Junie B., First Grader_ Boss of Lunch - Barbara Park [2]
I turned around to wait for them.
Only too bad for me. Because none of those guys were even coming.
Instead, they were standing in the stupid dumb lunch line.
My mouth fell open at that sight.
“Herb! Hey, Herb!” I called. “What do you think you're doing? Why aren't you coming to eat with me?”
Herb shouted back. “I'm buying my lunch today, Junie B.!”
José shouted, too. “Me too. Everyone is buying today, Junie B.!”
“Hoagies! We're having hoagies!” hollered Lennie. “Save us a seat!”
My shoulders slumped real disappointed. ’Cause I wasn't actually expecting this development.
I sat down at my table and looked all around.
There was only one other person sitting there.
His name is Sheldon.
I do not know him that good.
Sheldon waved his fingers at me. “We're the only ones here,” he said. “We're the only ones who didn't buy hoagies today.”
I did a sigh. “Yes, Sheldon. I know that,” I said.
Sheldon slid across from me.
“Hoagies are very popular. But I'm not allowed to eat them,” he said. “I'm allergic to fake meat and cheese.”
I looked at Sheldon closer.
His nose was running very much.
“Please wipe your nose,” I said.
Sheldon didn't pay attention to me.
“I'm only allowed to eat food that comes from nature,” he said.
His nose ran even more. “Also, I'm allergic to dairy,” he told me.
I handed him my napkin. “Blow. And I mean it,” I said.
Sheldon did not blow.
I slid to the end of the table.
Pretty soon, my friends started coming out of the kitchen. The other children started coming, too.
They sat down and took big bites of their hoagies.
“Mmm,” said Herb. “This hoagie is delicious!”
“Sí,” said José. “Muy delicioso!”
Lennie nodded. Then he opened up his hoagie roll and looked inside.
“I think even you would like this hoagie, Junie B.,” he said. “Look. It has ham and salami and cheese and lettuce and tomato.”
Just then, May butted her big head in.
“It's good for you, too, Junie Jones,” she said. “All school lunches have to be delicious and nutritious. It's a law.”
“So?” I said.
“So lunches brought from home can be any old thing,” she said back.
I did a huffy breath at her.
Then I turned my back. And I hid my sandwich very secret. And I peeked inside the bread.
I stared and stared for a real long time. ’Cause I didn't actually recognize the meat, that's why.
Finally, I ate it anyway.
It was tasty … whatever it was.
I was the first one done with my lunch.
That's because eating hoagies takes forever, of course.
I put my lunch box away and looked at Herb's plate.
He had three more foods to go.
First, he had carrot sticks. Also, he had applesauce and a cookie.
I leaned in closer.
“Mmm. I think that's a sugar cookie, Herbert,” I said. “Sugar cookies are my favorites.”
Herb nodded. “Me too,” he said. “I like sugar cookies, too.”
I touched his cookie with my finger.
“Yes-sir-ee-bob. That's a sugar cookie all right, Herb,” I said. “I didn't get a cookie at all today. My mother packed me a fruit bar instead.”
“Oh,” said Herb. “Well, fruit bars are good, too.”
I tapped my fingers on the table. ’Cause Herb didn't even get my hint.
“Yes, Herbert. I know fruit bars are good,” I said. “But I really wanted a cookie today. And so I wish that you would just share that thing with me, and that's all.”
Herb looked at me and shrugged. “Why didn't you just say so?” he said.
Then he broke his cookie in two. And he handed me half.
I gushed real happy. “Oh! Thank you, Herb! Thank you! Thank you!” I said.
After that, I stuffed the cookie right into my mouth. And I drank a sip of Herb's milk.
“Yum! That tasted just like the cookies that Mrs. Gutzman used to bring to afternoon kindergarten,” I said.
I smiled at the thought of that woman.
“Gladys Gutzman was our snack lady last year,” I explained to Herb. “She used to bring us cookies and milk every week.”
I made my voice kind of secret.
“Only guess what, Herbert. Sometimes Mrs. Gutzman gave me two cookies instead of one,” I said. “’Cause I was her favorite person in Room Nine, I think.”
José heard what I said. “Hey!