A Victory Celebration: A Victory Celebration Thwarted

The grade eight students were preparing speeches for the public speaking finals to be held in the large hall. Most of them were dressed in blue jeans, t-shirts and runners.

"The winner gets a free trip to the inter-provincials," one of the students said, excitedly. "I would love to go!"

"I already have it in the bag!" said Martin, a tall, over-dressed teenager in a dark suit, white shirt and tie. The other students outside the front door heard his words. They knew that Martin was a good speaker, but his boasting, rudeness and arrogance often dismayed his teacher and others. The students from his school were determined to take him down one way or another, that same afternoon.

Martin had no idea the other students had dubbed him Lambertus Highwater earlier, so they could speak about him freely.

"We are going to dethrone Lambertus Highwater today!" one of the short boys said, smiling..

"I have never met him," commented Martin. 

"You will have to beat Lambertus Highwater!" replied a chubby, grade eight girl. Everyone laughed. Martin had no idea who he was.

"There will be a victory celebration at my place, later!"

The inter-provincial judges did not know any of the students and would declare the winner based on basis of their speaking merit alone. The student's names to be picked at random, were in a cardboard box. Unknown to Martin, one of the students had slipped the name Lambertus Highwater into the box. That name was the first called. 

"I wonder where he went," commented one of the judges.

The students did not say anything and Martin breathed a sigh of relief when Lambertus did not show up.

"This is a sure win for me now!" he boasted to the others.

"Go outside and see if Lambertus Highwater is outside in the parking lot," one of the judges instructed Martin, thinking he was a student teacher.

The judges waited five minutes for Lambertus, but finally declared the official contest winner to be a tall, grade eight girl, who spoke articulately about water conservation. Martin was shocked to learn that the winner had been declared.

"You cannot do that! I did not give my speech yet!" he yelled at the judges, angrily.

"What is your name?" asked an older, female judge.

"Martin."

"Your name is not in the box."

"Regardless, it is too late now," said another judge. "Almost everyone has left. You should have spoken to us sooner."