Junie B., First Grader_ Aloha-Ha-Ha! - Barbara Park [3]
“And take a look at this, Junie B. This is called a photo journal,” he said. “A photo journal is similar to the first-grade journals we use in class each day. Except a photo journal tells a story in photographs instead of words.”
He opened it up for me. “See inside? Each page has a place for a daily picture and a caption. A caption is another name for a picture title,” he explained.
He showed the album to the class.
“Every day, Junie B. will take a picture of what she did on her trip,” he said. “Then she will organize her photos and give them captions. And when she comes back to school, her photo journal will tell us the story of her exciting trip to paradise!”
He handed me my album.
“Doesn't that sound like a fun assignment, Junie B.?” he asked.
I started to nod.
Then suddenly, I stopped.
’Cause something did not sound right about that sentence.
I tapped on my chin.
It was the word assignment, I believe.
Finally, I looked at my teacher.
“Okay, here is the problem,” I said. “Assignment means schoolwork, and Hawaii means vacation. And children do not actually like to mix those two items.”
Mr. Scary smiled. “Oh, but this will be a fun assignment, Junie B.,” he said. “And it's a very special assignment, too. You're going to be Room One's first official photo journalist.”
My ears perked up.
“Official?” I said. “Did you say the word official?”
He grinned. “Yes. I did. That's exactly what I said … official.”
I looked at him again. “Official means important, right?”
“Oh yes,” he said. “You can't get much more important than being official.”
I stood up a little bit straighter.
Official makes you automatically taller, I think.
After that, Mr. Scary shook my hand. And he walked me back to my seat.
“Oh,” he said. “And don't forget to take your first-grade journal to Hawaii with you, okay, Junie B.? It would be a terrible shame to miss a whole week of journal writing, wouldn't it?”
I looked at him real strange.
Teachers and children do not have the same kind of brains.
Finally, I did a sigh. And I took out my journal. And I dropped it in the bag with my camera.
My friend named Herbert turned around very excited.
“You're a lucky duck, Junie B. Jones!” he said. “I wish I was going to Hawaii next week!”
“Me too!” said Lennie.
“Me three!” said José.
I looked at May.
She did not say, “Me four.”
Instead, she just kept staring straight ahead. And she didn't talk at all.
I did a shrug and went back to my own business.
Then suddenly—without any warning—May shot her arms into the air. And she hollered the word “KABOOM!”
She looked at me and smiled.
“That was the sound of a spewy, hot volcano erupting on you,” she said.
I sat there a second.
Then I did another shiver.
May is not amusing.
The next day was Saturday.
I woke up with ants in my pants.
’Cause just one more day till Hawaii, of course!
After breakfast, me and Mother packed my suitcase for the trip. Also, we stuffed crayons and toys in my backpack for the airplane.
“This plane ride is going to be fun! Right, Mother? Right?” I said. “This plane ride is going to be the time of my life!”
Mother sighed.
“Well, it's definitely going to be long. That's for sure,” she said. “And it could get a little boring, too, I'm afraid.”
She stood there a minute. Then she winked at me.
“That's why I got you a brand-new friend for the trip, Junie B.,” she said.
My eyes lighted up very thrilled.
“A new friend?” I said. “You got me a new friend?”
She ruffled my hair.
“I sure did. Wait here and I'll go get her,” she said.
As soon as she left, I grabbed my favorite stuffed elephant named Philip Johnny Bob. And I danced him all around the room.
“A new friend, Philip! I'm getting a new friend!” I sang real happy.
Philip sucked in his cheeks.
You don't need a new friend, Junie B. You have me, remember? I am your friend.
I hugged him very tight.
“Yes, I know you are my friend, Phil,” I said. “But it's still nice to make other friends, too. Right?”
Wrong, said Philip. You only need me. And that's