ORANG...E
In honor of the Scripps national bee that took place this last week ...
Deborah and I competed in the annual Spelling Bee in Montpelier. I competed in first and second grade. I don't remember what happened in third grade. I missed the fourth grade competition because I missed the word "eschew" in Mrs. Abplanap's (Mrs. A) class competition, but that's a different memory.
In second grade, I was in Mrs. Keetch's class, along with Cody Brown. Cody had won first place the year before, and I had gotten second. I think the following story took place in the second grade competition.
Cody Brown was smart. He had a physical handicap and walked with crutches. Dad told me what he had, and that he probably wouldn't live to see his 12th birthday. I don't remember what it was nor do I remember having him in class after the second grade. Cody was a nice kid, and I won't call him my nemesis. Nonetheless, he was very smart and I knew he was the one kid standing between me and first place.
The spelling bee finals took place on the stage of the old high school. The stage was lit and the audience was dark. We contestants sat on stage waiting for our turns in neat little rows of worn and tired chairs. I was confident. I just needed Cody to made a mistake somewhere. There were first grade words, second grade words, third grade words, and so on. When you exhausted one list, you moved on to the next, until there was only one person standing. I don't remember any of my words, but I clearly remember one of Cody's.
On his turn, he approached the microphone, and the reader announced "orange". Cody was a rock. He spelled "O..R..A..N..G", and then turned to walk away. That was it. Cody was out of the competition. My way to first place was paved. It would be smooth sailing from there on.
Cody took one step, and then another, and then, in desperation, reversed direction and lunged with all of his might back to the microphone. "E!!!!" he pronounced before the judge had issued a ruling. My hopes dashed, I secretly urged the judges to disallow the continuation. It was ruled as correct. I got second place, behind Cody Brown.
-- end of story--
For the record, this is a partial list of my elementary school teachers. If anyone else remembers the names that I left out, post it, so that my record can be complete:
Kindergarten teacher (Summit Elementary): Mrs. Theriot
1st grade (Summit Elementaty): Mrs Vernon
1st grade (A.J. Winters): ???
2nd grade (A.J. Winters): Mrs. Keetch
3rd grade (A.J. Winters): Mrs. Webber
4th grade (A.J. Winters): Mrs. Abplanap (Mrs. A)
5th grade (A.J. Winters): Mrs. Etcheverry
5th grade (Fremont): Mr. Thompson (Mr. T)
6th grade Sep-Dec (Fremont): Mr. Denezio
6th grade Jan-Jun (Fremont): ???
Other elementary school memories.
- Ryan takes a softball in the stomach (1st grade)
- kickball on the A.J. Winters playground
- walking to school in the snow (getting offered a ride)
- walking to school in the snow (getting stopped by an officer)
- walking to school in the snow (just in general)
- field day at A.J. Winters (losing to J.R. in the footrace)
- playing catcher at recess (dropping the foul ball)
- placing bets with Wendall
- fishing for J.R.'s beltbuckle
- substitute teachers at A.J. Winters
- kissing tag at Summit Elementary
Deborah and I competed in the annual Spelling Bee in Montpelier. I competed in first and second grade. I don't remember what happened in third grade. I missed the fourth grade competition because I missed the word "eschew" in Mrs. Abplanap's (Mrs. A) class competition, but that's a different memory.
In second grade, I was in Mrs. Keetch's class, along with Cody Brown. Cody had won first place the year before, and I had gotten second. I think the following story took place in the second grade competition.
Cody Brown was smart. He had a physical handicap and walked with crutches. Dad told me what he had, and that he probably wouldn't live to see his 12th birthday. I don't remember what it was nor do I remember having him in class after the second grade. Cody was a nice kid, and I won't call him my nemesis. Nonetheless, he was very smart and I knew he was the one kid standing between me and first place.
The spelling bee finals took place on the stage of the old high school. The stage was lit and the audience was dark. We contestants sat on stage waiting for our turns in neat little rows of worn and tired chairs. I was confident. I just needed Cody to made a mistake somewhere. There were first grade words, second grade words, third grade words, and so on. When you exhausted one list, you moved on to the next, until there was only one person standing. I don't remember any of my words, but I clearly remember one of Cody's.
On his turn, he approached the microphone, and the reader announced "orange". Cody was a rock. He spelled "O..R..A..N..G", and then turned to walk away. That was it. Cody was out of the competition. My way to first place was paved. It would be smooth sailing from there on.
Cody took one step, and then another, and then, in desperation, reversed direction and lunged with all of his might back to the microphone. "E!!!!" he pronounced before the judge had issued a ruling. My hopes dashed, I secretly urged the judges to disallow the continuation. It was ruled as correct. I got second place, behind Cody Brown.
-- end of story--
For the record, this is a partial list of my elementary school teachers. If anyone else remembers the names that I left out, post it, so that my record can be complete:
Kindergarten teacher (Summit Elementary): Mrs. Theriot
1st grade (Summit Elementaty): Mrs Vernon
1st grade (A.J. Winters): ???
2nd grade (A.J. Winters): Mrs. Keetch
3rd grade (A.J. Winters): Mrs. Webber
4th grade (A.J. Winters): Mrs. Abplanap (Mrs. A)
5th grade (A.J. Winters): Mrs. Etcheverry
5th grade (Fremont): Mr. Thompson (Mr. T)
6th grade Sep-Dec (Fremont): Mr. Denezio
6th grade Jan-Jun (Fremont): ???
Other elementary school memories.
- Ryan takes a softball in the stomach (1st grade)
- kickball on the A.J. Winters playground
- walking to school in the snow (getting offered a ride)
- walking to school in the snow (getting stopped by an officer)
- walking to school in the snow (just in general)
- field day at A.J. Winters (losing to J.R. in the footrace)
- playing catcher at recess (dropping the foul ball)
- placing bets with Wendall
- fishing for J.R.'s beltbuckle
- substitute teachers at A.J. Winters
- kissing tag at Summit Elementary
Labels: Montpelier
posted by ronny at 20:36
2 Comments:
Love the orange story!
James doesn't remember ANY of his teacher's names. I think that is weird. I'm glad to know that you remember your teachers. I'm sure that they remember you too (that is, if they are still alive...)
Ronny,
Do you remember Amy Bailey? Well, Deborah had a link to your blog on hers so I had to check it out. Loved the spelling bee story. I had no idea you only got 2nd on the spelling bee!
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