Final answer:
The passage describes Inayah, not Melinda, and mentions her visiting the picnic tables near the basketball courts with friends, not ditching school.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question pertains to the novel in which the protagonist Melinda is a character who skips school. However, the passage provided does not specifically mention 'Melinda' or the character engaging in ditching school.
Instead, it describes Inayah, who stays in town with friends after school, makes videos, starts homework, and plans to head home. The locations she visits are the picnic tables near the basketball courts and possibly her uncle's store, albeit it is not explicitly stated she visits the store during the time frame mentioned.
Melinda or Inayah's actions provide insight into her social interactions and responsibilities, reflecting typical teenage behavior and highlighting her character development. Nonetheless, the places mentioned she spends time at during this section, as per the passage, are chiefly the picnic tables.