Melissa was sitting outside on the porch in front of the newspaper office with her chin resting on her fists. It was a Saturday morning and there wasn�t much traffic in town. She had seen her favorite Pony Express rider go into the Post Office. He had a bag with him, so he must be dropping off letters.

Jimmy left the Post Office and he came around his horse and patted him on the rump. He saw Melissa looking pretty down. He wondered why she was so sad. He had a little bit of time before he had to be back at the station, so he walked over and said hello.

Melissa said a pitiful, "Hello!"

"What�s wrong?"

"You don�t really want to know?"

"I wouldn�t have asked if I didn�t." Jimmy grinned and Melissa raised her head up. "Well, I don�t have a date for the Valentine�s Dance.

"Oh, so that�s what has you so down!" Jimmy smirked.

"Yes, I want to have a date, but no guy will ask me." Melissa pouted.

"And why do you say that? What about the boys in your class?" Jimmy inquired.

"Well, Jesse likes Rose. I think Jemima likes Michael and that just leaves Cayden and well . . ."

"Well, what?" Jimmy prodded.

"He . . . well . . . he�s an Indian or part Indian, something like that." Melissa replied.

"Don�t you like Indians?" Jimmy asked.

"Well, it�s not that I don�t like Indians. I don�t know any, but Cayden is so quiet and I don�t think he likes anybody. It looks like it�s my destiny to not have a date." Melissa sighed very dramatically. After a few seconds when Jimmy didn�t respond, Melissa asked, "Do you have a date?"

"No!" Jimmy answered.

"Are you going?" Melissa looked up into his handsome face.

"Yes, I thought I might go." Jimmy hated to see such a pretty gal as Melissa hurting so he said, "You know since I don�t have a date, and you don�t have a date . . ."

Before Jimmy could finish Melissa jumped up, her eyes lit up and she said, "Oh that�s a brilliant idea. I�d love to be your date for the dance, Jimmy."

Jimmy smiled and dipped his head. Then he looked up. "Then I expect you to be ready by 5 sharp, ok?"

Melissa shook her head vigorously. "I will. I will." Smiling all the way back to his horse Jimmy mounted up and returned home.

Exuberant Melissa entered the office thinking now all I have to do is get Jacy to go to the dance. Jacy had told Melissa that she would make an appearance, but she wouldn�t be staying long, and the only reason she was going was because Melissa and her had started the festivities and she didn�t want anybody to think she was being rude. Besides Jacy also thought she might be able to write up an article about it.

Melissa went rambling through her clothes and Jacy heard her little sister making a lot of disappointing statements in their bedroom. Jacy entered the room and was surprised to see about every dress Melissa owned all spread out on their bed.

"Melissa what are you doing? Are you moving out?" Jacy was astonished at the mess. "I told you we would get a house soon. I just haven�t had the time yet to explore our options yet. Just give me a little bit more time!"

"NO! NO! NO!" Melissa exclaimed.

"But Melissa, you�re not being fair. Just give me another week and I�ll have something lined up about a new home."

"NO! NO! NO! I�m not leaving home. I�m looking for a dress, but they are all . . . blah."

"Blah?" Jesse repeated her little sister.

"Blah! Awful! Even yours!" Melissa stated.

"Mine? Hey, I like these they are just fine to work in." Jacy defended her dresses.

"Yeah to work in, but not to go to the dance in." Melissa replied.

"The dance?" Jacy was confused because she thought her sister wasn�t going.

"Dah . . . you sound like the school teacher with all these questions." Melissa informed her sister.

"Well, I�m sorry but I haven�t learned to read minds yet. Besides I thought you were moping around because you didn�t have a date to the dance."

"But now I do and I don�t have a decent thing to wear." Melissa sat down on the bed after clearing her a spot. Jacy saw the tears trickling down her face. Jacy hated to see Melissa so sad. First she was sad because she didn�t have a date, and now she�s sad because she does and she can�t find a dress to wear.