Chapter 12

A few days later, Eric and Melody had a brief meeting with the bullies, their parents, and the principal in the hallway. The parents of Harry, Anna, and Joey were shocked that they would display such despicable behavior. The principal gave them a speech of how rude it is to make fun of someone's family members and family history. Harry, Anna, and Joey begrudgingly said sorry and they won't bother Melody anymore. After the meeting, everybody left feeling satisfied. Even though Melody feels safe, she is still afraid that they might bother her again. Rose and Omar told her that they'd be there if Harry, Anna, and Joey ever come near Melody.

"Melody, do you know what you are going to do on the talent show?" Ariel asked, on one Friday afternoon in the living room.

"Well, I want to sing 'Best of Both Worlds' from Hannah Montana ," Melody answered. "I know all the words to it. I just need help in singing it on key."

"I'll help you," said Ariel. The two made a quick trip to the library and returned home with the song sheet of "Best of Both Worlds."

"Do you have a piano?" Ariel asked.

"Yes, it is downstairs in the basement," said Melody. They went downstairs in the basement and found a piano that looked like it hadn't been used in years. It was covered with dust a few cobwebs. Ariel wondered when was the last time Eric had used the piano. She and Melody dusted and cleaned the piano.

"Before we are going to sing a song, we are going to do warm-ups," said Ariel.

"What are warm-ups?" Melody requested.

"It is when people try to get their voices a head start in singing for comfort," Ariel explained.

"I still don't get it," said Melody, softly.

"Let me show you," held Ariel gently. She sat down and put Melody next to her. Ariel began to play the notes.

"La la la la laaa…," She sang. "You see? 'Warming up your voice,'"

"Oh! I get it!" Melody smiled.

"Repeat after me," replied Ariel. She tapped her fingers on the keys again. "La la la la laaa…,"

"La la la la laa!" Melody sang a little bit off-key. She frowned.

"Let's try again," Ariel encouraged. "La la la la laaa."

"La la la la laaa...,"

"Much better, Melody," whispered Ariel.

"La la la la laaa..

Meanwhile, Eric is having a good day at the office.

"Eric, so glad you could make it to on time this morning!" said Mr. Disney.

"Mr. Disney, I have always been on time-well recently," Eric responded.

"Oh yes! I remember, Al and Adam said you found a nanny?"

"Yes, I finally found someone who I can trust to watch over my daughter,"

"How is the nanny been doing her job so far, mind if I may ask?"

"Well, she has been doing well so far. She is always on time and she does everything I tell her to do. But still, I can't be too sure. I don't know what else goes on between the nanny and Melody and I don't know if she is treating Melody right or not."

"Well, if you are not so sure-"

"WALT!"

"Oh excuse me as I must help my 'damsel in distress brother,' Walt joked.

"I heard that!" shouted Roy. Eric and Walt laughed.

Later during lunch, Eric was chatting with Adam, Aladdin, and a few other co-workers such as John Smith, Li Shang, Hercules Klomparens, and Tarzan Porter.

"So anybody got plans for Memorial Day weekend?" John Smith asked the group.

"Well, I'm going to see the town's parade-of course! Then the day after that, I'll see my son, Omar in his school's talent show," said Aladdin.

Talent show! Eric almost forgot about it! It is Melody's important day. But should he go? He and his buddies don't get a day off on the day after Memorial day but they can request to leave early. I want to go! Eric thought. But then, he remembered how last year, he missed all of Melody's soccer games. He had tried to come to Melody's final soccer game but failed. Eric got held up in office and by the time he got to the game, everybody was leaving. He had never seen Melody so upset before. He recalled how the conversation went between them.

Flashback

"Why were you late?"

"Melody, I'm sorry,"

"No, you're not! You didn't even try to make it!"

End Flashback

There had been a few times where during her first soccer games, he told her he wouldn't come but still Melody would be mad at Eric for not coming or for not even trying to.

"But I did try," He mumbled.

"Something wrong Eric?" Eric's thoughts were interrupted as he noticed his friends looking at him strangely.

"Uh, it's nothing guys," Eric half-smiled. But his brain disagreed with him.

Later after lunch, Eric decided to see if he could get permission to leave early on May 31st. He knocked on Walt's door.
"Mr. Walt Disney?"

He opened it only to find Mr. Roy Disney instead.

"Ah, hello Eric," said Roy.

"Hello, Mr. Roy Disney," responded Eric. He entered in the office. "Where is Mr. Walt Disney? I need to speak with him,"

"Mr. Walt left for a meeting with the executives. You can talk to me,"

"Well," said Eric. "My daughter has a school function on May 31st and I would like request to leave work early for that."

Roy sighed. "Eric, you are aware of the commitments you made to this company?"

"Yes..," said Eric, with a tint of nervousness in his voice.

"And you remember that you won't take anymore day offs?"

"Yes..,"

"Then the answer is no,"

"But Mr. Roy Disney, I have to go. It's my dau-"

"Eric, your time to the company is very important. You are the vice president of this company and we need you. You promised to dedicate more of your time to it and you can't go back on your promise!"

"But Melody-"

"Oh! I'm sure your daughter will understand. Now if you excuse me, I have to go and make a call to John Lasseter." Thus Roy left Eric standing hopelessly thinking one thing: Oh! What am I going to do?