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   ms-charleston-yawp Teacher
   High School - 11th Grade

   eNotes Editor

   Although this is a fairly general question, I am guessing you are speaking about the 911 call from the party that night?  It is, of course, the central event early in the novel Speak.  That phone call led all of her "friends" to feel betrayed by Melinda.  They all felt that she had purposely called 911 to turn them in for drinking while underage.  Ironically, Melinda herself was drinking as well.  The real reason has its roots in the "panic" found within her voice during the call.  Melinda was raped at that party.  This is why the police were called.  The sad truth is that Melinda passively accepts the torment put forth by her peers as a result of this incident.  She tells no one the truth at the time because "it is easier not to say anything because no one really wants to hear what you have to say."  After being raped, Melinda walks home alone and cowers in her house watching cartoons moving slowly from withdrawal into a state of physical shock. 

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   Posted by ms-charleston-yawp on Saturday August 29, 2009 at 6:49 PM