Skipping Stones

I once skipped a stone 17 times across Lake Wawasee. It was one of those still days when the water is pure glass and you can see the clouds clearly reflected on the surface. We competed in hunting for the smoothest rocks all morning. I found one that was round and flat and just the right weight so I saved it until last. No one else got more than 11 and I was proclaimed the rock-skipping champion of Indiana.

I've never skipped a stone since. I'm satisfied knowing I once achieved a moment of perfection that can never be matched.

Spelling Bee

The third grade spelling bee at Crispus Attucks Elementary was an annual event that attracted international attention. Students trained strenuously for the competition in hopes of being crowned champion. Thanks to corporate sponsorship, the prize had surpassed one million dollars. Just making it past the first round was considered an exceptional feat.

"Fugacious."

"Legerdemain."

"Pusillanimous."

Parents complained about the difficulty of the vocabulary. Officials ignored them, claiming it was the whining of losers. You never heard the winner complain.

"Oneiromancy."

I.A.N. was the winner again this year. It marked the 13th straight year the artificial intelligence device had emerged victorious.