Every Song Tells a Story

Life has never been easy for Melody—sexual abuse, delinquency, addiction, jail, having her child taken by Social Services. Abandoned, neglected and abused by those whose purpose was to nurture, protect and guide, she has so many reasons to say life has never given her a break, and to fall into the quicksand of self-pity. Yet, Melody is possessed of determination and perseverance, even if not recognized by her, that propel her forward. Through unexpected sources—a bicycle shop, a former jail mate, an elderly nursing home resident, a landlady—she finds friendship, trust, and love from others who have had to endure life’s hard lessons. Often, it is in the stories of others that we find our own.
Melody, in her early twenties and just out of jail, struggles to comply with a system that seems more likely to crush than encourage her determination to regain custody of her two year old daughter, now in foster care and growing more estranged each time Melody visits. A simple problem—how to get to work on time—leads her to a bicycle shop and to Randy. They recognize in themselves an attraction and a fear of confronting emotions that have, in the past, only led to pain. From Randy and the shop owner, Eric, she learns to accept kindness that expects nothing in return. It is her friend and former cellmate, Mardie, a former boxer, who is the embodiment of the directness and confidence Melody wishes she had. She keeps Melody from ducking the hard questions and to trust in herself. Melody’s, apparently gruff landlady, Marge, provides Melody with further kindness, friendship and a story of loss. Through her court-ordered community service at a nursing home, Melody meets Ethyl, the female figure Melody has never known but needed. Ethyl’s story of loss and pain helps Melody face the most difficult decision of her life—should she relinquish custody of her daughter. With Ethyl’s unconditional love and nurture, and the influences of those she has allowed into her life, she begins the process of trust and love.