Spelling Bee

SPELLING BEE
By Doris Meakim

         Katy sat primly on the blue folding chair, her blue skirt smoothed over her lap. Her mother had told her a lady keeps her knees together when she sits. All she could think of watching her parents in the third row was "I'm going to disappoint you but you know that already,"

         It was her turn again. She walked to the microphone and waited, The word was precedent. Her mind went blank. She knew this one. She began "P R E ~~ "and hesitated. Was it S or C? She decided on C and Mr Mapes said "that is correct."

         Well at least she didn't go down on the second round. She looked at her father again. Why was he beaming so proudly? She dreaded the look of sorrow and disappointment when Katy failed to spell a word.

         The words were getting harder. There were fewer kids in the row now and her turns were coming faster. It was her turn again and the word was phlegmatic, She had no idea. She asked for a definition and that didn't help. She started "F ~~ "and Mr Mapes said "I'm sorry that is incorrect."

         There was nothing for it but to walk to the back of the stage and down the steps. She was defeated.

         Her mother came to meet her. "Honey I'm so proud! You were one of the last seven! That's wonderful I knew you could do it!"

         "I lost, I disappointed you."

         "You didn't lose, you spelled a lot of very hard words half the grownups here couldn't spell and you could never disappoint me!"

         Katy smiled and the knot in her stomach untied. She wrapped her arms around her mother. Her father gave her a high five when she sat down in the row beside him.