Out of My Dreams

Melody attends the informational session with Bethany. The emcee, Charlene Chilvers, welcomes all the delegates, who come from 17 different countries. Ms. Chilvers reminds them that they all have the ability to change the world. Melody signs up for an advocacy session and an innovation brainstorming session. She wonders what school would have been like if she had felt more like she does now: needed instead of excluded. Melody is inspired by the Oxford professor who teaches them about policy advocacy.

Mrs. V stops by at lunch and helps Melody to use the restroom, which is very well-equipped. Melody eats lunch with Bethany and thinks about Miss Gertie, who had been trapped inside herself for a long time.

Melody and Bethany go to the innovation workshop. They plan to brainstorm new ideas and then collectively work on a couple of their best ones, which they will then present at the symposium roundup. Melody panics about the idea of giving a speech, and when Audrey, the facilitator, tells the group that the speech isn’t mandatory, Melody feels relieved. During the brainstorming session, Melody watches all the other children throwing out wadded-up papers full of ideas. Melody thinks that all her ideas are bad, but as she watches a bird fly outside the window and thinks of Miss Gertie, she suddenly gets a new idea.

As Melody and her workshop peers share their ideas, she reflects on how many thoughts arise in the world every day. She shares her idea for an alert necklace that sends a 911 call and sounds an alarm if the wearer falls and doesn’t move for a certain period of time. All the kids animatedly discuss their ideas and help each other to improve them. When they start running out of momentum, snacks appear. Melody holds onto hers, feeling too shy to ask someone she barely knows to feed her. The facilitator reminds them that they can choose to give a speech about their idea in front of the conference, and Melody again plans to avoid this prospect entirely. However, she reflects that she really does have a lot of ideas, and because this is her big chance to share them, she resolves to give the speech after all.

At the end of the day, Melody returns to the hotel and tells Mrs. V about her plan to give the speech. Mrs. V encourages her to work on the speech in sections so that it doesn’t feel so daunting. Melody sits up with Elvira and works on her speech. She considers backing out of her plan, but then she remembers that a shy child named Akihiko signed up to give a speech after seeing Melody sign up. Melody decides that she cannot let him down. By the time Sky and Miss Gertie return from their adventures, Melody has written a draft of her speech, which addresses the fact that all the support in her life has given her the power to dream; she wants to help other people to dream, too.

Mrs. V surprises Melody with a silky blue dress to wear for the last day of the symposium. Sky reads over Melody’s speech and cries over how powerful her words are. Melody goes to a session called “Be Loud,” where a facilitator from the London symphony, Mr. Vora, leads them in cathartic screaming and making noise. Mr. Vora also teaches them rhythmic patterns from around the world and teaches them to play their patterns all together. Sky surprises Melody by joining for lunch and participating in a beanbag toss Olympics with Melody’s symposium friends.

Melody and the other children from the innovation session present their ideas to a group of adults, including engineers, chemists, and financiers. Melody is delighted when the adults take their ideas seriously. Melody and Bethany add their handprints to the entryway. Later, at the final symposium gathering, Melody feels nervous about her speech. Ms. Chilvers welcomes all the attendees once again. A boy named Ukiah, whom Melody finds cute, rides out onstage and explains that he was inspired by previous conferences to design a wheelchair that can lift him into a standing position. More participants from previous years come out to share their recent achievements, and then Ms. Chilvers announces that it is time for this year’s innovators to present. They all learn that the previously announced guest host had to drop out, but he has been replaced by Prince William.

Melody and Bethany are in awe of Prince William, who delivers an inspiring speech and claps intently for each presenter. Melody isn’t sure that she can go onstage, but she spots Sky, who cheers her on. Suddenly it is Melody’s turn to speak.

Melody rolls onto stage, just like in her dream. She nods to the prince and hears her friends cheering her on. Melody takes a deep breath and presses play.

In her speech, Melody shares her background as someone who couldn’t speak before she found her assistive device, Elvira. She states that she wants to help other people communicate. She then shares her idea for the Fast Blast, an alert necklace designed to help people who fall. She shares the reason why she is here and articulates her wisdom about the future, then encourages everyone to engage with people who have disabilities, reminding everyone that they matter. She thanks the symposium for including her and for reminding her about the power of dreams.