First Marking Period Pages 24- 46

Summary

When Mr. Neck tried to chase down Melinda in the cafeteria for a missing assignment, she runs through the senior wing and finds an empty janitors closest; she clams it as a hangout. Later, Melinda plans on skipping out of the pep rally, but is caught by Heather before she can escape. During the pep rally, a few girls ask if she was the one who called the police at Kyle Rodger's party; Melinda freezes as the faded memory comes back to light. She tries to ignore the girls but as the pep rally starts, one of them pulls her hair. As it ends, she is accidentally knocked down three rows of bleachers. On Columbus day, Melinda goes to Heather's house because they don't have school. They discuss joining school clubs, activities, and social groups. Melinda rejects all of Heather's ideas; Heather breaks into tears and asks why it is so hard to make friends at Merryweather. Melinda leaves without saying goodbye. At dinner, Melinda's parents discuss her falling grades with her. Melinda doesn't speak much and ignores them. In algebra, Melinda's teacher calls on her to the board to solve a math problem. When she cannot answer the problem he calls Rachel to help Melinda. When they are done, they go to sit down awkwardly as the laugh giggles. In Spanish, the class learns that "linda" means "pretty", the class proceeds to call Melinda, "No-me-linda". The Marthas give Heather her first job, to help decorate the faculty lounge for Thanksgiving. Heather asks Melinda to help and she agrees to. As the Martha's come to see Heather's work, Melinda leaves. The Marthas comment to Heather about Melinda being creepy. Melinda has a nightmare about "IT". "IT" is walking through the halls and winks at Melinda.

Analysis

Melinda fins her own hiding spot in an old faculty closet. She says that the closet it abandoned, with no purpose or name; Melinda then says it's perfect for her. At the pep rally, Melinda experiences her first real memory from the night at the party. Two girls harass her over calling the police, one says her brother was arrested because of her. She thinks about the cheerleaders and how they always get their way. Also, she bets that they never screwed up. At Heather's, Melinda refuses to join any clubs or groups. Heather cries and sobs that no one is accepting at Merryweather High School; Melinda leaves. Melinda never looks or talks to her parents when they talk to her about her horrible grades; this upsets them. Melinda is made fun of by the Marthas as she leaves from helping Heather with her project, she runs and cries in the bathroom. Then, she has a dream about "IT", walking down the hallway with a cheerleader, blinking at Melinda.