Look at this!

Well, we have to do this assignment in L.A about something we want to achieve when we're old enough, so I wrote about me winning the Regional Spelling Bee. Check it out!

Float Like a Butterfly,

Sting Like a Bee

Cassidy Bush

Draft 2

“Number 42, will you please spell the word,” Mr. Schwartz, our speaker, asked Dawn Anderson to spell a word in the Ohio Regional Spelling Bee.

Beads of sweat rolled down my forehead. What if she gets this right? What if my next word is a word I have absolutely no idea how to spell? What if it’s the longest word in the world? But I did study… so we’ll just have to see.

“Spell the word,” Mr. Schwartz said again.

“Antidisestablishmentarianism,” Dawn began, “A-n-t-i-d-i-s-e-s-t-a-b-l-i-s-h-m-e-n-t-t-e-r-i-a-n-i-s-m.”

“I’m sorry,” said Mr. Schwartz. “The correct spelling is “A-n-t-i-d-i-s-e-s-t-a-b-l-i-s-h-m-e-n-t-e-r-i-a-n-i-s-m. You use two “ts” instead of one in the beginning of “terianism.”

When I saw her walk away with bitter disappointment, I felt an urge to yell out “good job!” but I fell silent.

“Number two, will you please spell the word mortified.” Mr. Schwartz said.

Phew. I thought I was going to get a really hard word like Dawn did, I thought. I pulled out my “number two” tag and wrote m-o-r-t-i-f-i-e-d. That looks about right.

“Mortified,” I began, “M-o-r-t-i-f-i-e-d.”

“That is correct. Number thirty-one, will you please spell the word quiche,” Mr. Schwartz asked my only left opponent, Xavier Phillips.

“Quiche,” Xavier cautiously began, “q-u-i-c-h-e?” He said, in an “asky” kind of voice.

“That’s correct,” our speaker said, “Cassidy, will you please spell the word conquistador.”

“Conquistador. C-o-n-q-u-i-s-t-a-d-o-r.”

“That is correct. Xavier. Will you please spell the word schadenfreude?

“Origin German?” Asked Xavier.

“Yes,” Mr. Schwartz replied.

“Schadenfreude,” Xavier began, “S-c-h-a-d-e-n-f-r-e-u-d-e.”

“That’s correct. Cassidy, will you please spell the word zucchini,” Mr. Schwartz asked me.

“Isn’t that a green fruit?” I asked.

“Yes, it is,” Mr. Schwartz said.

“Origin Italian?”

“Yes, it is.” Mr. Schwartz said, yawning.

“Zucchini. Z-u-c-c-h-i-n-i.” I said with much confidence.

“Correct. Xavier, will you please spell the word mistletoe.” Mr. Schwartz said.

He seemed to be pretty positive about this one, because he spelled it fluently.

“Mistletoe,” he began, “M-i-s-t-l-e-t-o-e. Correct?” Xavier asked.

“Indeed. Cassidy, will you please spell the word Eocene.”

WHAT?!?!?!?! What on EARTH is Eocene? Better ask for a definition.

“Can I have a definition?”

“Of, relating to, or being epoch of the Territory between the Paleocene and the Oligocene or the corresponding series of rocks.” Mr. Schwartz replied.

“Eocene. E-o-c-e-n-e.” I said.

“That is correct. Xavier, will you please spell the word dachshund.” Mr. Schwartz said.

“Isn’t that the official name for the Weiner Dog?” Xavier asked.

“Yes.” Said Mr. Schwartz.

“Dachshund,” Xavier began, “D-a-c-h-s-c-h-u-n-d.”

Ding! “I’m sorry, that is incorrect. The correct spelling is d-a-c-h-s-h-u-n-d. Now, if Cassidy spells this and the next word correctly, she will be our champion. Now, Cassidy, please spell the word synonym.” Mr. Schwartz said.

Now I CAN’T mess this up. Well, the word is synonym, so let’s just get past this word. Hope for the best!!!!

“Synonym. S-y-n-o-n-y-m,” I said.

“That is correct. Now if Cassidy spells this word correctly, she will be the Ohio Regional Spelling Bee Champion! The word is dichotomy.”

“Um, can I have a definition?”

“The phase of the moon or an interior planet in which half its dish appears illuminated.” Mr. Schwartz said.

Woah. Dichotomy? How on earth do I spell that? Let’s wing it.

“Dichotomy. D-i-c-h-o-t-o-m-y.”

“Congratulations, Cassidy! You are the Ohio Regional Spelling Bee Champion, and you are going to the NATIONAL SPELLING BEE!!!!” Mr. Schwartz announced excitedly.

Okay. That news just kind of freaked me out. I’m going to NATIONALS!!!! I’m… amazed. I don’t think there are any words for how proud and happy I am right now. Ecstatic? Thrilled? Blown away?

“How do you feel?” Asked a nearby reporter.

“I just went over this in my mind! I’m ecstatic. I’m thrilled. I’m, to be honest, blown away by my victory! I honestly thought I was going to make it out it the first few rounds!”

“How are you going to celebrate?”

With a quick glance at my parents, I replied, “I think we’re going to celebrate by studying HARD for the Nationals, and maybe going someplace tropical for a week?”

“See what your parents have to say about that one! Congratulations, Cassidy Bush.”

“Thank you,” I replied earnestly.

~~~~~~~~~~ A little while later~~~~~~~

Wow. I honestly thought I wouldn’t make it to the fifth round, let alone the last. I did make it to the County Spelling Bee when I was in sixth grade, just a year ago. I guess once I got out then I decided that I would make it to the Nationals, so I set myself for the goal. And will you look at where I am right now? I’m in the car ride home, with my trophy of how far I made it, and knowing I am going to the National Spelling Bee this Summer. I guess I need to thank my past, year-ago self, for making this goal that I have just achieved