Georgia Loses The Spelling Bee

Georgia Hathcock, not her real name, is either in trouble or causing it, and I mean that in the nicest way, really I do. Poor Georgia would be the first to admit that she has a tendency to both act and speak before she thinks. It has gotten her in more pickles than anyone who knows her cares to remember. One day she drew Paulette into a particularly embarrassing predicament.

The two of them were at the mall having a quick salad in the food court. Paulette was knee deep in a good story when she noticed that she might as well be talking to thin air. Georgia was totally preoccupied. Something or someone sitting behind Paulette had caught her eye.

Paulette tried to ignore it at first and continue the conversation but when it became clear that Georgia wasn’t hearing anything she said, Paulette gave up and glanced over her shoulder to see exactly what was so interesting. There was only one table taken behind them and the only people sitting at it were a young mother talking on her cell phone while her kids, a boy and a girl, finished their Happy Meals. The little boy looked to be about three or four, the older sister maybe six; nothing remarkable there, Paulette thought to herself.

Georgia, of course, had followed Paulette’s gaze. “Sad, isn’t it?” she whispered when Paulette turned back around.

“Sad? What’s sad?” Paulette asked. “I don’t have a clue what she was talking about.”

Georgia smiled like they were both in on the secret. She barely nodded her head towards the little girl. “Bless her heart…look at her e-a-r-s. They are so b-i-g!”

Paulette said she could’ve slid under the table when that child looked straight at Georgia and said, “Yes’ ma’am, but I’m smart and I sure can h-e-a-r really good.”

Hugs, Shellie