studying for a spelling bee when we could be doing something fun Dandy frowned Never mind he said snatching the word list from Malcolm’s hand They’d been at this for so long Malcolm was starting to get a headache And not just any headache This was the same kind he got when he had to listen to his older sister Cocoa practice her choir solo She had the voice of a screeching violin But Dandy was his best friend and he couldn’t let him down No it’s okay he told Dandy I want to help But can we grab a snack or something I mean seriously it’s just a spelling bee Dandy gulped as his eyes bulged Just a spelling bee Malcolm this is more than just a spelling bee It’s a family tradition
He paused and mumbled Tradition T-r-a d-i-t-i-o-n Tradition I get it Malcolm said teasing Spooky with a plastic dog bone Your family is made up of good spellers Have you seen our trophy case Dandy asked When my dad was a kid he won the spelling bee three years straight His father won it four times And his father’s father was so good they had to invent new words just to keep the contest going There’s no way I’m going to let my family down Malcolm Malcolm doubted Dandy’s great grandfather caused the invention of new words But there was no point arguing with his best friend Okay I wouldn’t want to ruin your family’s t-r-a-d-i-t-i-o-n Dandy Malcolm
straightened the spelling list and read the next word out loud Peace Dandy took a deep breath Peace Can I hear it in a sentence please Malcolm shrugged Sure Every beauty queen wants world peace
Peace P-e-a-c-e Malcolm shot Dandy a thumbs-up Terrific Next word Despair Despair Dandy’s eyes squinted in thought D-e-s p-a r-e Malcolm did a thumbs-down Despair D-e-s-p-a-i-r Dandy collapsed back dramatically spooking Spooky The phantom dog skittered away and hid inside the wall I’m doomed Dandy cried It’s hopeless No one will ever invent words because of me Don’t be so sure Malcolm said thinking of a couple right away He stood up and stretched Besides even if I make it to the second round Dandy said who knows what eerie stuff might happen
