Junie B., First Grader_ Aloha-Ha-Ha! - Barbara Park [1]
“I can't wait, Mr. Scary! I can't wait! I can't wait!” I said.
Mr. Scary grabbed my arms. And he kept me from flinging.
“Okay. See, this is the wild behavior that I'm talking about,” he said. “I really need you to stay calm until Show-and-Tell, Junie B. Can you do that for me, please?”
I thought for a second. Then I shrugged my shoulders.
“Yeah, only I don't actually know if I can do that,” I said. “’Cause I'm already trying to be calm. And this is how I'm turning out.”
My teacher tapped on his chin.
“Hmm. Maybe we could make a deal,” he said. “How ’bout this? If you stay quiet and calm until Show-and-Tell, I'll let you go first. How does that sound?”
I bounced up and down at that exciting idea.
“That sounds like a D-E-E-L!” I said.
“You mean D-E-A-L,” said Mr. Scary. “Deal is spelled with an a, Junie B.”
“Whatever,” I said.
After that, I twirled real fast in a happy circle. And I accidentally spun myself into the ground.
On my way down, I knocked over the trash can and the sink stool.
All of Room One turned to look at me.
I sat up and waved my fingers.
“Do not be alarmed, people. I am perfectly okay,” I said.
After that, I stood up and dusted myself off. Then I went back to my seat.
I looked at the clock again.
No minutes had passed at all, hardly.
I put my head down and did a groan.
Time is as slow as a turtle.
The children wrote in their journals forever, it seemed.
Then finally, finally, finally … they started to finish!
And at last!
IT WAS TIME FOR SHOW-AND-TELL!
My legs sprang up. And they ran me to the front of the room.
Then I flinged myself in the air again. And I shouted, “VACATION! VACATION! I'M GOING ON A VACATION!”
Only too bad for me. ’Cause when I came down from my fling, I lost my balance. And I landed on the floor again.
This time, Room One laughed their heads off.
I tapped my fingers real annoyed.
“Okay … I've really got to knock off the flinging,” I said to just myself.
Mr. Scary quieted everyone down.
“Boys and girls, the reason Junie B. is so excited today is that she didn't find out about her vacation until just last night.”
He winked at me. “Tell everyone where you're going, Junie B.”
I took a big breath.
Then the words came hollering out!
“HAWAII, PEOPLE! I'M GOING TO HAWAII! AND I AM GOING THIS VERY EXACT SUNDAY!”
All of the children's mouths fell open.
Except for, not richie Lucille's.
Instead, Lucille stretched her arms in the air. And she did a giant yawn.
“Hawaii. Ho-hum. Been there … done that,” she said real bored.
Then she stood up.
And she twirled around.
And she sat back down again.
My friend named Shirley stood up, too.
“Well, I've never been there!” she said. “I can't believe it, Junie B.! You're really, really going to Hawaii?”
“Yes, Shirley! Really!” I said. “This was the biggest surprise of my career, I tell you! On account of last night Daddy said he is going on a job interview in Hawaii! And he surprised me and Mother with two extra tickets!”
I skipped around my teacher very joyful.
“And that is not even the bestest part yet!” I said. “Because Daddy told me that this trip is for ‘big people’ only! And so my baby brother named Ollie is not even allowed!”
Room One looked shocked at that information.
“Wow!” said my friend José. “You mean you're big people, Junie B.?”
I nodded my head real fast.
“Oh yes, José. I am big people, all right,” I said. “That's how come I got to read the travel booklet with Mother last night. And the travel booklet says Hawaii is a real, actual paradise.”
Mr. Scary grinned.
“A paradise, huh? That's a great word, Junie B. Does everyone know what a paradise is?”
Sheldon shot his hand in the air.
“I do! I do!” he shouted. “My grampa Ned Potts has a pair-o-dice! He used to play craps at the gambling casino. But then someone squealed to Gramma. And so now he's not allowed out at night anymore.”
May jumped up and pointed.
“Sheldon said a bad word! Sheldon said a bad word!” she tattled real loud.
Mr. Scary stared at her.
“May, dear … I'm very sorry to ruin this