Melody Stenberger

Lotus Branch Academy for Girls

Saint Johns, FL

32259

Dear Ms. Stenberger,

We are delighted to inform you that you have been selected for admission to the prestigious Florida Conservatory Summer Camp for the June 9th – July 11th 2014 session. Please see enclosed the necessary information for admission to the Conservatory for your own session(s).

You may reserve your place in the June session by submitting your Intent to Enroll form along with a $100 enrollment deposit. If you plan to live off-campus for the duration of the session, please submit a $50 enrollment deposit for tuition. We do ask that you notify us of your decision to attend the Conservatory as soon as possible, and no later than May 15th.

We look forward to having you this summer as you learn and grow in your musicianship and congratulate you again on your acceptance to the Florida Conservatory Summer Camp!

Best Wishes,

Miranda Eastman

Chapter 1

Look, I didn't want to go to Music Camp.

Yes, I know that I have a pretty good voice. I'm already in the choir at school, and while I do like singing that kind of music, the people just get under my skin way too often. They are snooty, they don't listen to any other ideas unless they come from someone within the group, and they just don't like me. They never have.

The Trio of Nasty, as I like to call them, always look perfect, sound perfect, even smell perfect – there is never a hair out of place on their shiny, perfectly-coiffed hair.

So no, I'm not looking forward to dealing with them 24 hours a day for FOUR weeks.

"Mel, your dinner is ready!" my mom called from the bottom of the stairs.

"I'll be right down! I just need to get this last bit of homework done!" I really didn't need to finish my homework, I just needed to decide what to say to my mom that would get her off my back about the summer camp thing.

My mom has always been HUGELY supportive of my music. She says that when I sing, she is reminded of the person my father was. I don't remember my father; he left my mom even before I was born.

Ever since he left, my mom has had to work at least two jobs for the past 14 or so years. While he was with her, my father showered her with gifts and money – but all of that quickly ran out after he found out she was pregnant with me.

My mom never married anyone else, or really dated anybody after he left. She always said that he had changed her forever – she could love nobody else but him.

"Melody! If you don't get down here soon, I'm going to have to give your dinner away to the hungry kids in Africa!" She chuckled a little bit after that declaration. One of the things I love about my mom the most is her laugh – it's so free and wild that it makes my smile no matter what mood I'm in.

"I'll be right down! Hold your horses!"