<span>At first, skipping school is excellent. Melinda can do whatever she wants, and nobody is around to boss her.She walks around until she's freezing, and then almost decides to go to school, where she can get warm.Instead, she takes the bus to the mall, which is just opening when she arrives. She didn't realize the mall was ever closed.Elderly women exercise. Melinda window shops.She sits watching the sun stream in through the skylight.Maybe she should go ahead and tell someone her secret.A security guard sees Melinda, and she can tell he's about to report her as a truant.She goes outside to catch the bus, and waits until time for school to be out so she can go back home.For the next four days, Melinda gets up early, catches her bus, and goes to school.<span>The routine drives her crazy. She'll have to skip school now and again for relief.
</span></span>
