Fourth Marking Period (through page 198) Summary

Melinda takes a mental health day, playing sick to stay home from school. Her mother is gentle and nurturing before going off to work. Alone in the house, Melinda curls up on the couch to watch TV. Viewing one talk show after another, she begins to reflect on her life and wonders, "Was I raped?" She imagines Oprah and Sally Jesse Raphael saying that she can't keep it inside anymore, that she has to speak up.

Back at school, in art class, Ivy accidentally catches Melinda's shirt with a handful of uncapped colored markers. Melinda goes off to the bathroom to clean up and Mr. Freeman sends Ivy in to check on her. As Ivy helps her clean the shirt, the two girls start talking. Melinda reads some of the graffiti in the stalls. She...