Red Room Where the Writers Are

Gentle Readers, it’s that time of year again. When the best and brightest head to Washington D.C. to face challenges, do their best, and succeed beyond imagination. No, I’m not talking about a new session of Congress! It’s the Scripps Spelling Bee!

                Yup, the Scripps Spelling Bee, where children across the country go to spell hard words and become stars. It’s the only time of the year I watch ESPN. I make popcorn, have a beer, and then I listen to the kids spell. I have to hold my breath if I know they got the word wrong (they put the correct spelling of the word on the bottom of the screen)—then I hear the dreaded ding!  The kid’s shoulders slump down, defeated. Especially if the he or she is in the eighth grade (only fourteen-and-unders can participate in the bee), there is usually someone to go support the kid right away—a mom or dad, older sister or brother.  They always try not to cry in front of the cameras. They have to be good sports, stiff upper lip.

                I was a pretty good speller when I was a kid. We had spelling tests on Fridays and usually I would miss one or two words. I always wanted a perfect score, an A+.  Sometimes I got them, sometimes I didn’t.  It wasn’t a big deal to me; I wanted to just write and read. So I’m always amazed by the kids who take the spelling bees seriously.  They are so determined, so focused. They write the word on their hands, sound it out, and they might not get a trophy at the end of the day, but they are all champions.