Out of My Mind

Aside from studying, Melody begins to create sentences to preprogram into her computer, so she has ready answers to the questions that come up the most. Typically, she is asked what has caused her condition, and she gives the scientific response but adds, “It limits my body, but not my mind” (168). She even has a snappy comeback ready for people like Claire and Molly, where she says, “We all have disabilities. What’s yours?” (169). Mrs. V laughs hard when Melody shows her that sentence.

While studying with Mrs. V one afternoon, they watch a bird at the feeder. Mrs. V asks Melody what she would do if she could fly. Melody says she would be afraid she’d like it so much that she would fly away. Mrs. V insists that Melody is a bird, “And you will fly on Monday when you take the test” (169). Mrs. Brooks is incredulous about how much time and effort Mrs. V has put into preparing Melody for the test, but Mrs. V points out that she helps Penny in the same way and no one thinks anything of it. Mrs. Brooks insists that learning is harder for Melody, but Mrs.