Story #25: The Spelling Bee

The Spelling Bee

Jane stormed into the commons on the Monday after Spring Break. Her sneakers squeaking and her braces shining off the sun coming from the sky-light.

"Shelby is going out for the spelling bee," Jane griped at her friend Macy as soon as she got close enough for Macy to notice her.  

"So what? You have this in the bag and you know it," Macy replied.

"Well, thanks... but I just can't stand the way she treats everybody including myself and I know how hard she's going to want to beat me."

The bell rang and Jane walked into her English class. She couldn't stop thinking about Shelby and how bad she wanted to beat her in that spelling bee. Shelby was the most popular girl in school. Her long blond hair was to-die for, her teeth? They were straight as an arrow. You know that model type that every girl dreams of looking like? Yeah, that's Shelby. It doesn't help that she's extremely rude and if you aren't in her "clique", you'd better watch out.

Jane was your average high school nerd. She always has her head in the books and never goes out and parties like the typical high school kids. She didn't mind being a nerd, but she did wish that she could be one of the "popular" kids every once in awhile. Jane was a senior and she had been in every spelling bee since she was a freshmen and has never won. She's always been so close but she never brought home that first place trophy. This year she was going to no matter how hard she has to try.

Shelby ran into the english class a couple seconds after the bell rang, breathing heavily. "Oh my gosh, my car died this morning and I had to run to school." Everyone just stared at her. "But I'm happy to tell everyone, I'm in the spelling bee this year," she said smiling. Jane was furious. Not only did she come in and interrupt her english class, she had to tell everyone about how happy she was to be in the spelling bee. Jane was so annoyed.

A few days passed, and it was the day of the bee. Jane couldn't contain how nervous she was and was thinking about it all day. Shelby was as giddy as ever and Jane couldn't understand why she wasn't nervous at all. Macy walked up to Jane, "Hey are you ready for tonight?"

"Ugh... why did you remind me."

"Oh sorry, you will do fine you know that Jane and I'll be there in the front row to watch."

It made Jane feel a little bit better that Macy would be there.

The bell rang at 3:10 and it was time to go get ready for the spelling bee. Jane had to change her clothes, brush her teeth, and braid her hair. Before she knew it, the principle was calling the contestants in the auditorium to get seated.

"Matt, you go to seat one... Jane seat two... Shelby seat three," the principle said. You have got to be kidding me, Jane thought to herself. Not only is she here, I have to sit by her!? She was so annoyed and she didn't know how she was going to handle it. She told herself to relax because she knew she wouldn't do well if she was upset.

Before she knew it, people were piling into the auditorium and the lights were shining right on her. She started sweating and looking around until she found Macy and then she felt a little bit better. "Excuse me ladies and gentlemen, we are going to start the sixth annual spelling bee here at Oakwood High," said the principal into the microphone. "We will begin the first round shortly."

Jane was ready. She was nervous, but she was ready as ever. She glanced at Shelby out of the corner of her eye and she was sitting there smiling with her bright white teeth shining in the light.

The spelling bee started and the first round went like a piece of cake. Eight people were out and there were only ten left at the end of the round. Shelby had the work Manual and Jane had the word Character. Jane was feeling pretty good at that point and soon they started the second round.

The second round flew by and so did the third and the two rivals were still in. There was only one other person besides them left. "Tom, your word is Melancholy," Mr. White said.

"Uhh.. M-E-L-A-N-C-O-L-E-Y, Tom said doubtfully into the microphone. The horn went off and Mr. White announced he had spelled it wrong. This was the moment of truth, Shelby was next and this would determine whether Jane had a chance of winning this.

"Shelby, your word is Temptation."

"Ok," she said, "T-E-M-P-T...A-T-I...A-N."

The horn went off, "I am sorry that is incorrect," said Mr. White. She was furious. Her face was bright red and she stormed off the stage. "Since you and Shelby were the only two right, you have to spell that word and another work correctly in order to win the spelling bee," Mr. White said to Jane. "The word is Temptation."

"T-E-M-P...T-A-T-I-O-N," Jane spelled.

"That is correct," announced Mr. White. You have one more word to spell and your word is Assignment.

Jane looked at the audience and took a deep breath and began spelling the word, "A-S-S-I-G...N-M-E-N-T."

She wasn't confident at all and she turned to look at the judges to see one of them hit the horn but before she knew it, Mr. White said on the microphone, "Congratulations Jane! You are the 2015 Spelling Bee Champion." She was so excited she could barely breathe. Macy ran up on stage along with Jane's parents and they gave her a big hug.

"I knew you could do it Jane," Macy said. "And you should've seen the look on Shelby's face!" Macy snickered.

Jane was so thankful and she knew how Shelby felt so she went backstage and told her good job. She felt very satisfied with herself and not only did she win the Spelling Bee, she learned that anything is possible when you just believe in yourself.