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What's wrong, Junie B.? said my Raggedy Ann named Ruth. Are you in trouble?

Of course she's in trouble, said my Raggedy Andy named Larry. Can't you tell? I bet Mother and Daddy are going to be running in here any second.

My elephant named Philip Johnny Bob did fast thinking.

Hide, Junie B.! he told me. Hide in the closet until they calm theirselves down.

I nodded at that good idea.

Elephants are the smartest stuffed animals there is.

After that, I quick grabbed him by his foot. And we ran into my closet.

We climbed over shoes and games. Then we scrunched way down in the corner.

Pretty soon, we heard Mother and Daddy come in my room.

Our hearts started to pound and pound.

Then we tried to scrunch even smaller. Only too bad for us. Because Philip Johnny Bob accidentally knocked over a shoe box. And it made a loud crashing sound.

Mother and Daddy opened the closet door.

I waved at them real pleasant.

“Hello. How are you today?” I said.

Philip Johnny Bob held out his arms.

I love you people, he said.

Daddy rolled his eyes.

Then he came into the closet. And he carried us out.

He sat me and Philip Johnny Bob on my bed.

Mother sat next to us. “You didn't have to hide from us, Junie B.,” she said. “Daddy and I didn't come to yell at you. We just came in to talk about this.”

I flopped back on my bed. And I put my pillow on my head.

“Yeah, only I already did talk about this, Mother,” I said real muffly. “Me and Mr. Scary talked about this for a jillion million hours at recess.”

Mother took the pillow off my head.

“Yes, I'm sure you did,” she said. “But Daddy and I need to talk to you, too, Junie B. Copying someone else's work is a very serious matter, honey.”

Daddy nodded. “Cheating is wrong,” he said. “We want to make sure you understand that.”

I did a big breath at that man.

“But I already do understand that, Daddy,” I said. “I don't even like cheaters myself.”

I thought for a minute. Then, all of a sudden, I remembered about the Old Maid.

I sat right up. “And anyway, if you think cheating is so wrong, then how come you do it yourself?” I said. “Huh, Daddy? Huh?”

Daddy looked shocked at me.

“What?” he said. “What are you talking about? I don't cheat.”

“Yes, you do too cheat,” I said back. “On account of last week you cheated me at Old Maid. And I am still not over that terrible experience.”

“Junie B., that's not true,” Daddy said. “I already explained that to you, remember? When you raise the Old Maid above the other cards in your hand, it's not cheating. It's part of the fun.”

“Yeah, only it wasn't fun,” I said. “It wasn't! ’Cause after you raised her up there, you did a wink at me … like it wasn't really her. Only it WAS her, Daddy! And so what kind of sneaky trick was that?”

Daddy rolled his eyes way up at the ceiling. Then he shook his head kind of annoyed. And he left my room.

Mother ruffled my hair. “Sorry, honey,” she said. “But I'm afraid Daddy is right on this one. What he did was sneaky, but it wasn't cheating. Trying to fool the other person is supposed to be part of the game.”

After that, she went to go start my bath water.

Me and Philip Johnny Bob flopped back on my pillow.

We did a sigh.

’Cause grown-ups never do anything wrong, it seems.

Not even when they do.

The next morning, I sat next to Herb on the bus. I sit next to him every single day. On account of that's what bestest friends automatically do.

Herb started talking about his new dog, Dilly. Only I couldn't even pay attention that good. ’Cause how can you talk about Dilly when you've still got a note from your teacher in your pocket?

Mother and Daddy had signed that dumb thing. And now I had to take it back to Mr. Scary.

I slumped way down in my seat. School was not being fun these days.

I looked at Herb.

I wished I could tell him about my problem. Only what if he didn't like cheaters? And he found out I was one? And then he didn't like me, either?

I thought and thought real hard.

Then finally, I took a deep breath. And I decided to risk it.

I leaned real close to his ear. And I whispered to him