31. Chapter 22 (2/2)

bobby: thanks, alice.

cindy: thanks.

they're back stage, trying to calm their nerves.

bobby: you ready?

cindy: i think so.

bobby: hey, you'll do great. you've been studying a lot.

cindy: so have you. you've got a shot.

bobby: you think so?

cindy: sure. we both do.

bobby: well, may the best man, or woman, in this case, win.

the spelling bee begins. one right after another, students are eliminated. it is down to the final ten. bobby and cindy have been going strong throughout. cindy's up.

proctor: okay, spell a

ogate.

cindy: a

ogate. may i have the definition?

proctor: "to abolish by formal or official means; annul by an authoritative act; repeal: to a

ogate a law. to put aside; put an end to."

cindy: a

ogate. a-b-r-o-g-a-t-e. a

ogate.

proctor: correct.

cindy smiles and bobby gives her a thumbs up. it's bobby's turn next.

proctor: the word is "gladiolus."

bobby: gladiolus. may i have the definition?

proctor: "any plant of the genus gladiolus, of the iris family, native esp. to africa, having erect, sword-shaped leaves and spikes of flowers in a variety of colors."

bobby looks worried. cindy tries to send good thoughts his way.

bobby: gladiolus. g-l-a-d-i-o-l-u-s. gladiolus.

proctor: that is incorrect. number six, please step forward and spell gladiolus.

cindy gives number six a look of disgust, for number six is cassie hathaway.

cassie: g-l-a-d-i-o-l-o-u-s. gladiolus.

proctor: that is correct.

bobby looks defeated and starts to leave the stage. cindy raises her hand.

cindy: no it isn't.

proctor: number four, you are out of line.

cindy: protests. but bobby, i mean, number five spelled it correctly. look again.

the committee opens their dictionaries and sees that cindy is correct.

proctor: i'm sorry, we made an error. number five spelled the word correctly. you may return to the stage. number six, you were incorrect, but since we were in error, you may spell again.

bobby gives cindy a look of thanks. the bee continues. it is down to the final three. bobby, cindy and cassie are still in the running.

proctor: we are down to our final three. whoever spells his or her word correctly, plus one more, will represent fillmore junior high in the regional spelling bee. our congratulations goes to our final three. good luck. number four, please come forward and spell interlocutory.

cindy: inhales. interlocutory. can i have the definition?

proctor: of the nature of, pertaining to, or occurring in conversation. interjected into the main course of speech. law. pronounced during the course of an action, as a decision; not finally decisive of a case. pertaining to an intermediate decision.

cindy: interlocutory. i-n-t-e-r-o-l-o-c-u-t-o-r-y. interlocutory.

proctor: i'm sorry, that's incorrect. number five, spell interlocutory.

bobby: interlocutory. i-n-t-e-r-l-o-c-u-t-o-r-y. interlocutory.

proctor: that is correct.

cindy leaves the stage, feeling defeated. bobby glances over and gives her a nod. she nods back and smiles.

proctor: now, spell luxuriance.

bobby: inhales. luxuriance. l-u-x-u-r-i-a-n-c-e. luxuriance.

proctor: that is correct.

bobby and cassie go many more rounds, each spelling their words correctly. it is bobby's turn.

proctor: spell insouciant.

bobby: insouciant. i-n-s-o-u-c-i-e-n-t. insouciant.

proctor: that is incorrect. if number six spells this word correctly, and the next, she will represent fillmore junior high at the regional spelling bee.

cassie: insouciant. i-n-s-o-u-c-i-a-n-t. insouciant.

proctor: that is correct. for your final word, spell staphylococci.

cassie: staphylococci. s-t-a-p-h-y-l-o-c-o-c-c-i. staphylococci.

proctor: that is correct. your new spelling bee champion is cassie hathaway.

cindy sees a small piece of paper crumpled in cassie's hand.

cindy: but! but! she cheated!

proctor: congratulations, cassie. in addition to representing our school at the bee, you have won a ten-dollar gift certificate to marioni's pizza.

bobby leaves the stage defeated. cindy tries to console him.

proctor: let's hear it for our two runners up, bobby and cindy

ady. if, for any reason, cassie is unable to attend the regional bee, bobby will represent our school. bobby, cindy, come back on stage. the two of you will receive a five-dollar gift certificate to marioni's pizza.

bobby and cindy reluctantly go back on stage to receive their trophies and certificates. the yearbook staff takes pictures. cassie is in the center; bobby is to her right and cindy to her left. the siblings leave the stage as soon as they can so they could avoid any possible harassment cassie might give.

bobby and cindy come home from school. a frazzled carol's in the family room holding a screaming ryan.

carol: shhh, little one. mama's got you. your sister's trying to sleep. c'mon sweetheart. she's almost pleading.

alice enters the family room and sees the sad pair of

adys. she also notices carol looks worn out and ryan is showing no signs of settling down.

alice: hi kids. what's wrong?

cindy: frowning. hi.

bobby says nothing.

alice: mrs.

ady let me take him.

carol: okay. she hands her the baby. thanks, alice. she turns her attention to bobby and cindy. is there something wrong? how did the spelling bee go?

bobby: we lost.

cindy: furious. cassie hathaway again!

carol: not understanding. what about her?

bobby: she won the bee.

cindy: still fuming. all because she cheated.

carol: what did she do?

cindy: she had a piece of paper in her hand and when she would spell a word, she'd look at the paper. that creep!

carol: did anyone

ing this to the officials?

cindy: i tried to, but they ignored me.

bobby: i saw her too. we went to the officials afterwards, but they said since they didn't see anything, that she is still the winner.

cindy: what's worse, is that because she cheated and got away with it, bobby came in second.

bobby: and cindy came in third.

cindy: so bobby should be going to the regional bee, not cassie. i don't know what to do next. it's not fair! she cheated!

carol: i'm not sure. we can talk to your father when he gets home. he might have some ideas. however, i'm very proud of you both.

bobby: thanks.

that evening after dinner, mike and carol talk with bobby and cindy in mike's office.

carol: do you have any ideas?

mike: about the only thing i could suggest is to write a formal letter of complaint to the school.

bobby: what should we put in it?

mike: just put in the truth, that you both saw her with the piece of paper, you reported it to the officials, and that you want to place a formal protest of the outcome of the bee.

cindy: will it work?

mike: there are no guarantees, but if there is any appearance of cheating, then they need to investigate. it's a long shot, but it's worth a try.

bobby: thanks, dad.

cindy: yeah, thanks.

the pair goes off to bed. mike and carol talk.

carol: oh mike, i feel so badly for them.

mike: so do i. it would be one thing if they placed second and third fair and square, but if she did cheat, she should be disqualified.

carol: i hope it works. it would be so nice to see bobby in the bee. i wish the bee could take both of the kids, but i'm especially hopeful for bobby. you remember when he went on that spree to win a trophy?

mike: how can i forget?

carol: oh that ice cream contest! that child was dripping in ice cream. she chuckles.

mike: chuckles. yeah. he was a sight. and how 'bout the other kids throwing him a party and presenting him with a trophy?

carol: that was so sweet of them. we've got really good kids.

mike: that we do.

they hear ryan crying.

carol: and we've got one, or two more calling for our attention.

carolyn begins crying.

mike: let's go.

the couple sees about their youngest pair of

adys.

"end of chapter twenty-two"