Free Bee in Your Ear by Frieda Wishinsky

Text copyright © 2004 Frieda Wishinsky
    Interior illustrations copyright © 2004 Louise-Andrée Laliberté
    All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system now known or to be invented, without permission in writing from the publisher.
    National Library of Canada Cataloguing in Publication Data
    Wishinsky, Frieda
    A bee in your ear / Frieda Wishinsky;
    with illustrations by Louise-Andrée Laliberté. (Orca echoes)
    ISBN 1-55143-324-9
    I. Laliberté, Louise-Andrée II. Title. III. Series.
    PS8595.I834B42 2004           jC813’.54               C2004-903778-1
    Library of Congress Control Number: 2004108717
    Summary : A spelling bee threatens Kate and Jake’s friendship.
    Orca Book Publishers gratefully acknowledges the support for its publishing programs provided by the following agencies: the Government of Canada through the Department of Canadian Heritage’s Book Publishing Industry Development Program (BPIDP), the Canada Council for the Arts, and the British Columbia Arts Council.
    Design by Lynn O’Rourke
    Orca Book Publishers                               Orca Book Publishers
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Victoria, BC Canada                                      Custer, WA USA
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    Printed and bound in Canada
    on Old Growth Forest Free, 100% Recycled paper.
    07  06  05  04  •  4  3  2  1

For my friend,
    Lonnie Cacchione.

CHAPTER ONE

I Want to Win
    Kate had never won anything.
    She’d never won the jelly bean contest.
    She’d never won the running race on Sports Day.
    She’d never even won at bingo.
    So when her teacher, Mr. Bolin, announced a spelling contest in their spelling club, Kate was determined to win. Kate was good at spelling. It was her second-best subject, right after reading.
    And spelling club was fun. It was one of the five clubs you could join at lunch.
    â€œThe contest will take place in one week,” said Mr. Bolin. “The winner will get a ribbon and a special prize.”

    â€œWhat do you think the prize is?” asked Lila at recess.
    â€œI hope it’s not a book about a dog,” said Violet. “Mr. Bolin loves dogs. Remember that story he read us about a lost dog last week? Remember how he cried at the end? It was disgusting!”
    â€œI liked that story,” said Kate.
    â€œYou would,” said Violet, and she rolled her eyes so high they almost touched her blond bangs.
    â€œI hope it’s a gift certificate,” said Lila.
    â€œYes,” said Violet. “I love gift certificates. Then you can buy anything you want.”
    â€œI don’t care what it is,” said Kate. “I just want to win.”
    â€œYou won’t win. You don’t get a hundred on every test like I do,” said Violet.
    â€œNeither do you, Violet,” said Kate’s best friend, Jake.
    â€œWell, I usually do,” said Violet. “I was just sick once and couldn’t remember two little words. Kate only got ninety-three and ninety-five on the last two tests.”
    â€œHow do you know?” asked Kate.
    â€œI saw your paper.”
    â€œWho said you