 And she receives her first explorative attention from a teasing boy named Stuart Wasser (Zac Efron).Escalating tragedy, the death of her beloved Aunt Calla (Mary McKowen), is climaxed by her father's eruption into angry drunkenness, shattering Melinda's innocence forever and sending her fleeing into the night.The ultimate triumph of Melinda's spirit culminates when at year's end she once again visits her treasure box with bittersweet memories.