Life Of Melanie (Completed)

Fat Camp! I still couldn't believe all of this was happening to me. My alarm had been ‘alarming' for half an hour, but I refused to move from my spot in bed. My mother had poked her head in a few times to tell me to get up, but I ignored her. After all I hated her for doing this to me. Just as I was about to give in and get out of bed, the phone on my night stand began to ring.

Sleepily I answered, "hello."

" Hey....... you need to get you lazy butt out of that bed, pronto." Chimed Clarissa's voice from the other end of the line.

" Who are you now, my mother," was my reply.

" No!! And thank God for that. You really give her a hard time Mel, I mean she actually had to call ME to get you out of bed."

"No she didn't," I said unbelievingly. "Did she?"

" Yes, now come on and get up. I'm about to walk out of the door, but I wanted to call and tell you, everything will be fine. You may even enjoy yourself." Clarissa tried to assure.

At that last remark I laughed, " Fat chance, but I'm glad u called, I hope at least one of us has a fun summer ‘vacation'."

" Well," Clarissa thought a moment, " it will be what you make it Mel...... remember that."

Putting on the best Chinese accent I could I said, "Yes master.......I will try, talk to you in say....six weeks."

"Okay.....hey, loose a lot of weight," Clarissa joked. "Oh....and don't O.D. on celery."

With that we both laughed and said our final goodbyes.



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So this was the day........ the day my mother said was the beginning of a new life for me. To me it felt like the day I was sold into slavery.
The car ride to the airport had been torture....... it was impossible to make small talk with a woman you couldn't even stand to look at. Every now and then I would see her glance in my direction, but my eyes never left the road.

"Melanie...... sweety...... you are really going to thank me for this," my mother tried to explain.

I just stared blankly ahead as if I were the only person in the universe. See I knew my mother hated being ignored, which was really the only reason I needed to ignore her. Today, however, I had more than enough reasons not to give her the time of day.

"Melanie, I know you feel betrayed, but honestly this is going to change your life." she continued. "When you get home, you will be a new person, a confident person." Still I stared ahead as if she had said nothing at all. "We can go shopping and pick out a whole new wardrobe for school. You'll be turning sixteen, we can throw a party and invite all of your friends."

With that I turned my head and looked her straight in the eye. I wanted to scream to the top of my lungs ‘You mean ‘friend' right, cause Clarissa is my only friend', but instead I just stared at her.

She was beautiful, the epitome of perfection. Her golden locks of hair precisely in their places, her flawless peachy skin, no wonder she wanted to change me so bad.......... we were nothing alike.

I guess my mother finally felt defeated, she no longer tried to ‘cheer' me up. The rest of the ride to the airport was silent....... thank God.


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Once my luggage was checked, I lounged in the lobby next to the gate entrance, waiting to depart. My mother had gone to the restroom when they started the first boarding call. I was very tempted to run onto the plane, avoiding saying goodbye to my mother, but I didn't.
She must have been thinking the same thing, cause she emerged from the restroom, practically running. Once she reached me we stood there, face to face for what seemed like hours, not saying a word. Finally I broke the silence, "Mom, I have to get going if I am going to make this flight."

Touching my face with the tips of her fingers she just said, "I know."

Feeling a little odd, I began to fidget, " Um..... Okay......so I'm going to go now." I said as I picked up my carry-on bag and headed for the gate.

"Melanie, wait," my mother stopped me. "Honey, I love you, all I want is for you to be happy......don't you want that for yourself?"

Seeing my mother standing there, looking so desperate, made me realize that she was right. I should want to be happy. I gave her a half smile and said, " I love you too, mom." I began walking to the gate once again.

"Melanie, just one more thing." I heard her add.

Turning on my heel to face her, "Yea?" I asked.

Quickly she pulled a camera from her purse and snapped a picture of me....... probably with my eyes closed.

"We need a before picture." She said with a smile.

"Yea, yea, yea," I said over my shoulder as I gave my ticket to the lady at the gate entrance. I could feel my mother's eyes on me as I headed into the plane. I never looked back.


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Once i was settled into my seat, I pulled out my discman and slid on the earphones. Staring into space with the tunes of the Deftones vibrating through my head, I began to realize my mother wasn't so wrong. Everyone wants to be happy. And the honest truth is I do want to be different. At that moment I made a decision. I was going to change.........but I was going to do it for me, no one else.