I glanced toward the judges’ hallway.
Three board officials were already waiting for my signal.
“You’re right.”
I smiled faintly.
“People do remember the final round.”
Then I walked away.
The final round was held in a ballroom filled with chandeliers, cameras, students, teachers, and parents. Parentrelationship advice
At center stage sat the silver Governor’s Cup.
Nathan took a front-row seat like a king waiting for tribute.
Preston looked different now.
Pale.
Tense.
For the first time all day, his confidence had cracks in it.
The academic bowl began.
Literature.
Physics.
Constitutional law.
Probability.
World history.
Eli answered first.
“Correct.”
Then Ethan.
“Correct.”
Then both of them moved through the lightning round so cleanly that whispers started spreading through the audience before the scoreboard could keep up.
Preston buzzed too early twice.
Missed both questions.
Then stared down at his hands.
When the final bell sounded, the screen changed.
**FIRST PLACE OVERALL: ELI ELLIS AND ETHAN ELLIS.**
The ballroom erupted.
I stood.
Clapping.
Crying.
Not even trying to hide it.
My sons looked toward me.
Not the trophy.
Not the cameras.
Not the judges.
Me.
Then the moderator lifted another envelope.
“Before the awards are presented, the State Academic Integrity Board has a statement.”
Nathan stopped clapping.
I walked onto the stage.
