?  I’m not grown up yet.  I don’t know if I’m good enough to become a singer now.  I know maybe I can be when I’m grown up, but I’m still a kid.”

      Hazel put her hands on Melanie’s shoulders.  “Melanie.”

      “Huh?”  Melanie looked back at her with wide eyed puzzlement.

      “Of all the singers I’ve heard, even the grown-up singers, you’re the best one I’ve heard of.  Why don’t you try?  Try to become a singer while you’re still a kid?  Become a professional singer.  You’d surprise everyone.”

 

      Melanie stopped for a moment, just before she had reached the house she was living in.  She thought again about what Hazel had said.  She was right about some of those things that she said.  Some children in the world are professional actresses and actors.  Some of them are actually singers.  There are also some children who have published books.  There are many children who have accomplished many things that usually adults would accomplish.

      “Can I really do something like that?” Melanie whispered to herself.

      Melanie continued to walk, and she got to the house.  She went towards the front porch and was getting her keys out.  She was about to open the door to the house but she kept on thinking about her dreams and ambitions and about what Hazel was saying.

      Hazel seemed to have also liked Melanie’s song and her singing very much.  Melanie smiled slightly at that and she sighed.

      “It’s my dream to become a singer, to convey my feelings through songs and reach people’s hearts with them.  Other singers have done that.  They fulfilled their dreams.  Can I fulfill my dreams, too?  Can I do it now instead of later in my life?’

      Melanie opened the door to the house and she looked around as she closed the door when she went inside.  It looks like she could not see Grandma Annabelle anywhere.

      “Grandma, I’m home!” she called out, but there was no response.  But it was usually like that.  Whenever she called out to her Grandma in the house, there would usually be no response at all.  There was no way she could tell whether she was in the house or not.

      Melanie put her bag on the floor and removed her shoes.  She looked into the kitchen and found that there was no one there.  She left the kitchen and went to the stairs and she went to the second floor.  Grandma’s bedroom door was slightly opened.  Melanie took a peek inside and saw that she was not there either.  Melanie gasped.

      “Does that mean I’m home alone?” she said with her eyes wide open.

      Melanie had never been home alone before.  She felt uncomfortable.  It was strange to her because when Grandma was here, she felt uncomfortable around her, and now that she’s not here, she felt uncomfortable because she was left home alone.

      Melanie took her schoolbag into her room and then she left it and went downstairs.  She looked around for a while and she sighed, feeling a little lonely.  She wondered where her Grandma Annabelle went.

 

Several minutes later, Melanie was sitting living room and she tried to take a peek at the news on television.  She wondered if there was any news about her father but she did not find any news.  But then she remembered that it was still late afternoon and the news would not be showing on television yet.  It would be later at night.

      She turned off the television and she stood up and was about to go upstairs to her room when she heard the front door being unlocked.  She stopped and she gasped and her hands went to her fast-beating heart, her eyes wide open.  Was there an intruder trying to get into the house?

      Melanie looked quite frightened as the front door swung open.

      “Melanie, don’t just stand there!  Help me put these groceries into the kitchen!”

      Melanie blinked a couple of times and she was startled again.  “Grandma!” exclaimed.

      “What?  What are you standing there for?  I just asked you to do something!” said Grandma.

      “Oh, um, yes, Grandma!  I’m so sorry!” Melanie said quickly and she hurried to Grandma, who gave her some of the plastic bags that she was carrying.  She headed for the kitchen with them, but she felt that they were quite heavy.  She wondered how Grandma was able to carry all this from the grocery store all the way home.

      And speaking of the grocery store, she did not know there was one around here.  If there was a grocery store, there was probably a plaza, and where there is a plaza, there would be different kinds of places to check out if Melanie wanted to buy something.

      Grandma came into the kitchen with the rest of the groceries and set them on the table.  She started to empty the plastic bags by placing the contents on the kitchen table.  Melanie stood there in the kitchen, trying to find out if she was supposed to do anything.

      “Grandma, do you want me to help you with those?” Melanie asked with a very soft voice.

      Grandma looked at Melanie for a while.  She looked strict and she looked stern, and it made Melanie feel very shy very quickly.  Melanie did not know what to say.  She wondered if Grandma was going to get angry with her.

      “Never mind the groceries.  It seems to me that you haven’t been taught very much while you were living with your parents when it comes to basic household activities, such as unloading and putting away grocery products,” said Grandma.

      That wasn’t true.  Melanie sometimes helped Sylvia, her maid, with putting away the groceries.  It was just that Melanie didn’t know where the items were supposed to go in this house.

      “Just go to your room and do your homework, Melanie.  I will take care of these,” said Grandma.

      Melanie hesitated and felt a little disappointed, but she complied.  “Yes, Grandma,” she said softly.  She left the kitchen and she went up the stairs to her room.

 

When Melanie got to her room, she thought about what happened today at school again.  Melanie was lying down in her bed and she thought about those images of her as a singer, dancing on a stage and singing with a beautiful and angelic voice.  Fans were cheering her on in the audience while the band behind her was making music for her songs.  All kinds of beautiful special effects were appearing here and there and everywhere.  Melanie closed her eyes and she smiled.

      “Hazel, if I can fulfill my dream now…how will I do it?  I don’t know anyone who would help me become a singer,” Melanie whispered.

      Melanie still smiled, for the images in her mind seemed so real that it was like she was living it.  She wanted it to come true.  She wanted to make it come true now, in fact, because Hazel had suggested it and it was a very good suggestion.  The only question was how she was going to make it happen.

      “I want to make it happen…”

 

The End (to be continued)

 

Ending theme song

“My Heart” by Starry~en~Luv

 

My heart, oh, my heart, I feel like it’s been broken

Shattered pieces blown away, forgotten and forsaken

Carried away by the cold wind of the winter storm

That took my life away, too much pain to form

I feel like the whole world has crashed around me

I want to hide away, to a place where I can be free

But it might be nothing more than a cruel illusion

The cold world’s chill has broken my concentration

If only there was a way to pick up the pieces and move on (If only there was a way)

If only there was a way to dream again and carry on (If only there was)

Why does my heart continue to dream despite it all? (Why does it continue?)

The starry love dream, I hope would give me a call (Oh, the starry love dream!)

 

(My heart must love again…)

Why do I still dream when my heart has been broken?

Will my dreams be nothing but a memory forgotten?

Please help me find another way to realize my dream

Push away the cold currents of the torrential stream

(My heart) This is my life, my wish, my world, and my heart

(My heart) Help me find a way to mend the pieces of my heart

My heart must love again!

 

So far away, even if you’re so far away from me

I‘ll never forget you, I’ll fulfill my promise, you see

I feel sad and I feel lonely, like I’m the only one here

But I know that you’re here, to chase away my fear

My heart is longing for you; I don’t want to be alone

We have to bear the pain, the sadness, the hurt, all alone

Oh, I want to keep dreaming, oh, I want to keep singing

Diamond dust flying in the sky, my broken heart is crying

There is a way to pick up the pieces and move on (There is a way)

There is a way to dream again and carry on (There is always a way)

My heart needs to continue to dream despite it all (My heart must continue)

The starry love dream, I know it will give me a call (Oh, the starry love dream!)

 

(My heart must love again…)

Why do I still dream when my heart has been broken?

Will my dreams be nothing but a memory forgotten?

Please help me find another way to realize my dream

Push away the cold currents of the torrential stream

(My heart) This is my life, my wish, my world, and my heart

(My heart) Help me find a way to mend the pieces of my heart

My heart must love again!

 

(My heart, oh, my heart!) This is my life, my wish, my world, and my heart

(Love again, oh, love again!) Help me find a way to mend the pieces of my heart

My heart must love again!

 

Preview for Next Episode

 

Melanie and Hazel’s narration:

 

Melanie: “Thank you so much for today.  I met a new friend and her name is Hazel Callaway, and she is really wonderful!

Hazel: “Hi!  It’s me!  Hazel!  It’s nice to meet you, everyone!”

Melanie: “There were a couple of things that I was worried about at first, but she really does want to be my friend!  She even asked me to sing for her and I did, but she said that I should be a professional singer!  I know…I know that’s my dream, but I don’t think I’m good enough for that right now, because I’m still just a little kid.”

Hazel: “Hey, I was serious about that, you know.  You should do something about it.”

Melanie: “Hazel lives with her parents and her little brother.  But there’s something about her little brother, she said.  It’s not a big deal but sometimes people bother him for it.  We have to keep him happy as much as we can!  And somehow, we’ve got to give him courage!  Right, Hazel?

Hazel: “That’s right!  We have to help him have courage.  Because even to a kid, life can be really tough!  Don’t let those adults tell you that life is tough when you’re grown-up!  A kid’s life is not easy either!  Sometimes, it can be just as hard!”

Melanie: “Um, yah…Anyways…Hazel’s family, I get to meet them, too!  Isn’t that just so cool?  But you know what, I think something bad is going to happen at school and it might have something to do with Hazel’s little brother.  I have to get the courage to do something about it.  The power of love can be delivered by song, you know!

Melanie and Hazel: “Next time on Starry Love Dream!  Episode 4: The first time people here heard me sing