Enduring Patience

Enduring Patience

“Eat Megan!” Megan flinched. “Yes, Mother.” She hated when her mother nagged.

Yet, she felt nervous. Megan trembled under the table. Her mother reached over. She patted Megan’s leg.

“Honey, everyone experiences the same feelings. Nervousness……. Fear…….. Anxiety. Everyone survives.”

“Yeah, sure.” Megan replied. Unconvinced, Megan finished her breakfast. Her mother knew everything! Somehow she knew these were her exact feelings.

Megan recently turned eight. She attended Eastwood Elementary. She discovered second grade relatively easy, however, she felt the Spelling Bee entirely more advanced. When she left the house her mother offered one more encouraging phrase.

“Embrace the challenge dear.” Megan rolled her eyes.

Later, seated inside the theatre, each student waited impatiently. One after another, students were spelling. Some correct, others incorrect. Then, there were three left. Jeremy, seated beside Megan, nervously misspelled “patience.” Next, Megan’s friend Jennifer approached the microphone. She, likewise, misspelled “patience.”

Megan gulped. Being the remaining contestant, she apprehensively approached the microphone. Hopefully, reciting her spelling homework every week helped her.

“Megan, please spell ‘patience’” asked the teacher.

Megan stared ahead, unsure. Then, her eyes illuminated. She knew the spelling. Her voice weak, she whispered the letters. The audience erupted. She, Megan Elaine Wallace, Eastwood Elementary Spelling Bee Winner? The idea, inexplicable. The idea, WONDERFUL!

The remaining afternoon flew. When she arrived home later, her Mother met her outside.

“Well?” she asked.

“Yes, mother?” Megan sheepishly replied.

“The Spelling Bee, Megan? Tell me!” her mother cried.

Megan squealed while she showed her the medal. She recounted the events while inside her mother’s embrace.

“See, dear.” Megan’s mother squeezed her closer. “Fear never endures.”

Megan smiled, the memory forever embedded. Ultimately, she exceeded her expectations. Everyone else buckled under the pressure whereas, Megan endured “patience” the best.

Word count: 305