Jessie Ditton (Speller 261) is on a mission.
She sees Peter Sokolowski, Merriam-Webster's editor-at-large, in the conference center. He is talking to Dr. Jacques Bailly, the Bee's pronouncer,
Jessie got Dr. Bailly's signature at Monday's picnic. She also snagged that of Scott Isaacs, the 1989 champion from Denver.
"Congratulations, Jessie. Have a great time and come back," Scott Isaacs wrote in the Virginia sixth grader's Bee Keeper.
"Run, quick," Jessie's mother, Karen, tells her as Peter Sokolowski starts to walk away. "You've got to be assertive."
She gets the signature.
"Pretty cool?" her mother asks.
Jessie, who had been talking quickly about her lucky blue dress and her plans to be a fashion designer AND a veterinarian, is suddenly shy. She dips her head and nods.
Pretty cool.