Flora Cejku, 8, knew she was going to win beforehand. She even told her Police Athletic League officer, Eugene Cabral, so.

On the other hand, Victoria Stepney-Smith, 10, was shaking with nerves going in. As runner-up in the Mora Crossman PAL center spelling contest, Flora was only told the day before that she would compete in the city's third annual PAL spelling bee, held Friday night on the Walbrook High School auditorium stage.

In the end, both came out on top, sharing the winner's stand in their respective age groups.

The take: a gleaming red bicycle for each.

Feather, fruit

At first, words such as "feather," "fruit" and "giant" seemed suspended in air. Contestants and audience alike watched in silence while young minds -- in either the 7-to-9- or the 9-to-11-year-old divisions -- concentrated on getting the words exactly right.

Before long, words tossed to the younger group became more challenging and the miscues increased. "Library" became "libary," "ceiling" became "cieling," and "alphabet" became "alphbet." One strike and they were out of the age-old game, which goes back to pioneers on the prairies.

More than 50 children, representing 27 PAL centers around the city, had similar troubles as they gathered for the championship contests. Among them was Flora, a self-possessed girl born in Croatia, and Victoria, a soft-spoken girl from Southwest Baltimore.

"You learn how not to be afraid," said Flora, a Girl Scout who lives in a Southeast Baltimore rowhouse with her mother and Albanian father.

Flora had to go against two other girls, 9-year-old Bianca Brown of Roland Park Elementary/Middle School and 8-year-old Alicia Caldwell of Fort Worthington Elementary School. They were knocked out by "astronaut" and "audience," respectively.

Watch the 'n'

Flora stepped up to the microphone and spelled "audience" and then a new word, "autumn," correctly -- but a bit hesitantly.

Later, she acknowledged it was a close call: "I almost forgot the 'n.' "

"Ladies and gentlemen, we have a champion," announced Maj. Michael Bass, who heads the PAL program.

"But there are no losers,' he said, "just a lot of runners-up."

The same spirit prevailed at the second spelling bee.

Victoria won the contest after a long stand-off with Dwayne McCoy, 11, in which one tough word after another -- "courageous," "courteous," "criticize" -- proved beyond most of the spellers' scope.

Victoria prevailed with a word Dwayne missed: "dandelion."

"I don't think I would have won this contest," Bass said as he congratulated Victoria, Dwayne, and the third-place finisher, 10-year-old Robert Veazy.

Victoria, who goes to the Hilton PAL center and lives with her grandparents and four cousins, said afterward she wants to be a veterinarian or a pediatrician -- both words she can spell.

Flora aspires to be a doctor, but in the meantime, "My hobby's history." As the auditorium emptied after their triumphs, Flora and Victoria left for home, each with her own officer escort.

Pub Date: 3/09/99