Junie B., First Grader_ Boss of Lunch - Barbara Park [6]
Mrs. Gutzman interrupted me.
“Okay, let's move on, shall we?” she said. “I'd like you to meet some of the other folks who work here, Junie B.”
After that, she took me over and introduced me to six grownups.
I waved at those people kind of shy.
They waved back. Plus also, they said “welcome.”
But here is the bestest part of all! After I met all the people, Mrs. Gutzman opened a big drawer. And she handed me a giant white apron!
My mouth fell open at that hugie thing!
“You mean I get to wear this, Mrs. Gutzman?” I said. “I get to wear an apron just like yours? Wowie wow wow! This is my dream come true!”
Mrs. Gutzman winked at me.
“Well, we sure don't want you to mess up that pretty flowered dress of yours, do we?” she said.
After that, she pulled the apron over my head. And she tied the straps around me.
I looked down to the ground. The apron came down to my shoes, almost.
I twirled and twirled all around.
“Oooh! I love this apron, Mrs. Gutzman!” I said. “This apron makes me feel like a princess!”
Mrs. Gutzman said I had a good imagination.
After that, I put on my mitts that she had given me. And I twirled some more.
“Now I have the whole complete outfit, practically!” I said real happy.
And then, what do you know? All of a sudden, Mrs. Gutzman reached into her apron. And she pulled out a hair net!
A hair net just for me!
She put it on my head.
“Oh boy! Oh boy! Thank you, Mrs. Gutzman! Thank you!” I squealed.
Then I zoomed to the oven and stared at myself in the glass.
“Look at me! Just look at me! I look like a real professional lunch maker!” I said.
After that, I stared and stared at myself some more.
And I couldn't even stop.
Pretty soon, Mrs. Gutzman told me all about my jobs.
“You're going to have three fun jobs today, Junie B.,” she said. “I think you're going to like all of them.”
She took me to the long counter where the children push their lunch trays. And she showed me where the napkins go.
“Your first job will be to keep napkins stacked up right here on the countertop. If the napkin piles start to run out, just reach under the counter and get more. Okay? Do you think you can do that for me, Junie B.?”
I nodded real fast. “Yes!” I said. “I know I can do that, Mrs. Gutzman! ’Cause I'm already familiar with napkins!”
I smiled real proud. “I use napkins at my very own house,” I said. “I use them to wipe my mouth after dinner. Plus sometimes, I use my sleeve.”
Mrs. Gutzman looked funny at me.
After that, she handed me a sponge and took me to the counter by the sinks.
“Okay. Your second job will be to keep this big counter wiped off,” she said. “You don't have to clean any big messes, Junie B. Just wipe up any little spills or crumbs you see.”
I grinned real big.
“Sponges are another job I am good at, Mrs. Gutzman,” I said. “’Cause one time in kindergarten, I practiced throwing sponges in my toilet. And I didn't even miss the pot, hardly.”
Mrs. Gutzman's face went kind of pale.
“Oh,” she said. “Oh my.”
After that, her voice sounded a little bit worried.
“Well, uh … there's just one more job I need to tell you about,” she said. “Do you see that door over there? That's where the children come in the kitchen to get their lunches.”
“Yes,” I said. “I see it.”
“Well—when you're not busy with your other jobs—I'd like you to be our lunch greeter,” she said. “Do you know what a greeter is, Junie B.? A greeter smiles at people and says hello. Do you think you could do that?”
This time, I didn't answer her right away. ’Cause that job made my stomach feel jumpy inside.
“Yeah, only there's children who I don't even know at this school, Mrs. Gutzman,” I said kind of shaky. “And some of them are big kids. And big kids are not my favorite size.”
Mrs. Gutzman did a chuckle.
“Don't worry, Junie B. I think you'll find there are lots of very nice big kids at this school,” she said. “Could you just give it a try, please?”
I shrugged my shoulders kind of weakish.
“I