The Spelling Bee

I sat in the front seat of the car. I listened as my father who sat beside me and my mother behind me in the back with my sister. As they talked and told jokes I focused on the road as I was supposed too since I couldn’t ride in the back due to car sickness. I hated how they talked to her and laughed. They never did that for me, nor did they ever pay me that kind of attention. My mind flashed back as my father drove around the turns to my fifth grade spelling bee. I was so proud that I made it in, that I took the time to call my parents and invite both of them. They both said the they would be there. I studied my hardest and I thought of the fact that my heart wanted them there more than I wanted to win. I wanted to make them proud though so I studied every night for hours. I had my grandparents quiz me until I knew every word by heart.1

The day of my spelling bee arrived and I put on my best dress. I had my grandmother curl my hair the way my mother liked it done. I went through school and I was so excited and I waited for the spelling bee to start. Finally after lunch it came. I stood there with the other fifth graders that had qualified and I went up to spell my first word. As I stood at the microphone I searched the crowd for my parents. The word was abstract.2

“A, B, S, T, R, A, C, T.” I remember stuttering out. It was only the first round, maybe they were running late. I waited for my second turn. Watching those who came in and out the door. By the second round, over three quarters of the kids I knew were out. When my second turn came. It all sank it. The word was catastrophe. I realized then that my parents weren’t coming. It didn’t matter anymore. 3

“C,A,T,A,S,T,R,O,P,H,Y.” I smiled at the lady as she shook her head and said I am sorry, that is incorrect. I walked off stage and instead of to the place I was supposed to go and sit down I walked through the lunchroom and right out the doors in the back into the parking lot and I stood there. I looked for their car for what felt like hours but it couldn’t have been five minutes. I looked up when I felt a hand on my shoulder and I realized it was my grandfather. 4

“They don’t love me do they? I said looking at him with my big blue eye opening wide as tears ran down my cheeks. He pushed my red hair out of my eyes and said.5

“Some people, baby, only love the ones they want too. They mistake the best people that could be in their lives as not a necessity but as an option. You, baby, have been seen as an option to them. I see you as a necessity. Now, lets go home.” He grabbed my hand and let me slowly to his truck. I walked with him and rode safely in between he and my grandmother all the way home. 6

I snapped back into reality as my father took a turn to sharp and I had to grab my seat belt to remember that it was still there. My grandfather passed away and here I was stuck with them. I let a tear fall as I pushed my black hair out of my face. “Catastrophe” I muttered as I watched the road fly by on my way to a house that was not really home to me at all.