Music in My Heart: My Journey with Melody

When Melody and I decide to stay home, Big Momma pulls us both into a hug. She says it’s hard to celebrate when people we care about are hurting. And going to church will help our hearts, and so will having family over for dinner. Melody nods and confirms that Yvonne will come to dinner, too? We need to talk to her about the performance hall. Big Momma says that all of Melody’s siblings will come.

An hour later, I’m sitting beside Melody in church, but all I can think about is Al and Josephine. While the pastor talks about helping others, I wonder what we can do to save the performance hall. We’re just two girls. Two girls can’t go up against a whole city.

I can’t wait for Sunday dinner, mostly because I want to meet Melody’s big sister, Yvonne. Melody says she will know what to do. And when I meet them, I decide I like all of Melody’s siblings. Lila, Melody’s other older sister, is quiet but nice. And she reads all the time. She even sneaks a book to read under the table before dinner starts. I’ve done that before. Dwayne taps out a rhythm on the table with his spoon, and he winks at me. I still feel shy around him, knowing that he’s sort of famous. And then there’s Yvonne. She rushes through the door a minute before the food is served, wearing a colorful scarf over her Afro. She has a cast on her wrist, but before I can ask anyone about it, Poppa starts carrying bowls of steaming food in from the kitchen.

Sitting down, surrounded by Melody’s family, I feel homesick. I start thinking about my mom and dad, until I hear Melody telling Yvonne about Al and Josephine’s place. Yvonne furrows her brow and says we should stage a demonstration. She can talk to her friends in the Student Walk to Freedom Club. If enough people show up and surround the building, they can’t tear it down. Melody’s dad tells us to slow down. It sounds dangerous. Melody says that they let her march in the protest at Fieldston’s Clothing Store. Mrs. Ellison says that that was organized. We didn’t just show up without thinking it through. Mr. Ellison adds in that there were no bulldozers there either.

Yvonne says that just because we move quickly, doesn’t mean we’re not organized. Big Momma sets a bowl of potatoes on the table and says there are other ways to raise our voices, too. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Yvonne and Melody exchange a look. Yvonne’s jaw is set with determination. She says she can bring us with her. Yvonne can look out for us. It’d be a good experience to stand up for something we believe in.

Melody’s parents looked doubtful. I have to admit, standing in the way of a construction crew sounds dangerous. What would my own parents think about that? My stomach flutters with nerves and homesickness. Melody gives me that look again, the one that says, what do you think we should do?