Melinda and the Wild West Read Online Free Page A

all over her face.
    One of the students turned around and said,
“Her name is Jenny. She won’t talk. She usually doesn’t.”
    Melinda raised her eyebrows. So, this was
Jenny. Looking at the other students writing diligently, she
wondered what to do. Then, looking at the young girl at her desk,
she decided to try another method. Knowing that she needed some
private time with her, Melinda dismissed the students for ten
minutes of free time outside. The class cheered and ran out to
play.
    After the last student left, Melinda looked
into Jenny’s eyes. “Jenny, what is your favorite color?”
    Jenny stared at the wall, her mouth pursed
tightly in a straight line with her eyes full of defiance.
    “Mine is pink and lavender. I like those
colors, so I usually pick them for my dresses. How about you?”
    Still no answer.
    “Is it blue? You have on a very pretty
dress, Jenny. I love the blue flowers. And you have very pretty
blue eyes, the color of the lake. Your favorite color must be blue.
Is that right?”
    The hard, angry look in her eyes began to
soften. Jenny looked at Melinda and nodded curtly.
    At last she got a response. That was a
beginning. Melinda stroked Jenny’s hair and said, “Your hair is so
pretty. When I was little, I wanted to have hair the color of
wheat, just like yours. But look what color it is. To have hair the
color of wheat is very lucky, Jenny.” At last a slight smile came
to Jenny’s lips. “Your hair is braided so nicely. Who braids it?
Your mother?”
    Melinda instantly remembered that Aunt
Martha had mentioned Jenny did not have a mother. She had stuck her
foot in her mouth. The last thing she wanted to do was make Jenny
feel bad.
    The corners of Jenny’s mouth gradually
turned up. “No, I don’t have a mother. Pa does it. I tried once but
it looked messy, so Pa says I’ve got to keep trying. He says to not
give up.”
    Melinda was elated. She was able to break
the barrier between them. “Your father is right, Jenny.”
    Melinda knew that her next question would be
personal, but she needed to know. If things were not right at home,
that could be another problem that Jenny would bring to school. She
needed to know if Jenny was mistreated or not.
    “Is your pa a good father and do you love
him?”
    Jenny’s eyes brightened with love and she
smiled at Melinda and nodded. Melinda could tell that Jenny loved
her father very much and she sighed with relief.
    “I’m glad. Where do you live, Jenny?”
    Melinda knew approximately where Jenny
lived, but she needed Jenny to talk to her. If she could get her to
communicate, then she would be making progress.
    In a most quiet tone of voice, Jenny
answered, “On a ranch not too far from here.”
    Melinda lowered her eyes and said quietly,
“I’m sorry about your mother.”
    Jenny smiled. “That’s all right. I never
knew her.”
    “So, Jenny, what’s your favorite subject in
school?”
    Instantly the mood changed and the corners
of Jenny’s mouth turned down into a frown. She blurted out with
anger, “Don’t have one.”
    “But there must be something that you enjoy
about school.”
    Jenny’s frown remained and the defiance in
her eyes returned as she quickly shook her head.
    When Melinda noticed that Jenny’s attitude
had changed, she decided to change the subject. Apparently school
was the wrong subject. She wanted Jenny to speak with happier
tones, so she decided to ask her about the people she loved. “Do
you have a grandmother or grandfather nearby?”
    “My grandpa and grandma live in the East. I
don’t get to see them often. And my other ones live a day’s journey
from here and that’s my pa’s folks.”
    “Do they want you to go to school and
learn?”
    Jenny’s eyes looked down at the floor and
she had a sober look on her face. “Yes, they do.”
    “Jenny, how about if we move your desk next
to mine and you can be my helper. What do you think about that? I
really need help at times, like passing out papers or