For Pete’s Sake

There was more applause. The mayor held up his hands and said, “Please join me now in welcoming all the best of Johnson County, Tennessee.”
Everyone stood, and the auditorium vibrated with a thunderous round of applause as the students from across the county came on stage.
As Christie was walking out, she saw Peter coming down the aisle and sliding in next to his uncle. He smiled up at her and made a sign with his hands, Good luck.
Christie inhaled deeply and smiled back as him.
Mayor Billsworth held up his hands and the clapping gradually died out.
“Tonight’s competition begins with Math. Followed by Science, the Arts, and finally the annual spelling bee. Enough said. Let’s get on with it.” He followed the students offstage and the auditorium lights dimmed.
There were eighteen schools participating. Five of them were from Mountain City, the largest town in Johnson County. Christie waited patiently through the math and science competitions. When the arts competition began, she searched out Ruth Baker and pulled her aside.
“Shouldn’t we tell the mayor now?” she asked.
Ruth smiled and nodded. “I suppose we should.”
“Tell me what?” The mayor asked as he walked up behind Christie.
Christie jerked around, startled by his sudden appearance. She took a deep breath. It was now or never.
“I’m not going out there tonight.”
“Nonsense. You’re representing Walnut Ridge. You’re the main attractrion.”
She shook her head.
“What’s going on here, Miss Baker?”
“Christie won’t be taking part in tonight’s competition, Henry.”
“Why wasn’t I told earlier about this?”
“Because it just happened,” she answered.
“Then who is? Who are you substituting? We do have a substitute, right?”
“Peter Reynolds is taking my place,” Christie blurted out. There. She had said it.
The mayor laughed. “The town dummy? You must be kidding.” He turned to Ruth. “Please tell me she’s joking.”
Ruth shook her head. “Keep your voice down, Henry.”
“He’s not a dummy,” Christie said firmly. “He’s probably the smartest person here.”
“Well, it’s out of the question, and that’s that.”
“I checked the rules, Henry,” Ruth said. “Substitutions are allowed.”
“With another student, yes. That boy’s never been to school a day in his life.”
“The rules never really state that it has to be a student. The person competing must be eighteen or under and a resident of Johnson County. Peter is seventeen and has lived here most of his life.”
“Then it’s a misprint. Everybody knows this is a school competition. Of course it has to be a student.”
“It doesn’t state that, Henry.”
He shook his head. “Well, it’s out of the question. The judges will never go for it. Did you seriously think I would allow the town dummy to represent us in the spelling bee? We’ll be the laughing stock of the county.”
“He’s not a dummy,” Christie insisted, her face turning red with anger.
“Christie.” Ruth put her finger to her lips. “Keep your voice down.”
Henry turned away and watched the students who were on the stage, two boys and three girls. He couldn’t go out there and tell them his town was represented by the town dummy— he just couldn’t.
“Well, I’m not going out there,” Christie stated.