Two Rounds at Westbrook
1Marisol and her partner, Dev, had practiced for weeks for the Westbrook School debate tournament. This year's topic was whether students should get homework on weekends. Before each round, a coin toss decided which side each team would argue.
2In the first round, Marisol and Dev had to argue against weekend homework. The round was held in a small classroom with the desks pushed into a circle, and one judge sat in the corner. Marisol gave the opening speech. Her note cards shook in her hands, and she read every word from them without looking up. When the other team asked her a hard question, she froze. Dev leaned over and whispered, "Say the part about family time." Marisol nodded, but she mixed up her points anyway.
3After the round, Marisol slumped against the hallway wall. "I ruined it," she said. Dev shook his head. "We both made mistakes. I talked way too fast." He handed her a granola bar. "Next round, let's trade jobs. I'll give the opening speech, and you answer the questions."
4The final round was held in the school auditorium. Rows of parents and students filled the seats, and three judges sat at a long table on the stage. This time, the coin toss meant Marisol and Dev had to argue for weekend homework, the side neither of them agreed with.
5Dev gave the opening speech. He spoke slowly and looked right at the judges. Then the other team asked a tricky question about sports games on Saturdays. Marisol stood, took a deep breath, and set her note cards face down on the table. "Students could finish a short assignment on Sunday evening, after their games are over," she said. Her voice was calm and steady. Under the table, Dev gave her a small thumbs-up.
6In the end, Marisol and Dev did not win. The judges gave first place to the other team by just one point. Even so, Marisol was grinning when she walked off the stage. "I didn't look at my cards even once," she said. Dev laughed. "And I didn't talk like a fast-forward button."