'Vanquished. V-A-N-Q-U-I-S-H-E-D. Vanquished." Poppy smiled, proudly, scanning the audience for her parents. There was her mother, beaming at her. Camera in hand, ready to capture every last moment of the Spelling Bee. Her mother was so embarassing, thought Poppy, but at least she cared. Her eyes flickered across the room, until they settled on her father. As usual, he was standing at the back, his eyes glued ot his Blackberry. Typical. at least he was here, usually he missed every dance competition, every spelling Bee, every sports day. He wasn;t really there, though. His body might be standing there, but his mind was a million miles away. It always was.

"Serendipity." called out the teacher. Poppy straightened her back.
"S-E-R-E-N-D-I-P-I-T-Y. Serendipity." Poppy smiled. So far she had gotten no answer wrong. She was going to win this, no problem.

"Discombobulated." the teacher called. Poppy cleared throat. This was it. The £40 book token and the proud title of 'Spelling Bee Champion' for the third year running. It was almost too easy.

"D-I-S-C-O-M-" she paused, glancing at her father, still transfixed with whatever was going on on that tiny little screen. Clearing her throat again, she continued. "B-O-B-U-L-A-T- I..."

The entire room gasped. Including, her father. For the first time, probably since she was first born, she had his undivided attention. He looked horrified and ashamed and shocked all at once.

Poppy smiled as she watched Henry Bobbins take receipt of the coveted book token and title. Her father had, of course, turned his attention back to his precious phone, but that thirty seconds of attention was worth so much more than any prize.