Memorable Quotes from Janet Borrus
1 quoteDefining a Word in Competition
Male judge
If you spell this correctly, you'll be our 10th and last finalist.
Female judge
Carmagnole.
[the boy looks to his mom, who gives him a thumbs up]
Cheating boy
Could I get a definition, please?
Female judge
A lively song and street dance.
Cheating boy
Um... C... A... R... M... A... G... N... O-L-E, carmagnole.
[Kiana, watching through the door's window, sees the boy's mom mouth out the letter, "G"]
Male judge
That's correct, and that means you are our 10th and last finalist for the district bee.
[a thunderous applause erupts, especially from the boy's mom. Akeelah is devastated]
Kiana
THEY CHEATED!!! THEY CHEATED!! I saw them! That boy's mama helped him out!
[bursts through the door, outraged]
Male judge
What...? Excuse me... Who are you?
Kiana
I'm Akeelah's sister. I was standing right back there, and I saw that boy's mama give him the letter "G." She was saying, "geeeee.
Cheating boy's mom
He knew the word. I-I mean, it's one we studied. He knew it.
Male judge
Ma'am, did you help your child spell the word? Ma'am, this is serious business.
[the boy's mom shakes her head]
Cheating boy's mom
OH, YOU'RE DAMN RIGHT IT'S SERIOUS! You know, you are gonna give these kids ulcers! Do you know how long he has studied for this?! He knew that word!
Cheating boy
No. I didn't.
[embarrassed]
Male judge
I'm sorry, number 62, you are disqualified from competition.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.