Akeelah and the Bee by James W. Ellison Page A

place of summer school. It seems that I was misinformed.”
    Mr. Welch chimed in, saying, “No, you weren’t. Mrs. Anderson—Akeelah has earned school credit studying with Dr. Larabee. We worked out a special program just for her.”
    Tanya grabbed Akeelah’s arm. “Why didn’t you tell me about that?”
    “I didn’t think you’d let me do it.” She wiped her eyes and blew her nose. “Mama, I hated goin’ behind your back. It bothered me every single day. But every time I brought up the bee, you didn’t wanna hear it. I didn’t know what to do.” She reached out and touched her mother’s hand, looking deeply remorseful. “I’m sorry, Mama.”
    The four fell into a tense silence, broken by Dr. Larabee, who said, “Mrs. Anderson…Akeelah’s clearly forfeited her opportunity to participate in the bee this year. But if I may…. Your daughter has a remarkable gift. She’s able to process and retain information as well as anyone I’ve ever known. So at the very least, I hope that you would consider letting her do the bee…next year. I really believe that a gift like hers shouldn’t be wasted.”
    Tanya stared at Dr. Larabee for a long moment and then turned to Akeelah, who still looked chagrined.
    At the same time they were debating Akeelah’s fate outside the auditorium door, another speller left the stage in bitter disappointment and Javier stared nervously at
the rear of the auditorium for a glimpse of Akeelah. She was taking too much time. It was his turn to spell, with Akeelah to follow. When his number was called, he pretended not to hear.
    “Number seventy-two, let’s go,” the Judge said sharply.
    In an effort to buy time any way he could, Javier walked very slowly to the mike. He then bent over and retied one of his shoelaces. The Judges observed his slowdown with a mixture of confusion and annoyance.
    Tanya was now wrestling with what to do. She was impressed by Dr. Larabee and at the same time still very angry at Akeelah. She felt betrayed and it hurt. It wouldn’t be easy to rebuild the trust she felt she had always had with her youngest child. She turned back to Dr. Larabee.
    “Dr. Larabee. You are a doctor, aren’t you?”
    “A professor of English, yes.”
    “Do you think Akeelah actually has a chance at winning the National Spelling Bee?”
    “Well, she has to get through the Regionals first. But yes, I think she has a good chance.”
    Tanya nodded, not taking her eyes off him.
    “Mama, I’m so sorry for what I did.”
    Tanya slowly turned to her. “You never lied to me before in your life. I’m pretty sure of that. You must want this thing pretty bad.”
    “‘Pretty bad’ doesn’t describe it.”
    “Well, then, maybe you can tell me what you think a good punishment would be for what you did?”
    Akeelah looked at Dr. Larabee.

    “Your mother asked you a question,” he said.
    Akeelah reluctantly turned to her mother, and said with difficulty, “I guess I gotta miss the bee.”
    After a moment’s hesitation, Tanya said, “Well, that doesn’t just punish you. Mr. Welch and Dr. Larabee put a lot of time into this, too. So think of something else.”
    A glint of hope glowed in Akeelah’s eyes, and Mr. Welch’s expression was trained on Tanya as though through the intensity of his gaze, he could will her into acquiescence.
    “Uh…maybe double chores for the next month?”
    Tanya shook her head. “Try three months.” She turned to Mr. Welch. “Does she still have time to get back onstage?”
    “If we move quickly.”
    Tanya squeezed her daughter’s shoulder. “Then you better get movin’.”
    “C’mon, Akeelah,” Mr. Welch said, “we don’t have much time.”
    Dr. Larabee nodded. “The Judges are not very forgiving about infractions.”
    Akeelah looked at her mother, leaned forward, and kissed her cheek. “Thank you, Mama,” she said, and rushed into the auditorium with Mr. Welch.
    Onstage, Javier was doing his antic best to stall for time.
    “Can I get