This story is dedicated to the memory of my parents. My father taught me the game of the chess at age six, and I still enjoy the game today. As always, a big thank you to my editor, Steve Zink. Steve's help is invaluable.

As always, any comments or criticism are welcome. My email is: JllQU6335@aol.com

 

Altered Fates: Chess Prodigy

by Danielle J

 

"The jury, having found there are special circumstances, has decided unanimously that Walter Brewer should be put to death by lethal injection for the murder of Grace Chen," said the Jury Foreperson. A bailiff took the paper and gave it to Judge Charlotte Davis.

"Final sentencing is set for Sept. 28. This court is adjourned." Judge Davis slammed down her gavel.

Randy Woodhouse stood in the back of the courtroom. It was almost three weeks since Melody Chen had testified in court. The case had been moved to Polk County because of adverse publicity in Palm Beach County. It didn't matter, justice had been served. Grace Chen's murderer had been brought to justice.

With another murder trial set for November in Sebring, Florida, it was hardly likely Walter Brewer would be a free man again.

Randy Woodhouse left the courthouse. He had another article to write. At least one chapter in Melody Chen's life had been completed.

* * * * *

Kim and Stacey Torrance had just arrived home from work shortly before 5 pm on an early August evening in Buena Park, California. Upon arriving home, Mrs. Torrance took the mail out of the mailbox in front of the house.

Before arriving home, Kim had picked up her nine-year-old daughter Stacey at the home of her grandmother, Kim's mother-in-law. As much as Kim would like to care full-time for Stacey, she could not. She had to work as a pharmaceuticals salesperson to pay the family bills and put food on the table.

Kim thought she was lucky to have the support of her in-laws. It made caring for Stacey so much simpler. Her husband Michael's death almost three years before had not changed their relationship. Stacey's grandparents loved and spoiled her tremendously.

'I wonder if that will change if Dennis proposes to me,' Kim thought, as she sorted through the daily mail. Only a month after moving to California from Florida, she had met a Doctor named Dennis Cheung. The relationship was getting very serious. Kim loved Dennis, and Dennis felt the same for Kim. He also accepted Stacey. After the tragic death of Michael, she never thought she would feel love again. Now Kim was hoping Dennis would propose marriage to her.

The mail was mostly bills, advertisements and that week's copy of Time Magazine. Kim put them to the side. It was time to prepare dinner.

After having dinner together, the Torrances went to the grocery store that evening. After putting away the groceries, Kim and Stacey prepared for the evening and bed.

By 8:30 pm, Stacey had settled down to watching TV, while Kim paid the bills that arrived that day. Once finished with the bills, Kim began to read the issue of Time Magazine that came.

"That's interesting," Kim said; she was about 2/3 of the way through the magazine. She read a few articles and scanned others. She would read more of the magazine during the week. But one article grabbed her attention.

It was a story about Melody Chen, Chess Prodigy. It was written shortly after the US Open had been completed. The story which had the headline, 'The Real Chinese Terror' was not just about the girl's remarkable chess talent. It was also about the girl's recovery from witnessing her mother's murder. Kim read the article, vaguely remembering the news stories of the previous year. But soon she was looking closely at the girl's photo.

"Amazing," Kim said out loud. "Stacey, come and look at this." The Torrance girl immediately came over to her mother's side. Kim showed the photo to the nine-year-old girl.

"Wow, she looks just like me," Stacey said upon seeing the photo. The resemblance was uncanny between the two girls.

"There is an old saying. Every person has their twin. I think we just found yours," Kim said to her daughter. The resemblance between the two girls was remarkable, the mother thought as she continued to read and her daughter returned to watching television.

* * * * *

September 5, 2000

Melody Chen co-winner of the Florida State Chess Open

By Randy Woodhouse

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Pensacola Florida

With a final round draw, Melody Chen, age nine, co-won the Florida State Chess Open.

The Florida Open was held at a Holiday Inn in Pensacola, Florida, and had a field of

ninety-three players.

Melody's final score of 5.5-.5 left her tied for first with Senior Master William Kane of

Lake Wales. Melody and SM Kane finished in a tie after a heated battle in the sixth and

final round. For most of the game the SM held the initiative, but Melody defended

precisely and a draw was agreed to after fifty-one moves.

Though not official, it is believed Melody Chen is the youngest ever state chess

champion. When asked about her accomplishment at age nine, Melody replied, "That's

cool!"

This was only Melody's fourth competitive chess tournament since the rape and

murder of her mother, Grace Chen, right after the 1999 Florida Open.

This triumph seems to mark the complete recovery for Melody Chen from her mother's

death. Last spring, Melody finished third in the World Juniors twelve and under

division played in Zakopane Poland.

"The Chinese Terror is back," said Master Frank Camarata. "This girl has a very

bright future, and I am happy to see her recovered."

Melody was accompanied to the tournament by her guardians, Paul and Ellen

Raymond. No announcement was made of when Melody would compete again.

She is currently enrolled in the fourth grade at St. Ann's Catholic School in West

Palm Beach, Florida.

* * * * *

September 11, 2000

Grace Chen Chess Foundation established

By Randy Woodhouse

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Today at a Press Conference in West Palm Beach, it was announced that the Grace

Chen Chess Foundation had been formed.

At the press conference, Raymond Foundation board member Olivia Raymond

announced the new foundation's establishment and purpose.

"The Grace Chen Chess Foundation will supply scholarship support to needy

chess players throughout the United States. We feel that the memory of Grace

Chen will be preserved by this work."

It was announced that the organization was to be tax-exempt, and had already

established a board of directors. The board consists of businessmen, prominent

community members, and notable chess players. The board's directors include

former Florida Governor Buddy McKay, Chess Grandmaster Lev Alburt, and

Miami Dolphins owner Wayne Huzienga.

The foundation was established through a grant of $150,000 from the Raymond

Foundation, plus nearly another million from corporations and private individuals.

Representing the Raymond Foundation was Peter Raymond II. The first

scholarships will be announced sometime this fall.

Grace Chen, for whom the foundation is named, was the mother of nine-year-old

Chess Master Melody Chen. Grace Chen was murdered September 6, 1999.

Melody Chen was present at the news conference, but did not speak. She was

accompanied by her guardians, Ellen and Paul Raymond. The Raymonds are in

the process of adopting Melody.

* * * * *

"This court, after hearing the many witnesses and reading government agency reports, approves the adoption of Ms. Melody Chen by Paul Edward Raymond and Ellen Margaret Raymond. From this day forward, the child will be known by the name Melody Grace Raymond. Before this court adjourns, I want to express my congratulations to Melody and her new parents, Paul and Ellen. This court is adjourned," said Judge John Callahan, who then pounded down his gavel.

It was September 14, 2000. Ellen Raymond listened to the judge with tears in her eyes. As the gavel was pounded down, she immediately shared a hug and kiss with Melody. Melody did the same with her new father. Their friends and family in the courtroom did the same with the new family. Among them were Marie and Paul Raymond II, the new grandparents, Peter, Sr and Olivia Raymond, the new great-grandparents, Arnold Denker, Pamela Dietrich and Father Pitor. The judge also came from behind the bench to congratulate the new parents and Melody.

Randy Woodhouse stood in the back of the courtroom watching the happy new family. With the permission of the Raymonds, he would complete the series of stories on Melody. It would be about the successful adoption and the new family. Paul and Ellen had hinted they planned on adopting a child from China eventually, after Melody was more settled with her new family first. Randy hoped the Raymonds would permit him to chronicle that story, also.

"Congratulations, Paul, Ellen, Melody," Randy said, shaking the couple's hands and patting Melody on the head. "I am very happy for all of you."

"You and Jonathan will be coming to the celebration this afternoon?" Ellen asked. The Raymonds would celebrate their new family with family and friends at a restaurant in West Palm Beach.

"We wouldn't miss it for the world." Randy said his last good-byes as he watched the Raymonds leave the courtroom.

Earlier that morning, Randy got an interesting lead on what may have happened to Henry and Peter Stark. He decided to skip that thought. It was time to celebrate with a happy new family.

* * * * *

On September 18, Stan Peterson reemerged briefly. He, or rather she (Maritza Tavarez) had driven from Bradenton, Florida down to Lantana, in the old Datsun she owned.

Before leaving, Maritza left her newborn daughter Keiko with Tonichi and Aiyoko Masuda, the parents of Keiko Masuda. Just before she left, Maritza kissed the child good-bye. She wondered if she would see Keiko again.

Paying for a motel room at the 6 Inn near Lantana Rd. and I-95, Maritza took the Medallion of Zulo out of the small bag she brought with her. Inside was one of Stan Peterson's shirts. Thirty minutes later, Stan Peterson was back.

Stan had deliberately chosen this date as one last chance reconciliation with his wife, Amy. Today was Amy's birthday. After changing back to his male self, he made the drive to the nearby Lantana Pines subdivision and parked the car. It wouldn't be long before Amy came home.

Around an hour later, Amy Peterson drove up in her Nissan Pathfinder. After parking the car in the driveway she climbed out. At first she did not see Stan approaching her, then she saw him. Amy hurriedly headed for the front door, but Stan intercepted her. A minute of screaming by Amy Peterson followed.

Stan watched as the front door was slammed in his face. Amy wanted no part of him, she had already filed for divorce. He didn't blame her. Stan went back to his hotel room.

That evening, Stan thought long and hard. But it always came back to the picture of Keiko Tavarez. The beautiful, not quite two-month-old girl who needed her mother. What was Stan to do? He could just abandon the girl with the Masudas, and become Stan Peterson again. Stan was a computer systems analyst by trade. He would have no problem finding work. It had to be better than living in the small cramped trailer home Maritza Tavarez lived in along with her daughter Keiko. Maritza worked long hours at a local hospital, barely making ends meet.

'No, I can't leave Keiko behind.' Maritza had bonded with the child she had carried inside her for nine months and then cared for after birth.

The next morning, Stan used the medallion of Zulo one last time. Thirty minutes later, Maritza Tavarez was back, her bosom heavily laden with breast milk, the milk with which she needed to nurse her child.

Getting an early start so as to get back to Keiko as soon as possible, Maritza left the motel shortly after 4 am. She should be back in Bradenton before 8 am. Traffic should be light at this hour.

Just short of Fort Pierce, traffic on I-95 ground to a halt. There was an overturned truck a mile ahead. It would take forty minutes before the traffic, which had to funnel down to one lane, would clear the accident site.

Maritza had taken the medallion with her. Mostly because she just didn't want someone to accidentally discover its powers. The thing was dangerous and should be destroyed, Maritza thought. It only destroyed people's lives.

Stuck in traffic in the far left lane of the interstate, Maritza decided to get rid of the necklace. Rolling down the driver's window first, she took the medallion and threw it out the window.

By 8:30 that morning, Maritza was reunited with her daughter Keiko. She had no regrets.

Eight days later, a prison work crew was cleaning up a strip of highway. One of the prisoners found the necklace, but the Corrections officer saw it also and asked the inmate to give him the necklace. It looked like cheap jewelry to him, but maybe it was worth something. He put it in his pocket and went on with his work.

The medallion had moved on.

* * * * *

"Watch this, Dad," yelled Jonathan Woodhouse to his father, Randy. Jonathan was showing the latest skills he and Melody Raymond had learned while snowboarding.

Randy, along with Jonathan, had been invited to spend the Christmas holidays with the Raymonds in the mountains of Vermont. The Raymond family had a vacation home there.

Neither Jonathan, Melody nor their friend Carie Lowe had ever seen snow before this trip, and all three were having a wild time. The first morning after ten inches fell the previous evening, the three kids along with their parents had gone outside and had a snowball fight.

It was great to see the kids have such fun. Randy could see how his son and Melody were becoming the best of friends.

But was Melody Raymond really who people thought she was?

A crazy website run by some woman claiming to have been a guy before. The woman was desperately searching for some necklace called the Medallion of Zulo. There were a few other stories on the site from people also looking for the necklace.

A bunch of crackpots? A hoax? Could there really be a medallion that changed objects or people? Could that explain Melody Raymond?

Randy had talked to the people whose stories were listed. They all seemed far-fetched. Like something out of a sci-fi movie. But they all told of the same thing. How a necklace had changed their lives.

Randy had a few more leads on this necklace. After the Christmas vacation, he would investigate them some more.

'Can Melody Raymond really be Peter Stark? Was the late Grace Chen really Henry Stark?' Randy thought to himself as he watched the children play.

* * * * *

It was a cool Florida February morning, and Paul Raymond had just arrived at his West Palm Beach Office.

Like every morning, Paul began work by checking his mail. Both the old fashioned snail mail variety, and email. Looking down the list of email he received overnight, Paul saw one that was out of place. It was from one of his daughter Melody's Russian Chess playing friends.

It read:

Dear Mr. Raymond,

I regret to inform you that my Father, Vassily Smyslov, passed away in his sleep two

nights ago. We believe it was a heart attack.

Please let Melody know that my Father deeply cared for her, even loved her. You

cannot know how much your daughter's recovery and success had touched Father's

heart. He took great pride in helping your child, and was very impressed by her chess

talents. I know he would want Melody to continue to pursue her chess playing

abilities. My Father more than once mentioned to me that Melody had a talent like

no other child he had met.

Give this news to Melody. Thank you for allowing my Father to know her.

Viktor Smyslov

* * * * *

It was a quarter past 10 pm on a Friday night in late March, 2001 when the phone rang in the Raymond's bedroom. Melody was already asleep, and Paul was in bed reading a book. When the phone rang, Ellen was doing her last preparations before bed. She was the one to answer the phone.

"Hello....Hello, Dr. Sebastian...I am fine...You got my blood-work results back. ...Are you sure?...It can't be some kind of mistake...Thank you, doctor...Thank you very much...I will call your office Monday and make an appointment...Yes, doctor, thank you for calling. Have a nice weekend."

"What was that about?" Paul asked, looking up from his book and seeing his wife with a very big smile on her face.

"Honey, lets wake up Melody. I've got something to tell both of you."

* * * * *

There were sixty-three boys and girls at St. Ann's Catholic Church that May night making their first communion. Among them was Melody Grace Raymond.

Dressed in the traditional white dress or gown female children wore for first communion, Melody processed into church with the other children in two tight lines. Boys on one side, girls on the other.

As Melody processed down the aisle to her seat she saw her parents, her grandparents, her great-grandparents, her sponsors Randy Woodhouse and Pamela Dietrich and her friend Jonathan Woodhouse. Her other two primary friends, Nicole Latham and Carie Lowe, were near her in the line. There were also Aunts and Uncles there for Melody. They were almost all entirely smiling. Actually, Jonathan was grinning at her.

'You know, he is kind of cute,' Melody thought. Oops, she shouldn't be thinking that now. Still, it was an amazing thought for the former Peter Stark.

Melody smiled at her parents. They loved her and she loved them. Melody was blessed to have them, like she was blessed with a second chance to succeed in life. Melody vowed she would not fail this time.

Ellen Raymond proudly watched her daughter walk by. Nothing had changed about her feelings toward Melody since discovering she was pregnant. The life inside her would not change the love that had grown in Ellen's heart for this amazing girl. If anything, the love she had for Melody had grown like her own changing body would in the coming months.

'I am truly blessed by this girl,' Ellen thought. She felt that Melody had been a blessing given by God to her and Paul Raymond. Melody had changed their lives and had made them parents and a family. Ellen even felt that Melody had brought God's blessing in allowing her to have a child.

Ellen took great pride in having helped Melody recover from the murder of her mother. The love Melody gave her was reward enough. There was also the pride she felt in how accomplished this girl was as a chess player.

In a week, Melody would travel to Spain for the World Juniors. Melody's father, Paul Raymond, and her grandmother Marie would accompany the girl. Ellen had to pass; she was in the early stages of pregnancy and the trip would be strenuous. Dr. Sebastian advised against the trip. If Ellen succeeded getting through the first four to five months of pregnancy, she would probably make it to full-term. She had to be careful then. While it hurt not to go, she knew Melody would carry her mother inside her heart to Spain.

The baby Ellen was carrying would not be the last child for her and Paul. The Raymonds had plans for adopting a child from China one day. They would probably begin those proceedings in late 2002.

Melody took her seat in the church pew and immediately kneeled. She vowed to God and Hank Stark to be not just the best chess player possible, but the best person possible.

* * * * *

It was a hot, late June Sunday afternoon in Bradenton, Florida as Randy Woodhouse waited. He had been parked across from the trailer home for almost two hours.

While Randy waited, he read the latest copy of Life Magazine. It contained an article on Melody Raymond, Chess Prodigy. Six weeks earlier, Melody had participated in the World Juniors, twelve and under. It had been played in Las Palmas, Spain. She won by a resounding two points.

Her picture was on the cover of this issue of Life, featuring that famous stare of hers. Can Gary Kasparov defeat the Chinese Terror, the caption read. Just like "The Joy Luck Club". Funny how real life and fiction can parallel one another.

Melody Raymond's success was making chess popular in the US. The New York Invitational was beginning that same day. It would have the strongest field for any tournament played on American soil in many years. The girl was among the fourteen players invited to play.

The story of Grace and Melody Chen had taken many twists, but Randy felt this would be the final piece of the puzzle.

Around the corner came an old blue Datsun. The car had to be over ten years old. It pulled into the driveway of the trailer home. Out of the driver's side stepped a woman in maybe her late twenties. Asian in appearance, maybe she was Filipino. She walked around to the other side of the car and bent into it.

Randy got out of his car and walked across the street. By this time the woman had emerged from the car. She was holding a child. The girl was a year old or a little less. The woman saw Randy and looked suspiciously at him.

"Ms. Tavarez?" Randy asked, taking out his ID for the Palm Beach Post and showing it to the woman. "My name is Randy Woodhouse, and I am a reporter for the Palm Beach Post. I would like to ask you some questions about a Stan Peterson, and something called the Medallion of Zulo."

* * * * *

From the moment they arrived via train in New York City, Paul and Ellen Raymond were already having reservations about Melody participating in the New York Invitational.

First they wondered if they were pushing their daughter too hard at too young an age. Melody's chess coach, GM Andrew Soltis, did not think so, nor did GM Denker. In their opinion, the girl was ready.

What was more bothersome to the Raymonds was the media attention as soon as they arrived in New York. The New York newspapers and television stations were all clamoring in an effort to cover the story of the amazing girl chess prodigy. The media had met the train on which the Raymonds came to New York City, and had asked a barrage of questions. After retrieving their baggage, they hurriedly got to their waiting limousine and left Grand Central Station.

From the station, the Raymonds went to The Peninsula Hotel in Central Manhattan. There the family had a large suite, and would be conveniently near the tournament site. The New York Invitational was being played at a nearby school auditorium.

The New York Invitational had a field of fourteen players from seven countries, of which Melody was rated thirteenth of the players. Eight of the players held the title of Grandmaster. Only two, Melody included, did not hold any international chess title. Based on the average rating of the participants, it was a category nine tournament, or above average. The tournament's field was boosted by the presence of former World Champ Anatoly Karpov, Women's World Champ GM Xie Jun of China, and Hungarian GM Peter Leko. Karpov and Leko were respectively the third and fifth highest rated players in the world.

It didn't take long for the Raymonds to feel the media feeding frenzy. Commentators both on television and the newspapers speculated where the girl would finish in the tournament. Some even questioned if the child's parents were doing the right thing allowing the girl to participate. They opined if Melody had a disappointing finish she could be devastated, and have her promising talent crushed.

The day before the tournament began, a reception was held at the Plaza Hotel. Even though it was a short walk, the Raymonds made the trip by taxi. The media had already discovered where the family was staying.

Outside the Plaza a crowd was beginning to gather. Hotel security was not allowing press into the hotel. Dismounting from their cab, the Raymond's each took Melody's hands and pushed their way through the crowd, ignoring the constant stream of questions from the media.

"Melody, can you please give me an autograph?" said a Chinese or Asian boy of approximately the same age as the prodigy. The Raymonds quickly relented, and allowed Melody to sign a book the boy had brought. Soon two other children asked for the same, and the girl also gave them autographs. Once done, the Raymonds walked up the steps and through the hotel doors.

A ballroom at the Plaza had been set aside for the official welcoming of the players and the drawing of the lots to determine the order players opposed one another. By the time the Raymonds arrived, most of the players and tournament organizers had arrived.

'That's World Champ Xie, and that's GM Eugenio Torre and GM Leko,' Melody thought, seeing some of the players. She was actually in awe of most of her fellow competitors. She had never dreamt she would play them one day. Actually, Melody was getting frightened at being in the same room with them.

Paul Raymond felt Melody squeeze his hand tighter. By now he knew what his daughter meant by this. "You'll be fine, Champ."

Several of the players, including GM Boris Gulko and SM Jason Shipman, came by to say hello to the young girl. Melody was still frightened, and muttered shy hellos.

'So that is her,' thought former World Champ Anatoly Karpov as he entered the room. Karpov was a lean 5'9 with a pale complexion and almost effeminate appearance. He had heard and read all about this girl prodigy, and today would be the first time they met. GM Karpov walked over to the Raymonds and introduced himself. "I am Anatoly Karpov, it's a pleasure to meet you." The GM shook hands with both Raymonds, while Melody clung to Ellen almost like she wanted to hide. As Peter Stark, she had idolized the former Champ.

"Hi," was all Melody could say as she shook Anatoly's hand.

"Excuse my daughter, she is just sometimes shy," Ellen mentioned.

"Not a problem at all, and perfectly understandable. Good luck, Melody, I hope to play you soon," Anatoly said, and then went off to say hello to one of the organizers.

The players were soon seated for the beginning of the welcoming ceremony/dinner. Melody and her parents were seated at a table along with GM Xie and Philippine GM Eugenio Torre plus their spouses.

First there was a welcoming speech by Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, followed by one by the tournament organizer, Walter Shipman. His son Jason, a chess prodigy himself, was also competing.

Dinner was served to the guests. Mostly Melody stayed shy, talking just with her parents but occasionally talking to Constanzia Torre, wife of GM Torre.

The last event of the night was the drawing of the lots. The tournament format had the contenders playing thirteen rounds, one game against each player. The players were called by alphabetical order and asked to take a disk out of a container.

Ellen accompanied Melody up to the table. The girl put her hand in and pulled out a disk. It was number four.

When the ceremony was over, Paul had already done the calculations. Melody would play Argentine GM Oscar Panno with the Black Pieces in Round one. An even bigger match-up was coming in round two, Former Champ Anatoly Karpov. Melody would play him with white. Other big games were Peter Leko in Round five and Xie Jun in the final round, thirteen. In both of these games, Melody would have the black pieces.

* * * * *

Play began the next day, June 25, at 3:30 pm. While Melody had spent some time with her coach Andrew Soltis that day, she and her parents went to see the Statue of Liberty also. This was the girl's first ever visit to Manhattan, in either of her identities.

Oscar Panno opened 1. e4 in his game against Melody. She replied 1. c6, or with her favorite defense, the Caro-Kann. The game went on for a rather uneventful thirty-six moves before the two players agreed to a draw. To most, this was a fine start by the child prodigy.

This didn't stop the New York Post the next day from saying the girl's play had been lackluster and disappointing. Like ten-year-olds drew Grandmasters every day, Paul Raymond retorted. The Raymonds were proud of Melody and her solid start.

"Good luck," GM Karpov said to Melody, shaking her hand as round two began. The GM then started the chess clock.

The game was down the well-known Tartakower variation of the Queen's Gambit Declined. It was a favorite of the former World Champ, and even Melody was known to play it with the black pieces.

For most of the first thirty moves, Melody held a small nagging advantage due to Black's hanging pawns. During play some of the other players came by and looked at the game. They were amazed at how the young girl was holding her own with GM Karpov.

Both players had to make forty-five moves in two hours. While Melody had a little over thirty minutes to make the last fifteen moves, GM Karpov had only five. This would prove critical.

Peter Leko had just completed his victory over Jason Shipman and was watching the Raymond-Karpov game. It was move thirty-three and it was Anatoly's move. GM Karpov moved his rook to d7 and punched the time clock. Melody immediately concentrated on the position.

'What a stare,' GM Leko thought to himself, making a note not to meet eye to eye with this girl when she appeared like that during their game. Melody then moved her Queen to C1 and punched the time clock. GM Leko looked at the position, and then thought, 'She may have him.' In the Grandmaster's opinion, Karpov had just made a significant error. It was soon confirmed by Karpov himself. The normally pale GM was turning red. GM Leko had played Karpov nearly twenty times through the years, and knew him well. Anatoly would turn red or get flush when he knew he was in trouble.

Sure enough, Melody had seized the initiative on the board and Karpov's position degenerated. By move forty-five, Melody was clearly superior, if not winning outright. Since time had run out for the day, Melody had to seal her forty-sixth move in an envelope. After five minutes thought, she sealed the non-commital King to h2, leaving her time to study the game better the next two days.

The Raymond-Karpov game would not be restarted for two days. In between, Melody played GM Michael Rhode. Playing the Caro-Kann again, the girl took advantage of Rhode's mistakes and on move forty-two the GM resigned. Melody had scored her first win.

In between, Melody studied the position of her Karpov game with GM Soltis. The use of seconds or coaches was standard chess tournament practice. The only stipulation was, no computers were allowed. Five to six hours of analysis showed she would win with accurate play.

The game restarted, and it was apparent to all observers that GM Karpov was doomed. Another small error on move fifty-four hastened the game's finish, and on move sixty-one, Anatoly extended his hand.

"Congratulations, good game," Karpov said, feeling he had played a future World Champ. When the win was posted, the people in the auditorium stood up and applauded the girl.

Melody hurried backstage and immediately kissed and hugged her parents. They beamed with pride at their daughter's success. GM Karpov walked offstage and approached them. "Melody, would you be interested in studying the game with me?" he asked. Melody responded that it would be cool. The GM then joined the Raymonds and walked back to the Peninsula Hotel. There the current prodigy and the past one spent three hours studying the game. Not wanting to be interrupted, room service was ordered.

For Melody, this was a thrill like few others. But the day wasn't over. That evening she and her parents went to a New York Mets baseball game at Shea Stadium. They sat in the Owner's box with Nelson Doubleday, the Mets owner. Before the game, Melody was allowed to visit the Met Clubhouse and was introduced to many of her favorite baseball players. It was as big a thrill for the girl as the win that morning.

Throughout the rest of the tournament, Melody played solidly while also enjoying her time in New York. She managed to hold GM Leko to a draw with her favorite Caro-Kann in round five.

All along, the girl's success was reported in the press. It made the ABC evening news one night. This didn't prevent there from being a few critics. Some said the girl played dull chess. GM Soltis, Melody's coach, finally concluded he was right in not tampering with the girl's opening repertoire. They may be dull or uncomplicated, but the girl played them like a virtuoso and was comfortable with them.

The Raymonds followed this with pride in their daughter's accomplishments. They also saw that the girl enjoyed her non-chess time. They toured the sights of Manhattan, and on one off day they made it out to the Hamptons where Melody enjoyed some time fishing.

By round thirteen, Melody stood six wins, five draws and one loss. She had also guaranteed herself an International Grandmaster Norm. To become a Grandmaster, a player had to achieve a certain score in two tournaments. In the New York Invitational a score of 8.5 points was sufficient. Melody already had that score. The only blemish on the girl's tournament was a round ten loss to GM Michael Adams from England.

Before playing her game with Xie Jun, Melody knew if she could win, she could tie for first. GM Karpov was a half point ahead of her, but was playing against GM Adams. A draw in the Adams-Karpov game was the expected result. After only seventeen moves, the game was drawn.

Like all previous games, play began at 3:30 pm. GM Xie opened 1. e4 versus Melody.

Melody stared at the chess board for a minute. 'I want to win this tournament, but will my Caro-Kann be good enough?' While she loved the Caro-Kann and knew all its subtleties, she also knew it was not the best weapon when one wanted a win. That morning, in preparation for the game, she had studied prior GM Xie games. Doing this Melody learned what the GM liked to play.

'Well, here goes nothing.' Melody picked up her C pawn and instead of putting it on c6 to play the Caro-Kann, she placed it on c5. She had chosen the Sicilian Defense over the Caro-Kann, the Sicilian being much sharper and more likely to bring a win.

As Peter Stark, Melody had played a very rare Sicilian. Actually, as a guy she had never lost with it in six tries, but none of the opponents were particularly strong. That couldn't be said for GM Xie.

Behind stage, GM Soltis winced at Melody's opening choice. First he thought the demonstration board was wrong, but after three moves, Andrew knew his eyesight wasn't playing tricks on him. To his recollection, the girl had never used the Sicilian in a competitive game, and this opening required a great deal of study and preparation. The GM honestly thought Melody had made the wrong choice.

Andrew thought the girl may have gotten lost in the media hype of the day. The press had been making much ado over this final round game, comparing it to recent US-China tensions. Not to mention the girl's incredible success. Was it getting to the girl's head, the coach wondered?

Ellen Raymond wasn't at all surprised by Melody's choice. When she first became a "chess" mom, Mrs. Raymond knew little about the game. Now, almost two years since the child came to live with them, Ellen had learned quite a bit about chess. She even knew the openings her daughter liked to play.

This was part of the mother-daughter relationship the two women had formed. They both knew one another almost instinctively and confided things to one another that they rarely told to the men in their lives. Like Ellen's husband Paul, the girl's father.

That morning, Melody was studying GM Xie's games on the family laptop. While doing so, the girl confided in her mother the surprise she had planed for that day's game.

By move six, the game had gone into the Najdorf variation of the Sicilian. Not surprisingly, GM Xie played Bishop to e3 on move six as she always did when faced with the Najdorf. Melody was prepared for this.

The game hung in the balance for forty moves; it was unclear to almost everyone who held the advantage. Both players needed a win to get a tie for first, but both were also fatigued from the long tournament. On move forty, GM Xie proposed a draw. After a minute's thought, Melody accepted.

At 9-4, Melody finished in a three-way tie for second with GM Leko and GM Xie, a half point behind GM Karpov.

This was an unheard of accomplishment. The closest comparison would be former World Champ Bobby Fischer's tie for fifth at the 1958 Portorz Interzonal. But Fischer was fifteen at the time; Melody was barely ten.

Throughout the tournament the story of Melody Raymond spread. People had to be turned away from the auditorium daily. Children would appear outside the auditorium and near the Peninsula hoping to get a glimpse of the girl or possibly get an autograph.

The day after the closing ceremony, Melody gave a fifty game simul for children fifteen and younger. Almost two thousand children showed up for the event and had to be turned away. However, their names and addresses were taken. After the tournament, the Grace Chen Chess Foundation would mail them all autographed photos of Melody Raymond.

The following day, the Raymonds were packed and leaving for the train station. They were all tired, Melody most of all from chess. She just wanted to be a normal girl with her friends in Florida now. A Hong Kong millionaire had attempted to lure the Raymonds to Macao for a tournament in August. The Raymonds had declined.

"Melody, come here," Ellen called for her daughter. She was not quite five months pregnant, but Mrs. Raymond was already very large. The girl immediately came to her mother. Ellen placed the child's hand on her stomach.

"Is that the baby?" Melody asked, feeling something move inside her mother.

"Yes, the baby is kicking me," the mother said.

"That's cool," Melody said, giving her mother a hug. There really was a lot more to life than chess.

* * * * *

Dressed in white, Melody Raymond walked down the aisle of St. Jude Catholic Church in the Boston Suburbs. It was the Sunday immediately before the 2001 Florida State Chess Open.

It was the wedding day for Susan Raymond, the youngest of Peter II and Marie Raymond's five children. Susan was marrying a Donald Frazier. Melody was one of the two flower girls at the wedding.

As Melody walked up the aisle she saw her parents. They were no longer Paul and Ellen, but Dad or Daddy and Mom or Mommy to her. Like they had grown to love her, Melody had grown to love them.

'Mom is getting so big. It will be cool to have a baby sister,' Melody thought, looking at her mother. Her mother had about twelve weeks left before having the baby they called the miracle baby.

'Maybe I will have my own baby one day. God willing,' Melody thought. Maybe with her being married to the cute Woodhouse boy. 'Oh, but not before I finish school and college. Maybe be the Champ of the entire chess world, men and women, too. But I promise to God to be the best person possible. That matters more than anything else.' Melody really meant it. There was much more to life than chess. Her love of God came first, her love of her parents and family a close second.

There were her friends Nicole, Carrie and especially Jonathan. There was fishing, football, soccer, golf and soon she would be an altar server at St. Edward's. She liked chess, but she liked to do lots of things. Chess was just one of them. After the Florida Open, there were no planned competitions for the girl in the immediate future. Most likely she would not compete until 2002, after her baby sister was born.

Melody did not mind at all. She was looking forward to the birth of her sister more than anything else.

This coming Tuesday she would be at the grand opening of the first Grace Chen Chess Center. It was in South Central Los Angeles, and Melody would fly there with her grandparents on Tuesday morning. The girl thought that Hank Stark could live on through her and the chess foundation.

'I wonder what Hank would think of me now?' Melody could barely suppress a giggle.

Melody took her position to the right of the altar. The Bridesmaids were coming in next. The Groom was already standing by the altar, looking handsome in his tuxedo. The Best Man was beside him.

Then came Susan Raymond, on the arm of her father, Melody's Grandfather. In Melody's opinion, Susan looked positively radiant in the dress.

'I want to be that pretty on my wedding day.'

* * * * *

Melody, accompanied by her grandparents, arrived in Los Angeles just before noon time that Tuesday morning. After being met by some friends and a limo, the Raymonds went directly from the airport to a nearby restaurant where they had lunch.

The Raymonds arrived at the Grace Chen Chess Center at 1:40 pm. They were not all that surprised by the throngs of children who came to get a glimpse of the Child Chess Prodigy. Melody Raymond was making chess that popular among America's youth.

At 2:00 the opening ceremony began. There was a short speech by the mayor of Los Angeles, then one by Peter Raymond II telling the purpose of the Grace Chen Chess Foundation and its first of many chess centers to come.

Melody sat through the speeches thinking of Hank and fighting back the urge to cry. She had accepted what happened, but it still hurt the girl. But by honoring her brother through her chess and life, she could make Hank proud and let him live on.

The last speech was to be by Melody. It was a short prepared statement. She talked of the memory of her mother.

At 2:30 precisely, using an especially large pair of scissors, Melody cut the ribbon to the entrance of the chess center. The first Grace Chen Chess Center was officially open.

This was only the first of many such openings. Centers were being prepared in a dozen US cities across the nation. Most would be having their opening ceremonies sometime in 2002.

Today's big event was to be a one hundred game simul to be held by Melody. Since the demand for having a chance to play the girl prodigy was bigger than the space, the LA Times and Grace Chen Chess Foundation had run a lottery to select the lucky children who would get a chance to play Melody.

First Melody would sign chess books and photographs for an hour until play began. The Center immediately filled up with children and their parents. The line stretched well outside the building.

The center had a large waiting area at the entrance of the building. At the end of this area were double sets of doors leading to an auditorium area, where children would soon be learning to play chess. Between the doors, a portrait hung on the wall. It was of Grace Chen. Using photos taken of the Chens at the 1999 Florida State Chess Open, the Grace Chen Foundation had portraits of Grace Chen made. One such portrait would hang in each center in memory of the mother of Melody Chen.

Under a portrait of Grace Chen, Melody signed autographs for the waiting children for the next hour. Seated next to her was her grandmother, Marie Raymond. Many children brought books for the girl to sign; if not, they got an autographed photo. No child that day would go away empty handed.

All the time she was doing the autographs, Melody could feel that Hank was looking down at her. Almost like he was watching her from the portrait behind her.

'I'm going to make you proud of me,' Melody thought as she signed another autograph. When 3:30 arrived, Melody's hand was already worn out from all the signing. The remaining children in line would all get autographed photos. It was now time to begin the simul.

The hundred children were already waiting for the Prodigy. They were seated at long tables in a square formation. The children Melody would be playing were all seated at the outsides of the tables, while Melody would walk along the insides of the tables to make her moves. In another area of the room, parents were allowed to sit as their children played the prodigy.

Melody went to the first board and began play. She had White against a boy named Jason Whitman. All the children were wearing name tags. Melody said good luck, and moved 1. d4 and went to board 2.

In simuls, a chessmaster will rarely spend much time at a board. Particularly early in the game. They will hurry off as soon as a move is made. This was how Melody operated. She made her move and went on.

It was when she got to board 37 that the Prodigy got a big surprise.

"Good luck," Melody said, playing 1. d4 against the girl whose name tag said Stacey Cheung. Melody had barely looked at the faces of her opponents while making her moves. Not here; the face was a familiar one. It was her own. Melody hesitated for a moment before going on to the next board.

'That was Stacey Torrance. Her Mom must have remarried,' Melody thought, trying to keep her composure. The girl was actually becoming very frightened. She rarely thought of herself as Peter Stark anymore, she loved her new family and enjoyed her new chance at life. Could it all be destroyed now?

Melody found the sight of Stacey so unnerving that on board 38 she moved the wrong pawn in reply to her opponent's 1 e4. She played 1 b6 instead of her customary 1. c6. Melody would make similar mistakes two more times in the next ten boards.

'Settle down. She doesn't even recognize you,' Melody kept telling herself. The tiny remaining part of Peter Stark felt like having a beer right now.

Meanwhile, Marie Raymond was making the acquaintance of many of the parents whose children were playing Melody that day.

'Isn't that amazing. She looks just like Grace Chen,' Marie Raymond thought upon seeing Kim Cheung. Mrs. Raymond introduced herself to Stacey's mother, and they had a brief conversation.

"My daughter Stacey is on board 37," Kim said. "She was so thrilled to get the chance to play. It's all she has been talking about for the last two weeks."

"I'm glad she got this opportunity," Marie replied, as she and Kim continued to make small talk. Eventually Marie got up and went to talk to other parents.

Melody continued to play the games, but would have difficulty keeping her composure when coming around to play Stacey. 'What would happen if people found out who I really am? I love my family and friends, I don't want to be Peter Stark anymore.'

Other than Melody and Marie Raymond, no one seemed to notice the similarity. Maybe because of the girl's hair style. Melody's hair was now very long and down to her waist. Stacey's was of a similar length to when Melody had first used the medallion. It was a lot shorter.

Or did people think all Asian/Amerasian children looked alike, or did no one care? Melody thought of all of this, but kept praying no one would spot the similarity.

Melody continued playing the games. Every time she went by her game with Stacey it got easier. The girl seemed not even to notice it.

Most of the players were clearly outmatched by the prodigy and lost rapidly. Only a dozen or so players gave Melody any kind of challenge.

Stacey Cheung was no match for Melody; by move 31 the girl was checkmated. By this time only 30-40 of the original 100 games were still going. Melody autographed the game scoresheet for the Cheung girl.

"Say cheese," said Kim Cheung as she snapped a few quick photos of the two girls. The Raymonds didn't originally intend to allow Melody to pose for pictures, but acquiesced to it after some parents requested it. The simul was for the children, after all. Kim Cheung asked for the two girls to pose standing next to one another.

"You know, we look like each other," said Stacey Cheung as the two girls posed with their arms around one another.

Melody paused for a few seconds before replying. "Isn't that cool!"

Kim and Stacey then said good-bye to Melody and the Raymonds before leaving the auditorium for the drive home.

Melody breathed a sigh of relief. 'I'm glad that's over. I could almost use a beer now.' Then she went on to the rest of her games.

"You know, that Cheung girl and Melody could be twins," Peter Raymond II observed to his wife.

"I agree, hon," Marie replied, "and did you notice the resemblance of her mother to Grace in her portrait? It's almost eerie."

The rest of the simul went rapidly. Despite being rattled by the presence of her alter ego, Melody did not lose a single game that day. She won 96 games and drew 4. It didn't matter to most of the children, they were thrilled to meet the prodigy.

"I'm tired," Melody said to her grandparents after the simul was completed. It was hard work, and the girl was glad she only did this activity rarely.

"I understand," replied Marie Raymond as she took the child's hand. "We're going right to the hotel and have dinner." The Raymonds then began to say good-bye to the other officials and organizers before leaving for the day. The next day they would fly home to Florida together.

* * * * *

September 3, 2001

Melody Raymond wins Florida Chess Open for second year running

by Randy Woodhouse

Palm Beach Post Staff writer

Tampa Florida

For the second year running, Palm Beach native, ten-year-old Melody Raymond won

the Florida State Chess Open. She finished the 2001 Labor Day weekend tournament

played at the Tampa Bay Hyatt with a score of 6-0.

Early Monday evening, Melody finished the tournament with a resounding defeat of

Master John Fernandez in just thirty-one moves.

The tournament, which began Saturday, was played over the holiday weekend, two

games each day. Ms. Raymond was never seriously challenged during the

tournament. Robert Whatley of Pompano Beach and Bill Cornwall of Vero Beach

finished tied for second at 5-1.

"The game Melody played vs Dr. Fernandez was one of the most brilliant I ever saw,"

said eighty-four-year-old Grandmaster and Former US and Florida Champion Arnold

Denker. "There is a strong new force on the chess scene. Melody has the potential

to be the greatest player in the world."

Grandmaster Denker is not the only one to be praising the young chess prodigy.

Her supporters or admirers include former World Champ Anatoly Karpov, the late

former World Champ Vassily Smyslov, plus former US Champs Yasser Seirwan, Boris

Gulko and Larry Christiansen.

It was only last July that Melody finished in a three-way tie for second in the strong

New York Invitational. Among her accomplishments there was defeating former

World Champ Anatoly Karpov and drawing GM Peter Leko. Both were rated in the

top five players in the world at the time. Melody also got the first half of an

International Grandmaster title. Most chess experts expect Melody to get the second

and last norm before reaching age eleven, making her the youngest Grandmaster ever.

A month later, Melody finished tied for fifth at the US Open played in Cherry Hill,

New Jersey. She only finished a half point out of a tie for first with a score of 8.5-3.5.

In the tournament, she defeated GM Yasser Seirwan and GM Kevin Spragget of Canada.

Many compare Melody's style of play to Anatoly Karpov, the brilliant strategist, but

also say she has the attacking ability of the late World champ Mikihil Tal. Melody, at

the age of ten, is already feared by the top chessplayers in the world.

There are rumors that Ms. Raymond will play for the US Chess Olympiad team next

summer in Nice, France. Normally, the men and women are segregated by sex, but

Ms. Raymond may play on the men's team.

Rumors abound of her playing former World Champ Bobby Fischer. Mr. Fischer, who

resides in Japan, is one of the few top players who does not believe in Ms. Raymond.

"There is no way any girl her age could be this strong. Something is phony about her,"

GM Fischer recently told a Japanese newspaper.

Ms. Raymond, who just began the fifth grade at St. Ann's Catholic School in West

Palm Beach, was accompanied to the tournament by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Paul

Raymond, and her chess coach GM Andrew Soltis. Mrs. Raymond is seven months

into her first pregnancy, with a new young one to join her adopted daughter.

* * * * *

"Yeah, Matt. The story is written. I'm sending it now," Randy Woodhouse said, talking on his cell phone as he watched the email download and send from his laptop. A moment later, his editor Matt Blackburn confirmed receiving the article. Randy then turned off the cell phone.

Randy was looking at another article he wrote on Ms. Raymond the previous July. There was a shyly smiling ten-year-girl receiving her trophy at the New York Invitational. Next to her were Paul and Ellen Raymond, her proud adoptive parents.

"Congratulations, Melody Raymond, or should I say Peter Stark," Randy said to the photo.

Only a few months earlier did Randy finally put all the pieces together. That one Ms. Melody Raymond age ten had once been a thirty-two-year-old man named Pete or Peter Lawrence Stark.

Randy Woodhouse had another article written. The real story of Melody Raymond, a thirty-two-year-old man trapped in a ten-year-old girl's body. The only problem - the story would probably never be published.

For Randy the story was the culmination of two years work. He had followed this young girl's story since she won the Florida Scholastic Championships two years before.

That no Melody Chen or Grace Chen seemed to exist had started the suspicions. The identical Kim and Stacey Torrance, who were twins of the Chens, and all the circumstantial evidence pointing to the Stark brothers had left Randy with one unbelievable story. He just lacked proof.

How could a thirty-two-year-old Caucasian man become an eight-year-old Amerasian female? It was too incredible.

The proof finally began to appear about a year ago, after Randy discovered that website that had stories about a medallion. It was called the Medallion of Zulo. It was able to change people or cause them to exchange bodies with someone else just through it being touched to a person.

After an extensive search, Randy had found several people who claimed to have used the medallion in the past, a married couple in South Carolina, a man in New York. Both told the story of how they had once found the medallion and lost it. The married couple claimed to really be each other. The New York man had used it when he claimed he was female. Randy checked out the stories. The evidence was sketchy, but it seemed to prove the medallion was real.

The clincher came three months earlier. Randy had traced the medallion to a single mom living in western Florida. The woman named Maritza Tavarez claimed to have found the medallion at the exact same clearing that Grace Chen, aka Henry John Stark had been brutally raped and murdered. Ms. Tavarez had claimed to be a Mr. Stan Peterson until she found the medallion. After becoming pregnant as Ms. Tavarez and giving birth to a baby girl, she threw the medallion away one day while driving down the road. Randy was able to verify most of Ms. Tavarez story, including where Stan Peterson had used to live just a half mile away from the murder scene.

Somehow, the medallion meted out justice to those who used it. The Starks had used it in a deception cheating children. Randy found this despicable. Yet the murder of Hank seemed harsh. The trapping of Pete Stark in the body of a little girl could be called poetic.

So Randy had evidence that Melody Raymond was really one Peter Stark. Then why not take the story to his editors?

For one thing, they would think he was nuts. Secondly, the evidence was only circumstantial against Ms. Raymond. Without a confession or finding the medallion, the evidence would stay circumstantial. Neither would happen anytime soon.

So Randy just sat on his story. Maybe he would publish it one day. Maybe not.

He had to wonder what it had to be like for a thirty-two-year-old man living in a ten-year-old girls body? To grow up again and as a member of another sex. No, it made him shudder.

Worse may have been the experience of seeing his brother brutally raped and murdered. No, this had to be even worse.

Through his writing for the Palm Beach Post, Randy had grown close to the Raymonds and to Melody. The series of articles chronicling Melody's recovery from PTSD and adoption by the Raymonds had won him writing awards.

The Raymonds loved and treasured their adoptive daughter, and provided her with anything she needed. Why ruin it, Randy asked himself.

No, Randy wouldn't do it. Sometimes he thought the Raymonds pushed Melody's chess talents too hard, but Melody seemed happy. Still, the Raymonds usually confined the girl's tournament play to summer vacations and holidays. They let Melody have a normal child's life, not just chess.

Randy had spent much time getting to know Melody. She was a very bright if shy and reserved child. She mostly talked about her chess, her school, and her friends. From all reports, Melody was a well behaved and well adapted honor student at the Catholic school she attended. The girl had many friends. Until two weeks earlier, Randy never let on to the girl that he knew the truth. It was the day of Jonathan's eleventh birthday, and Randy was driving the girl home to her parents in Palm Beach. He had dropped Nicole Latham off at her parent's house. Only Melody and Randy were in the car, Jonathan was already at his mother's home.

"You used to be Peter Stark?" Randy said, and almost instantly regretted it. What made him say it?

Melody stared at him from the front passenger seat. That mesmerizing stare the girl was now famous for.

"Yes."

"But you aren't anymore," Randy replied.

"I am Melody Raymond."

"Good for you," Randy said, wondering how the former guy had ever adjusted to being a girl, but she had. Peter Stark was gone, and Melody Raymond lived on. The girl was no more a guy than the reporter was a nuclear physicist.

Melody changed the subject to her mother and the baby girl with whom Ellen Raymond was pregnant. A name of Mary Elizabeth had already been picked out for the still unborn child. The baby would be born just a few days before Thanksgiving. The girl talked excitedly about the preparations for the birth, and how she would help her mother afterwards. Just like any female child or big sister.

What mattered was Randy's son Jonathan and Melody were still close friends. Or even best friends. Jonathan and Melody loved to go to the beach, play video games together and sometimes go to sporting events with their parents. Jonathan still played chess against Melody, also; he was improving, thanks to his friend.

The reporter couldn't fail to see the puppy love between the boy and girl. Randy dismissed the thought for now. Melody could even be his daughter-in-law one day, but that was still a long way in the future.

Through his writing the series on the young girl, Randy met Pamela Dietrich. He had just recently proposed to her, and Pam had accepted. It seemed that whomever this girl's life touched, she brought happiness.

So one Pete Stark, a classic underachiever, was now ten-year-old Melody Raymond, the overachieving chess prodigy. Maybe the medallion gave people a second chance at life.

Randy prayed a silent prayer for Grace Chen/Henry Stark, who would not get such a second chance. Buried in a West Palm Beach cemetery. At least her killer had been brought to justice. He also said one for Melody Raymond. May one rest in peace, while the other find peace in her new life.

Randy had. Seven years of being on the wagon after being an alcoholic. He felt he had gotten a second chance at life. What changed Randy's life was the near accidental death of Jonathan while Randy was passed out drunk seven years earlier. Ever since, Randy had kept a vow of sobriety. He had also found religion. Randy attended Catholic Mass every day. It was like he had a second chance at life.

If he went to his editors with the real story of Melody Raymond, they may think he fell off the wagon. They may even fire him.

Like himself, Pete Stark, now Melody Raymond was getting a second chance at life. At the moment, Randy thought Melody was making the most of it.

Melody was also making quite an impression on the country. Already she had been featured on the covers of Life and Time magazines. Melody had also popularized chess like no one had since Bobby Fischer. Children across the country were trying to learn to play the game like Melody Raymond.

But was it fair that no one knew that Melody Raymond was really a fraud?

No, it wasn't his to decide, Randy thought. No, it wasn't worth destroying a little girl's life, who was having a positive impact on so many others.

No, Peter Stark did not exist anymore. He had been replaced by the happy child known as Melody Raymond.

Why ruin anyone's life?

Randy turned off his laptop, then placed it in the bag next to him. The real story of Melody Raymond would stay there. Only he would know it.

 

The End

 

 

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© 2002 by Danielle J. All Rights Reserved. These documents (including, without limitation, all articles, text, images, logos, compilation design) may printed for personal use only. No portion of these documents may be stored electronically, distributed electronically, or otherwise made available without express written consent of the copyright holder.