Junie B., First Grader_ Boo and I Mean It! - Barbara Park [2]
Just then, Mr. Woo, the bus driver, closed the bus door.
He looked in his mirror at me.
“Sit down, please, Junie B.,” he said.
Bobbi Jean Piper pointed and grinned.
“You got yelled at,” she said kind of mean.
I made a scary face at that girl.
“Grr!” I said. “Grr, Bobbi Jean Piper.”
Behind me, I heard a loud laugh.
I quick spun around.
And guess what?
It was Herb who sits in front of me in Room One!
“Herb!” I said real surprised. “I didn't even know that you rode this bus!”
Herb kept on laughing.
“You said grr!” he laughed. “Grr! Ha! That's a good one!”
I wrinkled my eyebrows at that boy.
“Yeah, only here's the problem, Herbert,” I said. “Grr is not actually a joking matter. Plus, I wasn't even talking to you.”
Herb quit laughing.
“I know you weren't talking to me,” he said. “No one on this bus ever talks to me. That's because last year I went to a different school. So I don't have any bus friends yet.”
Just then, the bus stopped at the next corner.
Herb came around the seat and sat next to me.
“Maybe, just for today, I can sit here,” he said. “Just until you get your bus friend back, I mean.”
I tapped on my chin very thinking.
Then, all of a sudden, I raised my voice real loud.
“Why, sure you can sit here, Herbert,” I said. “You can sit here forever if you want to! Because I used to have a bus friend named Grace! But today I am dropping her like a hot tomato!”
Bobbi Jean Piper peeked over the seat at me.
“You mean potato,” she teased.
I sprang up again.
“BOBBI JEAN PIPER WEARS A DIAPER!” I hollered.
Mr. Woo frowned in the mirror.
“Sit down, Junie B.!” he grouched.
I sat down.
Then I did a big breath. And I looked at Herb.
“Today is not off to a good start,” I said kind of quiet.
Herb nodded. “I hear you,” he said.
I slumped way down in my seat.
“My bestest friends are dropping like flies,” I said.
Herb nodded. “Join the club,” he said.
“First grade is a flop,” I said.
Herb nodded. “Totally,” he said.
I looked out the window.
“Grr,” I said.
“Grr,” said Herb.
I smiled to just myself.
I think I might like this Herb.
Me and Herb walked to Room One from the bus.
He waved to Mr. Scary.
Then I waved, too.
“I am not even scared of that teacher, hardly,” I said to just myself.
We kept on walking to our seats.
May was already sitting at her desk. She was organizing her pencil box.
Lennie was at his desk, too.
Only wait till you hear this.
I didn't even recognize that guy, almost!
Because Lennie had a thrilling new haircut, that's why!
It was pointish and spikish and stiffish and straightish.
That hair can puncture you, I think.
“Whoa!” I said.
“Cool!” said Herb.
“Gel, ” said Lennie.
“Shh!” said May.
Just then, José came hurrying down the row. He was rushing real fast. ’Cause the bell was almost ready to ring.
“Hola, everyone,” he said, out of breath. “Hola, hola.”
Me and Herb and Lennie looked curious at him.
José grinned.
“Whoops,” he said. “Hola means hello in Spanish. I know two different languages, and sometimes I forget which one I'm speaking.”
“Wow, José!” I said. “You really speak two languages?”
“Cool,” said Herb.
“Big deal,” said May. “I know Spanish, too. I can count all the way to three in Spanish. Does anyone want to hear me?”
The rest of us looked at each other.
“Not really,” said Herb.
“Not me,” said Lennie.
“Me neither,” said José.
May didn't pay attention to us. “Uno, dos, tres,” she said real loud.
I leaned nearer to her.
“Shh!” I said.
Then everyone laughed and laughed.
But not May.
Pretty soon, the bell rang for school.
Mr. Scary got our morning started.
First, he took attendance of the children. Then we said, I pledge allegiance to the flag. Plus also, we listened to boring bulletins from the office.
Finally, Mr. Scary walked to the chalkboard. And he printed a list of words.
“Boys and girls,” he said. “This morning, I have a fun assignment