The Most Marvelous International Spelling Bee
Page 19
But she never did.
Philomena Spright held a small card with her bright-red fingernails in front of her equally bright-red lips.
On the card was written, quite possibly, the final word of the competition.
Very carefully, Philomena pronounced, “Tremulous, an adjective meaning nervous, timid, or a little frightened. Using it in a sentence, I could say, The girl felt tremulous at facing the next word of the spelling bee grand final.”
The audience quietly chuckled before settling into an anxious silence.
Katerina took a few seconds to think.
In the Wimple family home, far, far away, India whispered the spelling of the word without hesitation.
“That’s the right answer, isn’t it?” Boo asked.
India’s auburn ponytail swung as she nodded. “I’m sure of it.”
Katerina crossed both fingers behind her back and began to spell. “Tremulous. T-r-e-m-u-l-o-u-s.” She finished by saying the word with one final, hopeful flourish. “Tremulous?”
Philomena Spright paused for effect, which she always did. It was her way of building suspense, of making the audience and the contestants lean in, eager to hear her verdict. She never revealed the result too early by showing a smile or a frown. She stared at the girl for several excruciatingly long seconds before saying, in her most serious voice, “Katerina, I’m afraid that answer is…correct!”
It was only then that Philomena Spright smiled a broad, victorious smile. “You are the new Stupendously Spectacular Spelling Bee champion!”
Katerina’s hands flew to her cheeks. The lights flashed, theme music blared, and a shower of confetti sprinkled down from above like a colorful snowfall. The audience was on its feet, cheering and clapping.
“You were right,” Boo whispered to his sister. “As always.”
Philomena Spright handed Katerina the trophy, which was almost too big for her to hold. Her parents rushed onto the stage, crying and hugging their daughter.
When the applause eventually died down, Philomena Spright spoke into the microphone. “Katerina, tell everyone at home how this moment feels.”
Katerina hugged the trophy with both hands and thought for a few seconds before saying, “From the time I was a little girl, I’ve dreamed of winning the Stupendously Spectacular Spelling Bee.” She paused, a small tear forming in the corner of her eye. “And now it’s really happening.”
More tears flowed as Katerina’s mom and dad hugged her tight.
“It most certainly is happening,” Philomena Spright declared. “From thousands of spellers, competing in hundreds of rounds and one riveting grand final, you are our new champion! And now for your prizes.” She took an envelope from the trophy stand. “As always, there is a five-hundred-dollar gift card for Mr. Trinket’s Book Emporium.”
Katerina accepted it with an awestruck “thank you.”
“And that’s not all. We can now reveal your grand prize.”
There was a drum roll.
The Wimple family listened with great anticipation. There was a different grand prize each time. There’d been a family cruise and a trip to the world’s tallest toy store in New York. Once it was a vacation to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
“You know how you like amusement parks?” Philomena Spright asked.
“Yes.” Katerina nodded feverishly.
“You and your family are going to…Disneyland, with five thousand dollars in spending money!”
Katerina squealed. She couldn’t help it—it just came out. “Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!”
“You are welcome, welcome, welcome!”
The family fell into hugs and even more joyful tears.
Philomena Spright turned to the camera. “That’s it for another Stupendously Spectacular Spelling Bee. I’d like to thank all our sensational spellers and our astounding audience. Were you able to spell all the words correctly? Would you like the chance to stand on this very stage? If you think you have what it takes, why not sign up?”
She looked down the barrel of the camera and, for a moment, India Wimple thought the pronouncer was speaking only to her. “Because our next Stupendously Spectacular Spelling Bee champion could be you!”
Philomena Spright didn’t move for what felt like several minutes, pointing her shiny, red fingernail at India with the smallest of knowing smiles on her lips.
2
Disconcerting
(adjective):
Unnerving, discomfiting, and more than a little bewildering.
The memory alone was really very disconcerting.
Boo nudged his sister. “Philomena’s right—it could be you.”
India scoffed. “Me?”
“Yes,” Mom said. “Why not?”
“Because TV is only for the very rich, the very famous, or the very pretty…and I’m not any of those things.”
“I disagree!” Dad argued. “It’s true we’re not rich or famous, but as for being pretty, you are beautiful from your head down to your toes.”
“Thanks, Dad, but I think you might be biased.”
“Fiddlesticks!” Nanna Flo blurted. “What a load of codswallop! Your father’s right or you can dunk me in a barrel of barbecue sauce!”
“It would be exciting to see you onstage with all those other children,” Mom said, “showing the world how clever you are.”
“It’s true.” Boo sprang upright in his pajamas, which were a little baggy and covered with planets and stars. “You’re the smartest person I know.”
“Do you really think I could?” India asked, sounding a bit tremulous herself.
“We know you could!” Dad scooted so far forward on the couch that he almost fell off. “Who do I ask when I don’t know how to spell a word?”
“India,” Boo answered.
“And who sits there spelling every word correctly every single time?”
“India,” Boo repeated.
The TV screen was jammed with people laughing and calling Katerina’s name, while photographers elbowed their way closer to take her picture. She was totally surrounded. India felt breathless and light-headed.
She sighed. “And who freezes every time she stands in front of an audience?”
There was a pause. Everyone knew who she meant, but they pretended they didn’t.
It was true. India Wimple was terribly, horribly shy, and whenever she found herself the center of attention, her cleverness seemed to disappear.
For more of The Spectacular Spelling Bee
check out book one in the series
The Stupendously Spectacular Spelling Bee
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