Junie B., First Grader_ Aloha-Ha-Ha! - Barbara Park [2]
May stood there a second. “Well, at least I gave it a shot,” she said. Then she did a shrug and sat back down.
After that, Mr. Scary printed the word PARADISE on the board.
He turned and looked at Sheldon.
“And, Sheldon, my friend,” he said, “the word is paradise. Not pair-o-dice.”
Sheldon did a shrug, too.
“I don't think Gramma really cares how you spell it,” he said. “Grampa's still not getting out at night.”
Mr. Scary closed his eyes a minute.
Then he went to the sink. And he got a drink of water.
On his way back, he stopped at the world map on our bulletin board. And he showed Room One where Hawaii is.
“Boys and girls, these Pacific islands are the main islands that make up the state of Hawaii,” he told us.
He got the world globe off the shelf. And he asked me to carry it around to show the children.
I stopped at each desk.
“Whoa!” said Roger. “Hawaii looks like a bunch of little dots floating in the ocean.”
I nodded. “I know it, Roger,” I said. “But my mother said the dots are bigger in person.”
Mr. Scary laughed. “Oh, they're much bigger in person, Junie B. And they're not really floating, Roger. So don't worry. Our friend Junie B. won't be drifting away.”
May did a grump noise. “Phooey,” she said.
I ignored that situation. Instead, I put the globe back. And I went to the front of the room again.
“I know other information about Hawaii, too,” I said. “Mother read that there are lots of flowers and birds there. Plus also, she read that Hawaii was formed by exploding volcanoes.”
I thought for a second. “She read a bunch of other junk, too. But I finally got bored and tuned her out.”
Mr. Scary did a chuckle.
“Well, volcanoes are pretty interesting, really. When volcanoes erupt, they spew out lava. And over millions of years, lava can form landmasses,” he explained. “As a matter of fact, there are still two active volcanoes in Hawaii right now.”
I stood there real quiet. And I let that information sink in my head.
Then, all of a sudden, I did a little shiver.
“Okay, see, I wasn't actually aware of an eruption problem,” I said.
May jumped up again.
“Well, I'm sure glad that I'm not going to Hawaii,” she hollered. “Who wants to get erupted on by a spewy, hot volcano? Getting erupted on by a spewy, hot volcano would ruin your whole vacation trip.”
Mr. Scary sucked in his cheeks.
“Junie B. is not going to get erupted on by a ‘spewy, hot volcano,’ May,” he said. “There are no active volcanoes on the island where Junie B. is going.”
May thought a minute.
“Okay, fine. But let's just say that she did get erupted on by a spewy, hot volcano. That would definitely ruin her whole vacation trip. True or false?”
Mr. Scary went to the sink again.
This time, he splashed water on his face.
After he dried off, he put May back in her chair.
I waved my hand to talk some more.
“Yeah, only I didn't even tell everyone the most exciting part yet! ’Cause guess how I'm getting to Hawaii, people? Guess, guess, guess!” I said. “No, wait! I will give you a hint!”
After that, I straightened out my arms like wings. And I zoomed around Room One.
“See me, people? See me? I'm flying! I'm flying! That's how I'm getting to Hawaii! I'm flying in a real, actual airplane!”
Lucille stood up and did another yawn.
“Airplane, shmairplane,” she said. “Tell me something I haven't done.”
Mr. Scary sat her down.
“This is going to be an amazing adventure for you, Junie B.,” he told me.
He grinned real big.
“And—just to be sure that you bring back lots of wonderful pictures—I bought you a little gift for your trip.”
He went to the closet and took out a shopping bag.
I hurried and peeked inside.
And wowie wow wow!
There was a camera in that thing!
I quick pulled it out and showed the class.
“Look, people! Look! It's the kind of camera that you get at the drugstore!” I said. “I am excellent at this equipment! ’Cause I already used one on my class field trip in kindergarten!”
After that,