In fourth grade, my teacher announced we would be taking a spelling test. But this wasn't just any spelling test... this test would determine which two students would take part in the spelling bee. I tried my hardest on the test, and handed it in to the teacher. Later, the winners were announced; a boy named Jonathan and I would be participating in the spelling bee! Spelling is definitely one of my strengths; I always tend to get good grades on the weekly spelling tests we take in ELA. Despite this, spellcheck is my hero... but most of those errors are the result of typing too fast, and I more often than not catch them before the checker does ;D
Jonathan I attended a meeting, and were told the date of the spelling bee, and what to expect. I'm not sure whatever happened to Jonathan... he was fairly nice. I remember when we were on our way to the meeting, I dared him to go up the 'forbidden stairs' (a stairway up to the attic blocked off by a gate) and he jumped over the gate, sprinted up, and ran back down.
Soon enough, it was the night of the spelling bee. Everyone, two kids from each fourth grade class, was assembled on the stage. In front of the stage were the judges, laptops and dictionaries at hand. And behind them was a sea of eyes- the parents and spectators who would be keenly observing us as we spoke.
And the bee was off. A kid was called up, the judge would say a word, the kid would either try to spell it out or ask for a definition, the kid was sent either off the stage if they got it wrong or back in line if they prevailed. I honestly can't remember what the first word I had to spell was... but the second one I'll never forget.
"Finally," said one of the judges. I don't really know if it was out of stage-fright, or if I actually didn't know it, but I announced boldly, "Finally. F-I-N-N-A-L-L-Y. Finally."
"I'm sorry," the judge began, "that is incorrect."
The people stared as I walked off the stage, a sense of overwhelming embarrassment and anger washing over me. I walked straight into my mom's arms, and being the emotional little fourth grader I was, cried. I had been taken out of the competition so early, for such a stupid mistake. My teacher came over, tried to comfort me, and handed me a t-shirt wrapped in plastic. It was royal blue with white lettering; my school's colors. In bold white font, it said the name of my school, underneath was an image of a hawk soaring over the school, which was our mascot, and below that it said '2006-07 Spelling Champion'. I definitely didn't feel like a spelling champion.
My mom purchased me a Rayquaza collector's tin for getting into the spelling bee and trying my hardest. I can't recall who the winners were... they won a dictionary and a chance to compete with kids from different schools.
I still have that shirt, and it fits fine even now, four years later. In fact... I'm wearing it as I type.