Title: Mindy's Plan
Disclaimer: Nickelodeon and Dan Schneider own everything. I only waste time and make no money on this venture.
Chapter Three: Melinda
So for hours in my clinic dorm, a bland room done in the same white perfection as that the outer Clinic, I sat leaned forward like those bean sprouts we all had to plant in the first grade. Left by myself a hard darkness started to fall over me, like curtain closing over a movie too soon. I felt a loneliness that was so total it was like being dead already. And it was into that loneliness I was sliding and where I would dwell forever, the too-skinny friendless genius, alone. I almost succumbed there, let myself be lifted and carried like a helium balloon that slips from your hand then tumbles away over dark ridged rooftops growing smaller smaller and then disappearing all together. Then my side there was another girl, invisible to the other people at the Clinic. I had never noticed her presence before, but there she was sitting cross-legged with her back straight against the headboard.
Who are you? I asked the invisible girl who looked a lot like me, but with brighter eyes set farther apart, darker thicker hair and trendier clothes.
The girl smiled and told me her name was Melinda. We are so much better than all those people right? She told me, We have a fantastic future! We will be honored and respected. Pulitzer prizes, Noble prizes!
"But I am unhappy NOW. I want to be happy today. How do I do that Melinda?"
Melinda threw her head back and laughed out loud, cackled really. "You never will be. Besides, no one will ever appreciate you like I do. It will always be just me and you."
"Shut up!" I yelled putting my hands up to my ears and squeezing my eyes closed. "Go away!"
"Your judgment is maimed! Stay here with me, forget about all other idiots in the world!"
I tried to think of thoughts that would make her go. Raindrops on roses, whiskers on kittens, the smell of leather bound books, Josh Nichol's eyes. What? I was surprised that in that moment I started think of of Josh, his unmitigated kindness and simple reasoning. I missed him a lot without ever figuring out just what it was that I missed. The things that had angered me during the time I had known him with Drake and during the trial turned out to be just the things, in retrospect, that shined. What a wonderful disposition he had! His personality wasn't influenced in any significant way by those around him. He didn't try to imitate popularity or airs, become less goofy, he just did the right thing. He knew he was smart AND unpopular and didn't care, in fact he was as happy as a lark! And like a dog remaining loyal to those he cared about no matter what. How could I just accept who I was and be happy about it like he did? Not blame others for my misery? Life isn't suppose to be like this. Wasn't it possible to shift direction, to change where I am headed?
I opened my eyes and turned towards Melinda to tell her about Josh but she was gone.
It was the boy with the chubby limbs and mop of black hair that helped me out of that hour, gave me some hope that I could be accepting and happy. He was my Budai, my Hotei / 笑佛, all I had to do was rub his belly to bring me good fortune.