�I can�t believe you�ve lived in Florida for nearly two years, and you�ve never been to Disney World before.� Nick commented to Melissa.

�I�ve been here before!� Melissa defended herself. �But it was always to perform- never for my own enjoyment. I guess I�ve always just been too busy with ballet classes.�

�But not anymore?� Asked nine-year-old B.J. Carter. The little girl had pasted herself to her older brother�s side.

�Nope!� Melissa said, smiling happily. �You see, I went to the doctor. And he said that my back is curved, instead of straight. That means I can never be a professional ballerina.�

�So you�re not going to take ballet anymore?� Questioned Nick.

In response, Melissa wrinkled up her nose. �Not quite. Mama is still going to make me take ballet lessons. She says its good for my �technique.� But I won�t have to take as many classes as before- so I�ll be able to focus my attention on whatever form of dance I choose.�

�Jazz?� Nick guessed.

Melissa grinned broadly. �Absolutely.�

�I thought we were here to P-A-R-T-Y, not talk about dance!� Whined ten-year-old Brent.

�Sorry,� Nick and Melissa apologized quickly. After moving to Tampa, B.J., Brent and Nick had become Melissa�s best friends. But Melissa would always share a special bond with Nick, because of their time spent together at dance classes. Brent was always quick to shut the pair up if they started talking about dance too much.

�Okay, kids�� announced Hector, as he joined the group of children. �I bought your tickets�you ready to go?�

Before Hector could get an oral response, the tickets were snatched out of his hands. The four children were racing towards the entry gate. Not sure whether to smile or to sigh, Hector took off after them. �This is going to be a long day��

�Okay- what do you all want to do first?� Hector asked, as he guided the kids through the main gates.

�Pirates of the Caribbean!� Shouted out Nick.

�Cinderella�s Castle!� Suggested B.J.

�It�s A Small World!� Hollered out Brent.

�NO!� The group collectively protested to the last comment.

�Calm down,� Said Brent, smiling. �I was just kidding. I hate that ride. There�s no way I�m going on it. I wanna go on Space Mountain.�

�Well, since it�s Melissa�s day- let�s let her decide,� Hector compromised. �Where do you want to go, pum�kim?�

�Big Thunder Mountain Railroad!� She declared proudly.

�Ooo, good choice.� Brent commented. Meanwhile, Hector had pulled out his map. He was trying to navigate the fastest from where the group stood on Main Street to the roller coaster. But Brent slapped the map away from Hector�s hands, saying: �Oh, don�t worry with a map. I�ve been to Disney a million times. I�ll lead the way. Follow me- off to Frontierland!�

�I have a bad feeling about this!� Hector said, as he took off running after the other kids. Brent was right; he did know how to get to Frontierland. He weaseled his small body past large crowds, while the others struggled to keep up. Brent led the group on a wild goose chase through Adventureland. But sure enough, within a few minutes, he had the group in line at the roller coaster. Much faster then Hector would have been with his map.

Out of breath, the group of children collapsed onto the hot cement. Although it was early in the day, the roller coaster already had a thirty-minute wait line. For impatient little Melissa, that was a heck of a long time. �This ride better be worth the wait!�

�Don�t worry, it is.� Said a voice from outside Melissa�s crowd. The four children looked up. They were standing in line behind three teenage boys. Recognizing the face of one boy, Melissa gasped. She leapt to her feet, with the other kids quick to follow.

�Oh my lord!� She exclaimed. �You�re Marc, from The Mickey Mouse Club!�

The boys laughed at the young girl�s ecstatic remark. �You�re right, I am Marc. I take it you�re a fan?�

�She�s more then a fan,� Nick spoke up. �She�s insane. She has every single episode of MMC on tape. All three seasons!�

�Wow, I�m impressed. Well, let me introduce you to my friends then. This is Tony, and this is Dale. They�re joined the cast for the fourth season.� Said Marc, as he patted his companions on the back. Both boys were extremely good-looking, and appeared to be around fifteen or sixteen. Eagerly, Melissa shook the hands of all three boys. Marc had to laugh, �Oh my God! You�re shaking!�

Melissa blushed beat red. �I know. I shake all the time, but now more so then ever. You don�t understand how exciting this is for me.�

�What�s your name?� Tony asked.

�Oh that�s right.� Melissa realized. �I forgot to introduce myself. I�m Melissa, and these are my friends: Nick, B.J. and Brent. And that�s my daddy, Hector.�

Handshakes were exchanged amongst the crowd as Dale asked, �Are you guys from around here?�

�Tampa,� Brent supplied. The boys nodded their heads.

�So what are you guys doing here?� Asked Nick.

�Well, we were at an MMC rehearsal over at MGM Studios. But they�re working with just the girls- so they gave us guys a break. � Explained Tony.

�And whenever we get a break, we run all over the parks and ride the rides!� Dale added.

�You have the coolest job in the entire world,� Melissa breathed. She was clearly starstruck.

�You know�� Marc began. �We�re filming an episode later tonight. If you want, I think I can get you guys seats in the audience.�

�Oh my lord! Could you? That would be the COOLEST thing- EVER. Daddy, we can go, can�t we?� Melissa asked. In her excitement, she began to bounce.

�Of course you can, pum�kin.� Said Hector. How could he say no? He�d never seen his daughter this happy in her entire life. �Melissa, would you like to get your picture taken with these guys?�

�Oh, could I?� Melissa turned toward Marc, her eyes full of hope.

�Of course you can! And get your friends in here too!� Marc agreed. The three teenagers and the four children crowded together, while Hector tried to fit the group into the viewfinder of his camera. Melissa happily situated herself dead center. One one side of her was Dale, and the other Marc. Tony stood behind her. All three boys had their arms wrapped affectionately around the girl. Rolling his eyes, Hector thought to himself, I�m going to have trouble with Melissa as she gets older. That girl is boy-crazy!

�Say cheese!� Directed Hector.

�No, say MMC!� Melissa suggested.

�MMC!� Said the crowd, as Hector snapped the photo. Just in time- it was almost their turn to load onto the roller coaster.

�You know, Tony and Dale are going to sit together.� Said Marc to his adoring little fan. �Would you mind sitting next to me?�

An ear-to-ear grin was plastered across Melissa�s face. �I�d love to!�

Two-by-two, the crowd filed into the roller coaster. Tony and Dale sat in the first row, with Melissa and Marc next. Nick and Brent chose to sit in the very last row, while Hector and B.J. chose a more modest seat in the middle.

�So you�ve never been on this ride before?� Marc asked Melissa.

In response, she shook her head. �Nope. Is it scary?�

�Nah�you�ll be fine,� Marc reassured the young girl. �Just hold onto my hand. If you get scared, just squeeze it.�

Melissa wiped her palm on her red skirt before taking Marc�s hand. I can�t believe I�m holding hands with a boy! And not just any boy- a member of �The Mickey Mouse Club!� This is by far the best day of my entire life. Oh my lord. I hope my hand isn�t too sweaty!

�Okay, here we go!� Shouted Marc, as the roller coaster began to move. Melissa�s entire body tensed up. She clutched Marc�s hand so tightly, her knuckles turned white. But as the roller coaster began its first descent, she had to laugh. This is fun!

From the back of the roller coaster, Melissa could distinctly hear the voices of Nick and Brent, screaming. And just in front of her car, Tony and Dale raised their arms in the air. Feeling brave, Melissa loosened her grip on the safety bar- and Marc.

�You ready to have some real fun?� Marc asked. Eagerly, Melissa nodded. �Then follow my lead��

Marc waved his arms into the air and let loose a loud scream. Laughing, Melissa did the same. They continued screaming until the car slowed to a stop back at the loading dock.

�So what�d you think?� Asked Marc, as the safety bar was raised. He hopped out of the car and offered his hand to assist Melissa.

�That was so much fun!� Melissa commented. �Can we do it again?�

Marc laughed. �I�d love to. Unfortunately, I gotta be heading back to the studio.�

Melissa�s happy smiled instantly disappeared.

�Aww�cheer up.� Said Marc, as he affectionately ruffled Melissa�s hair. �I�ll see you in a couple hours, at the taping. Remember?�

Melissa�s trademark grin returned. She nodded happily.

�About the taping�� Hector began. Their small crowd was reconvening just outside the ride.

�Oh, that�s right!� Marc remembered. �I�ll need to get your name.�

�It�s Hector Baras.� Melissa supplied. �That�s B-A-R-A-S.�

�Hector Baras, Got it.� Marc said with a nod of his head. �So head on over to MGM around four o�clock, just to be on the safe side. I�ll leave your name at the main gates. The people there will escort you to the studio for the taping. Okay?�

�Sounds perfect,� Said Hector. He couldn�t believe how professional the three young teenagers were.

�Okay, we�ll see you then!� Said the boys. Tony, Marc and Dale all took turns hugging Melissa. Then, they disappeared- exiting out a special �staff only� door.

�I can�t believe that just happened. You must be so excited,� Hector said to his young daughter. But Melissa�s naturally brown coloring had drained out of her face. The young girl looked positively yellow. �Are you okay, pum�kin?�

Melissa shook her head profusely. �No�Daddy, I think I�m going to be sick.�

~not familiar with mmc? find out all about the cast at http://come.to/mmconline ~ want to know when this site is updated? email me (and send feedback)!~

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