Writings

“You won’t believe this,” said Mandi to her best friend Beth. “I’ve qualified for the school spelling bee!”

Beth balanced her book bag on top of her head. “That’s awesome! But you don't sound too happy about it.”

“I’m an awful speller! That’s why! This is some freak of nature--like one of those Bermuda Triangle things.” Mandi slammed her locker door shut.

“Well, how did you qualify if you can’t spell?” Beth led the way down the crowded hall.

“Brian Rodney was sick today. He’s the best speller in our class.” Mandi scooted around two slow students to catch up with Beth. “I got the easiest words every time. Jill got stuck trying to spell cellophane. And Matt bombed on extraordinary. I kept getting no-brainers like drum and cargo. Everyone around me dropped like flies, and by the end I was the only one left standing.”

“I still don’t understand why it’s such a big problem,” said Beth.

“My parents! That’s why. They’re going to go all ga-ga over this, like it’s some big deal. I can see them sitting in the front row of the bee. Dad will have the video camera zoomed-in on my face the entire time. Mom will be giving me her you-can-do-it, Precious, look.” Mandi sighed as they turned the corner.

“What’s so bad about that?” asked Beth. “I’d give anything if my parents could make it to more of my volleyball games. They're always too busy with work or my little sisters. Your parents are cool.”

Mandi slowed her step. “That’s just it. I’m gonna disappoint them big time. They’ll get their hopes up. They’ll think I can spell my way to the moon and back. Then when I mess up on the very first word, Dad will have to record me stumbling down the walk of shame to the loser’s seat. Mom will be in tears.” Mandi pulled to a stop in front of her house.

“You’re making too big a deal of this,” said Beth, as she turned toward her house across the street. “Who knows-- maybe you’re not as bad a speller as you think.”

And maybe pigs can fly, thought Mandi as she shuffled to her front door.

*****

“You all set?” asked Beth, a week later as Mandi squirmed in her seat at the Spelling Bee.

“Are you kidding! I feel like I’m gonna throw up.” Mandi looked at the noisy, crammed auditorium. Beth patted Mandi’s shoulder.

“You’re gonna do great.”

“Thanks,” said Mandi with a weak smile. “You know I thought about what you said--that maybe I wasn’t such a bad speller. I told you how I’ve been studying every night for the last week. My parents have been helping me--but not pressuring me. You know. Just helping.”

Mandi waved to her mom and dad in the front row.

“I made it into a sort of dinnertime game. Each night Mom and Dad quizzed me on harder words. Last night I breezed through some tough ones, like gymnasium and paleontologist.”

“Cool,” said Beth.

Principal Gordman’s voice boomed over the microphone, asking everyone to take their places. Beth high-fived Mandi. “To the M-O-O-N and back!” she said.
Mandi giggled. “You mean to the highest A-S-T-R-O-L-O-G-I-C-A-L heights!” Mandi smiled--bright as a shining star.

THE END