Junie B., First Grader_ Boss of Lunch - Barbara Park [3]
After that, me and José did a high five.
’Cause both of us were favorites, apparently!
“That woman was a gem, I tell you,” I said.
“What do you mean she was a gem, Junie B.?” said José. “She still is a gem. Mrs. Gutzman still works here, you know.”
“What?” I said very surprised.
“Sure, she does,” said Herb. “I met Mrs. Gutzman this year already. She works right there in the kitchen.”
I couldn't believe my ears.
“Really?” I said. “Really? Really? Really? Because if Mrs. Gutzman still works at our school, how come she hasn't brought us milk and cookies this year?”
Herb shrugged. “I don't know,” he said. “But she still works here, all right. In fact, we saw her just now when we were getting our hoagies.”
I put my hand over my mouth. ’Cause that news was too good to be true!
José laughed. “If you don't believe us, go see for yourself,” he said.
“I will, José! I will go see for myself!” I said real joyful.
Then I jumped right out of my seat.
And I zoomed into the kitchen.
And I hollered and hollered for Mrs. Gutzman!
“Mrs. Gutzman! Mrs. Gladys Gutzman! Where are you?” I hollered. “It's me! It's me! It's Junie B. Jones!”
I looked all around me. There was a long counter with children pushing trays.
“Did anyone see Mrs. Gutzman?” I asked the children. “Does anyone know her? My friends said she is right here in this kitchen. But I don't even see her.”
I hollered her name even louder.
“MRS. GUTZMAN! MRS. GLADYS GUTZMAN!”
Then, all of a sudden, a lady came hurrying around the corner.
And good news!!!
It was her !
It was Mrs. Gladys Gutzman!
I ran and hugged her very tight.
“Mrs. Gutzman! Mrs. Gutzman! I am so glad to see you!” I said.
Mrs. Gutzman hugged me back.
“Junie B. Jones! I'm glad to see you, too!” she said.
I smiled up at her.
She was wearing her same big white apron from last year.
“Whoa! Just look at you, Mrs. Gutzman!” I said. “You didn't change a bit!”
I patted her apron.
“You didn't even change your clothes, apparently,” I said.
Mrs. Gutzman laughed.
She was wearing plastic mitts on her hands. Plus also, she was wearing a hair net.
“Hey, I remember those things from last year!” I said. “You told me that you wear plastic mitts and a hair net whenever you touch food, remember? You said that was called good hygiene. ’Cause mitts and a hair net protect our food from dirty germs and hairs.”
Mrs. Gutzman made a face.
“Are you sure that's the way I put it?” she asked.
I skipped all around her in a circle.
“Hey, Mrs. Gutzman! Now that you found me, you can start bringing cookies to my room again!”
I held up one finger. “I am in Room One this year,” I said. “Room One comes earlier in the alphabet than Room Nine. And so now that you know where I am, when can you bring the cookies, Gladys?”
Mrs. Gutzman did a chuckle.
Then she leaned down next to me.
And she patted my arm.
And she said don't call her Gladys.
After that, Mrs. Gutzman explained all about snacks. She said that first graders don't get snacks like kindergarten kids do. On account of first graders get cookies with their school lunches.
I did a frown at that news.
“Yeah, only what about the children who bring their lunches, Mrs. Gutzman? Where's our cookies? Huh? ’Cause today everybody got a cookie except for me and Sheldon.”
Mrs. Gutzman didn't answer my question. Instead, she raised her head and looked behind me.
That's when I heard my teacher's voice.
“Junie B. Jones,” he said kind of loudish. “Exactly what do you think you're doing?”
I spun around.
Mr. Scary's eyes looked annoyed at me.
“Why did you get up from the table, Junie B.?” he asked. “Hmm? What's the story here?”
Everyone was staring.
I did a big gulp. Then I squeezed my eyes closed real tight. And I tried to think of the story here.
“Well, um … let's see,” I said. “First, I was eating my brought lunch … and everyone else was eating their bought lunch. And so that's how come I was the first one finished. And then I was just