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Danny adjusted the cuffs of his suit as he stood in the living room of Kathleen Wells’ interdimensional home. Across from him, Jazz smoothed out her aqua silk blouse, the fabric shimmering under the soft lighting. Their other mother, Kathleen, fussed over their outfits, her auburn hair pinned up in an adorable braided bun.
“There, all done!” she said cheerfully, stepping back after pinning a corsage onto Jazz’s blouse.
Jazz glanced down at it before giving Kathleen a curious look. “I appreciate you helping us get ready for Charlie’s spelling bee, but… don’t you think this is a bit much?”
Kathleen blushed, twiddling her fingers. “Sorry! This is a big deal for the family—I just want everything to go perfectly.”
Danny gave her a reassuring smile. “I’m sure it’ll be fine, Mom.” Then he checked his watch. “We should head over to the Masters’ place. We’re following them to the capital, remember?”
“Right! Let’s get going.” Kathleen ushered them toward her car, a sleek vehicle that hummed softly with ghostly energy. “No pollution,” she reminded them proudly as they slid inside.
When they arrived at the Masters’ home, Ceci was the first to greet them, her face lighting up with excitement. She pulled Danny and Jazz into a tight hug.
“I was afraid you wouldn’t make it!” she whispered. “I’m so glad you’re here.”
Jazz smiled, squeezing her back. “We promised, didn’t we? You don’t need to worry so much, Ceci.”
“Well, we all worry about different things,” Ceci said with a small laugh, then spun in place. “Do you like my dress?”
Her magenta V-neck dress was stunning, and both siblings agreed she looked beautiful. The family spent some time catching up before piling into their cars and heading for the state capital.
On the way, Danny and Jazz exchanged a glance when they saw their mother, Maddie, stepping out of the house in a soft blue dress. It was rare—practically unheard of—to see her outside of her hazmat suit.
Jazz nudged Danny. “Wow.”
Danny blinked. “Yeah. Didn’t think I’d ever see Mom in a dress.”
Jazz smirked. “Think she’ll fight ghosts in heels next?”
Danny chuckled. “I kinda hope not.”
By the time they arrived in Madison, excitement buzzed in the air. Families, friends, and supporters filled the auditorium, including Ceci’s friends and their families. The competition had narrowed down to twelve contestants—six girls and six boys—all eager to prove their spelling prowess.
Everyone took their seats as an attendant handed out water bottles, reminding the audience to remain silent. Even the competitors had their own bottles to soothe their throats between rounds.
The first four rounds flew by with no eliminations, but after the fifth, students started dropping one by one. A half-hour intermission gave everyone a chance to stretch and rehydrate before the competition resumed.
By round nine, only two contestants remained.
Charlie adjusted his glasses, his blue eyes gleaming with determination. Across from him, Aurelia Walker sat poised, her long silvery blonde hair cascading over her shoulders. Her beautiful green eyes sparkled with competitive fire as she met Charlie’s gaze with a smirk.
Round Ten
Aurelia stepped up to the microphone first.
“Your word is ‘obstreperous.’”
Aurelia tilted her head. “Can I have the definition, please?”
The judge replied, “Obstreperous. Adjective. Noisy and difficult to control.”
Aurelia nodded. “Obstreperous. O-b-s-t-r-e-p-e-r-o-u-s. Obstreperous.”
The judges exchanged glances before nodding. “Correct.”
Charlie took a deep breath as he was given his word.
“Your word is ‘prestidigitation.’”
“Can you use it in a sentence?” he asked.
The announcer nodded. “The magician’s prestidigitation amazed the audience as he performed trick after trick.”
Charlie took a moment before speaking. “Prestidigitation. P-r-e-s-t-i-d-i-g-i-t-a-t-i-o-n. Prestidigitation.”
Another nod from the judges. “Correct.”
Round Eleven
Aurelia stepped up again, exuding confidence.
“Your word is ‘appoggiatura.’”
Aurelia’s green eyes narrowed slightly. “Language of origin?”
“Italian.”
Aurelia smirked. “Appoggiatura. A-p-p-o-g-g-i-a-t-u-r-a. Appoggiatura.”
A pause. Then: “Correct.”
Charlie’s turn.
“Your word is ‘quokka.’”
Charlie felt a flicker of relief. He had read about this animal before. “Quokka. Q-u-o-k-k-a. Quokka.”
“Correct.”
Final Round
Aurelia squared her shoulders, her confidence unwavering as she stepped up for what could be the final word.
“Aurelia, your word is ‘quintessence.’”
She smiled. “Quintessence. Q-u-i-n-t-e-s-s-s-e-n-c-e. Quintessence.”
Silence.
The judges glanced at their list. One of them shook their head. The announcer cleared their throat.
“I’m sorry, that is incorrect.”
Aurelia’s confident expression wavered. Her lips parted slightly, eyes wide in disbelief. Her green eyes flickered with uncertainty as she stared at the judges, as if willing them to take it back.
The announcer turned to Charlie. “Charlie, if you spell this word correctly, you will have the opportunity to spell one more word to win the championship.”
Charlie inhaled deeply, steadying himself.
“Quintessence. Q-u-i-n-t-e-s-s-e-n-c-e. Quintessence.”
A pause. The judges consulted their list one final time. Then the announcer smiled.
“That is correct. To win the championship, you must spell the next word correctly.”
Charlie adjusted his glasses. His heart pounded as the announcer gave him the final word.
“Your word is ‘effervescent.’”
Charlie thought for a moment. He had heard the word before—it described something bubbly or sparkling. It made him think of soda bubbles or the excitement in the air when something joyful happened.
“Effervescent. E-f-f-e-r-v-e-s-c-e-n-t. Effervescent.”
The judges paused, then nodded.
“That is correct! Effervescent means bubbling, sparkling, or emitting bubbles of gas, like a carbonated drink or the sparkling energy of a lively moment. Congratulations, Charlie Masters! You are the Wisconsin state spelling bee champion!”
The room exploded with cheers. Danny and Jazz leaped to their feet, whooping in excitement. Kathleen clapped enthusiastically. Ceci wiped away happy tears. Even Maddie looked overwhelmed with pride.
Charlie stepped forward to accept his trophy and a thousand-dollar check, his face glowing with joy.
That night, the family celebrated with a well-earned dinner. Laughter and conversation filled the restaurant, the trophy gleaming in the warm light. But the real prize wasn’t just the title or the check—it was the love and pride shining in every single pair of eyes around the table.
It had been a perfect day.