Life in Mill Halley- 4

**********Skyler Foster**********

My First Love

In first grade, on the very first day, we were given a list of words that we had to learn how to spell for the ‘Spelling B’. Being me, I had no idea what a ‘Spelling B’ was, but Linnette and Roslyn kindly explained it to Ginger and I over recess.

“The teacher gives you a word,” Linnette started.

“And you have to spell it!” Roslyn shouts.

“And, whenever you make a mistake, you sit down.”

“And if you sit down last, you win!”

The rest of the recess period we studied words and talked a bit.

All of us thought Linnette would win.

I have to say, I am shocked on how we, as first graders, received four pages of words to learn. But, at the beginning of the year, none of us knew that the Spelling Bee wouldn’t be until January. And so the four of us studied every day in the first week before slacking off.

When the spelling bee actually came, we were warned a week in advance and we went back to the same study method. I grew tired though, and instead of the usual studying went back to playing Spider-Monkey with Lanesha Stevens and Jonothon Ibbit.

On the night before the spelling bee, I definitely did not expect to win. The Bee started out well. Ginger was the 15th out out of the 25 in the Bee. Then Jonothon Ibbit spelled ‘mother’ wrong and he had to sit down. Roslyn, Linnette, and I were in the top 5 with Lusis Karmacle, and Micah Jonas, but then Roslyn had to sit down and then me and finally Micah. Linnette and Lusis spelled words back and forth, back and forth. Ms. Hanover moved to the second grade list.

“Linnette, your word is Physical. We engaged in Physical activity in gym class.”

Her hands started fidgeting, her eyes darted around the room. “Physical,” She whispered, looking at the ground. “F, I, S, I, C, A, L.. Physical.” Ms. Hanover closed her eyes.

“I’m sorry, that is incorrect.” Linnette moved to sit down, but Ms. Hanover interrupted

“Wait!” Linnette turns abruptly. “Lusis has to confirm his win. “Spell Physical, Lusis. We engaged in Physical activity in gym class.”

Lusis grimaces. “Physical. P, H…. Y.” He stops, looking at Linnette dead straight in the eye. “Z-I-K-A-L-L., Physical.” Ms. Hanover looks insulted.

“That is incorrect.” Lusis smiles. “Linnette, Physical. We engaged in Physical activity in gym class.”

Linnette takes a deep breath. “Physical. P, H, Y. S, I, C, A.” Linnette stops abruptly, turns to Ms. Hanover. “L-L.”

By now, Ms. Hanover looks revolted. Lusis and Linnette are both too nice to let the other win. I have to say that I first fell in love with him then, but hid it. From Roslyn, from Ginger, from Linnette, even from my parents. Something held me back.

“Lusis. Physical. We engaged in Physical activity in gym class. Physical.”

Lusis looks mad, not only at Ms. Hanover, but at Linnette, too. “ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXY AND Z!” He shouts. The class starts to giggle, but is interrupted as the bell rings. We all dash to the coat closet, get our stuff, and line up at the door to be escorted out.