The Most Marvelous International Spelling Bee Read online

  Also by Deborah Abela

  The Stupendously Spectacular Spelling Bee

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  Books. Change. Lives.

  First published in the United States in 2019 by Sourcebooks, Inc.

  Copyright © 2018 by Deborah Abela

  Cover and internal design © 2019 by Sourcebooks, Inc.

  Cover design by Aleksei Bitskoff

  Cover and internal illustrations by Aleksei Bitskoff

  Sourcebooks and the colophon are registered trademarks of Sourcebooks, Inc.

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems—except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews—without permission in writing from its publisher, Sourcebooks, Inc.

  The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious or are used fictitiously. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.

  All brand names and product names used in this book are trademarks, registered trademarks, or trade names of their respective holders. Sourcebooks, Inc., is not associated with any product or vendor in this book.

  Published by Sourcebooks Jabberwocky, an imprint of Sourcebooks, Inc.

  P.O. Box 4410, Naperville, Illinois 60567-4410

  (630) 961-3900

  Fax: (630) 961-2168

  sourcebooks.com

  Originally published as The Most Marvellous Spelling Bee Mystery in 2018 in Australia by Penguin Random House Australia Pty Ltd, an imprint of Penguin Random House.

  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

  Names: Abela, Deborah, 1966- author.

  Title: The Most Marvelous International Spelling Bee / Deborah Abela.

  Description: Naperville, Illinois : Sourcebooks Jabberwocky, [2019] | Series: The Spectacular Spelling Bee ; book 2 | Originally published: Australia : Penguin Random House Australia, 2018. | Summary: India and her family travel to London, England for an international spelling bee, where she reconnects with friends, meets the queen, and investigates mysterious goings-on.

  Identifiers: LCCN 2018038146 | (hardcover : alk. paper)

  Subjects: | CYAC: Spelling bees--Fiction. | Family life--Fiction. | Self-confidence--Fiction. | Friendship--Fiction. | London (England)--Fiction. | England--Fiction. | Mystery and detective stories.

  Classification: LCC PZ7.A15937 Mos 2019 | DDC [Fic]--dc23 LC record available at

  https://lccn.loc.gov/2018038146

  Contents

  Front Cover

  Title Page

  Copyright

  1

  2

  3

  4

  5

  6

  7

  8

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  10

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  26

  About the Author

  A Sneak Peek at The Stupendously Spectacular Spelling Bee

  Back Cover

  Thank you to Hannah Mae, who was one of India’s first fans, and to Mia and Emma, who insisted I write this book.

  1

  Triumphant

  (adjective):

  Victorious, successful, and gloriously undefeated.

  The town celebrated the champion’s triumphant return.

  India Wimple could spell. Brilliantly. So brilliantly, in fact, that her family and country town of Yungabilla decided she would be the perfect candidate for the Stupendously Spectacular Spelling Bee.

  Trouble was, India didn’t agree.

  For those of you who’ve met the Wimples, you know they’re a family who never gives up—especially when it comes to each other. So with a clever plan and some colorful animal onesies, they convinced India to enter the bee. With Mom, Dad, Nanna Flo, and her brother, Boo, by her side, India made it all the way to the Sydney Opera House for the grand final…and won!

  That was some feat for a young girl from a small town who was so nervous at even the thought of standing in front of strangers that she would often freeze on the spot.

  This wasn’t because India was unsure how to spell—she was always sure of that. It was mostly because of something that had happened to her when she was young—something frightening, sad, and even a little humiliating—that left her terribly anxious.

  After India’s triumphant win, her life was a whirlwind of interviews and photo shoots, but now that she was home, she hoped to get her old life back: the one with quiet afternoons lying beside Boo in their backyard while Mom told stories, or sitting in Gracie’s Café sipping vanilla milkshakes, or reading on her bed for hours with no one paying her any attention at all.

  But Mayor Bob had other ideas.

  Which is why we start our story during a party on Main Street, with cake stalls, fresh juice stands, a sizzling barbecue, and the whole town seated in rows facing a podium with a banner made by Yungabilla Elementary School that read:

  Welcome home, India Wimple

  Australia's Spelling Champion!

  The gymnastics team had just performed a series of shaky somersaults before their human pyramid collapsed under swooping magpies, and now the town was enjoying the school band, which was playing an unrecognizable tune where no one could hit a single note correctly or even play the wrong notes at the same time.

  When the trombone player nudged the trumpeter in the back of the head, causing her to almost fall off the podium, the band stopped abruptly and scrambled back to their seats to rousing applause. It may not have been the best school band, but it was Yungabilla’s school band, and that was something to cheer about.

  Mayor Bob led the applause, his generous cheeks filling like balloons as he smiled. “Thank you for that fine rendition of—” He realized he had no idea what it was. “—that classic tune. And now, to the reason we are gathered here today. It gives me great pleasure to invite Yungabilla’s newest hero and champion speller, India Wimple, to the stage.”

  India clenched her fist, crumpling the speech she’d prepared, while the audience hooted and clapped.

  Even though she’d learned to manage her nerves during the spelling bee, the idea of standing in front of her entire town sent shivers right down to her toes. She silently hoped she wouldn’t trip or faint.

  Oh no. India hadn’t thought of that. What if I faint?

  Luckily, that was when Dad leaned over.

  He took the balled-up speech and smoothed it out. “We’ll be right here if you need us.”

  Nanna Flo, Mom, and Boo all nodded.

  And just like that, India felt better. Simply being with her family made her feel braver, and even though she was still a little scared, she stepped
up to the podium to excited applause and whistles.

  “Go, India!” shouted Daryl, Dad’s best friend.

  “India Wimple,” Mayor Bob said, “as a token of our tremendous admiration, I present you with a plastic replica of the town’s largest zucchini and…the Yungabilla Medallion.” He placed the ribbon and medal around India’s neck. “This medallion is awarded to our finest—like Mathilda Hide, who rescued a herd of cows from a muddy bog, and Daryl Proudman, who saved a busload of schoolkids from being swept into floodwaters. You showed those city slickers the Yungabilla spirit and made us very proud.”

  The crowd was on their feet again, this time led by the cries of Daryl and the Wimples.

  India looked at the expectant faces of the townspeople, all of them smiling and eager to hear what she had to say.

  She’d lived in Yungabilla all her life and knew nearly everyone. There was Gracie Hubbard from the café; Mrs. O’Donnell from the bakery, who made India’s favorite blueberry cheesecake; Joe Miller, the butcher; her teacher, Mrs. Wild; and all the kids from school. They were there just to see her.

  You can do this, India Wimple.

  This was the voice in India’s head. When it first started, it often warned her that her greatest fears were about to come true, but after winning the bee, it had become her devoted fan.

  “Dear Mayor,” India read from her notes, “thank you for your kind words, and to everyone here for all the support you gave me during the Stupendously Spectacular Spelling Bee. Without you and my family, I’d never have been able to—”

  India didn’t say another word, because at that precise moment, Farmer Austin’s prizewinning cow, Bessie, pulled away from her owner’s normally strong grip and stampeded through the crowd.

  “Bessie!”

  People dove out of the way, sending chairs flying as Bessie zigzagged toward the podium, straight toward India.

  “Oh no,” she breathed.

  Dad leaped onto the stage and swept her out of the way just as the cow barreled past, knocking over the microphone stand and tearing through the school’s specially made banner.

  “Bessie!” Austin sprinted after his cow, who at that moment crashed into the refreshment stand, splashing juice onto everyone nearby. That’s when Austin realized where she was headed.

  “Watch out, Mrs. O’Donnell!”

  For India’s special ceremony, Mrs. O’Donnell had filled an entire table with her homemade scones, vanilla custard, and lamingtons—lamingtons which were now being flung into the air in a whirlwind of coconut and sponge cake as Bessie gleefully guzzled them down.

  Austin finally managed to reach her. He offered her hay from his back pocket. “Sorry, everyone. She’s normally very calm, but lamingtons drive her bananas.”

  India stared down Main Street from the safety of the podium. Bessie had left quite a trail of destruction: upturned tables and a carpet of squashed cakes and scones.

  Dad muttered to India, “Your speech needs to be good to top that.”

  As the townsfolk of Yungabilla staggered to their feet and wiped cream and cake from their clothes and faces, another surprising thing happened.

  “India!” Mrs. Rahim from the post office raced toward them. Her head scarf and dress fluttered behind her, and she was waving something above her head. “My darling,” she puffed. “There’s a special delivery for you. All the way from England.”

  The crowd parted to let Mrs. Rahim through. When she reached the podium, she handed India a cream-colored envelope. It was addressed in swirling gold lettering and sealed with a red wax crest.

  “I don’t know what it is,” Mrs. Rahim said as she tried to catch her breath, “but it seems important. I can feel it.”

  The whole town watched as India carefully broke the seal and slipped out the letter. She read it again and again, unable to believe it was real.

  “What does it say?” Dad asked.

  Everyone gathered closer as India read it aloud, being careful not to miss a single word.

  Dear India Wimple,

  As the Australian champion of the Stupendously Spectacular Spelling Bee, you are hereby invited to compete in the Most Marvelous International Spelling Bee in London, England. The top three spellers from each participating country will join us…

  India couldn’t go on, mostly because the town burst into raucous cheers and Bessie let out a loud moo. Dad, Mom, Nanna Flo, and Daryl climbed onto the stage and smothered India in hugs. Boo caught her eye through the tangle of arms and gave her a look that said, That’s my sister.

  Mayor Bob pulled the microphone from a puddle of orange juice and wiped it against his shirt. “Our very own India Wimple is going to represent our small town on the world stage.” A blob of vanilla custard slid from his hair to his shoulder. “This is going to make Yungabilla a tourist destination not to be missed. Now we really need to celebrate!”

  There was spontaneous singing and dancing, and the school band attempted another tune, although which tune it was remained a mystery.

  As the town lined up to shake India’s hand and wish her the best, she kept thinking about something in the invitation that she hadn’t mentioned. There was a small detail she knew would ruin the moment, which she couldn’t do—not when everyone looked so happy, including Dad, who grabbed Mom and twirled her around while Nanna Flo, Boo, and Daryl clapped and cheered them on.

  Yungabilla was in the middle of a drought that had devastated farms, closed businesses, and forced people to leave town and find work somewhere else. Their population had dwindled to only four hundred people. In the last few years, good news had been rare. India knew she’d soon have to tell them what else was in the letter, but for now, she tucked it into her pocket, and the party continued long into the night.

  2

  Disheartened

  (adjective)

  Downhearted, despondent, and downright sad.

  She faced a difficult decision that left her quite disheartened.

  “My daughter is going to London!”

  Dad was still excited by India’s invitation and had been shouting the news all the way home, kicking up his heels and occasionally bursting into song. India loved seeing her dad so happy, even though the neighbors were probably not so happy about his voice.

  “Why doesn’t he have any of your singing talent?” Boo whispered to Nanna Flo, who back in the day was known to be quite the songstress.

  “Beats me.” Nanna pulled her hat over her ears. “I love your father, but I’ve heard cows in labor sound sweeter than him.”

  They snickered sneakily and continued walking in the moonlight.

  When they reached home, Nanna Flo made a round of hot chocolates while Dad told stories of when he and Mom lived in London as a young couple. He described all their favorite places and how this time, it was going to be even more special because the whole family would be there.

  India knew it was time to tell Dad the truth.

  “I have an announcement to make.”

  “Is it that I have the smartest daughter in the world?” Dad took a noisy sip of hot chocolate.

  “Not quite,” she said. “I’m not going to London.”

  Dad spat his drink all over the table. “What?”

  “I’ve decided not to accept the invitation.” India tried to sound determined, but she could hear her voice waver.

  “I know competing in London is daunting,” Mom said, “and it’s natural to feel nervous, but you’ll be magnificent.”

  “It’s not nerves, Mom. It’s this.” India pulled the letter from her pocket and began to read:

  As an invited contestant, all expenses will be paid for you and one chaperone for the duration of the bee.

  India slowly looked up. “There’s no way we can all afford to be there, and I can’t compete if you’re not with me. So I’ve decided I’m not going.”
/>   India’s family wasn’t wealthy—not even close. Dad was a handyman who was often paid by neighbors in IOUs, secondhand clothes, and homemade jam. Money became even tighter when Mom quit her teaching job a few years back after Boo’s asthma worsened to be with him at home, just in case.

  “We’ll find the money,” Dad decided, pounding his fist on the table. “We did for the national bee, and we’ll do it again.”

  India loved Dad’s optimism, so she tried to let him down gently. “Raising enough money to go to Sydney was one thing, but how can we find enough to travel to London?”

  “You leave that to me.” Dad tapped his temple as if he had a grand plan.

  “It’s a lot of money, Arnie.” Nanna Flo was a whiz at math. “With airfares, hotels, and taxis…I’d say we’d need at least…ten thousand dollars.”

  “That much, eh?” Dad’s smile drooped, then he pushed aside his mug and looked into India’s eyes. “This opportunity only happens to the very best. Maybe you’re right. Maybe we can’t afford for everyone to go, but that doesn’t mean you have to miss out.”

  “It does,” India argued. “I only had the courage to spell last time because you were all with me.”

  “Yes, but remember how you thought you weren’t brave enough to even enter? Guess what. Turns out you were more than brave enough!”

  “Your dad’s right.” Nanna Flo pointed at India. “You’re as brave as a bull ant, and you need to be there.”

  “And I want the world to know how smart my sister is,” Boo said.

  “You do want to go, don’t you?” Mom checked.

  “Yes,” India had to admit. She wanted to stand onstage with the world’s best—to see if, maybe, she could even win.

  “That’s settled then!” Dad sat back in his chair. “Now all you have to do is choose one of us to be your chaperone, and we can start planning what to pack.”

  It sounded simple, but the idea of traveling to England without all her family made India feel as if she were standing on the edge of a very tall cliff.

  “But who will I choose?”

  “That’s for you to decide,” Mom said.