Junie B., First Grader_ Dumb Bunny - Barbara Park [9]
Then we bounced and giggled and wiggled and clapped. And we waited for the jelly-bean jar to come to us.
It was the nervousest wait of my life, I think. Because what if someone got the purple jelly bean before I even got my turn? That would ruin my whole entire chance!
I put my hands in front of my eyes.
Then I peeked through my fingers.
And I watched the children pick.
Roger's table went first.
He picked a red bean.
Then Camille picked an orange bean.
And Chenille picked a green bean.
And Shirley picked a blue bean.
My table came next.
My heart beat faster.
José picked a yellow bean.
Then Lennie picked a white bean. And May picked another white bean. And Sheldon picked a black bean.
And then at last! At last!
It was time for me!
My heart was pounding like crazy.
I bent over and did some deep breathing.
The daddy held out the bag to me.
I breathed some more.
“Okay, Junie B.,” he said. “Anytime now.”
I stood up and did a gulp.
Then, very slow, I reached my hand inside the bag. And I felt all around for purple.
I wrinkled my eyebrows real curious.
“Hmm. What does purple feel like, I wonder?” I said to just myself.
The daddy said please hurry up.
I swished my fingers through the jar some more.
Then, all of a sudden, I felt it, I tell you!
I felt purple!
It felt roundish … and beanish … and purplish!
I grabbed it real tight.
Then I quick pulled my hand out of the jar.
And I opened up my fingers.
AND GUESS WHAT?
GUESS WHAT?
GUESS WHAT?
IT WAS PURPLE!
THAT'S WHAT!
I jumped up and down and all around.
“Purple! Purple! I got purple!” I shouted. “I'm getting the thrill of a lifetime! I'm getting the thrill of a lifetime!”
I skipped over to May. And I smiled real big in her face.
Then I skipped to the middle of the tables. And I did a giant bow.
Giant bows are very enjoyable. Even when no one is actually clapping for you.
After I stopped bowing, Lucille's daddy handed me the beautiful box.
I pulled off the paper as fast as I could.
Then I lifted off its lid.
And I stared inside.
“Hmm,” I said very puzzled. “It's, um … a box of pink fur.”
I scratched my head.
“I've always wanted a box of pink fur … possibly,” I said.
Lucille laughed real loud.
“Silly Junie B. Jones! It's not just a box of pink fur! Take it out so you can see what it really is!” she said.
Then—just as I was about to pick it up—Lucille grabbed the pink fur.
And she held it up in front of me.
And that is the last actual fun I had at the party.
“A bunny suit! See? It's a bunny suit,” shouted Lucille. “Junie B. is going to be our party's very own Easter Bunny!”
May laughed real loud.
“SHE'S GOING TO BE OUR DUMB BUNNY, YOU MEAN!” she called out. “JUNIE JONES IS GOING TO BE OUR VERY OWN DUMB BUNNY!”
Just then, the rest of the children began to laugh, too.
Lucille stamped her mad foot at them.
“Stop it!” she said. “Junie B. is not going to be our dumb bunny! She's going to be our Easter Bunny! This is the finest bunny costume money can buy.”
She held it out to me.
“Here, Junie B. Put it on and show everyone how cute it is!”
She handed me the costume.
I swallowed real hard.
“Yeah, only here's the problem, Lucille. I don't actually like costumes that much. Not even at Halloween,” I said. “Mostly, I just like dressing up as Junie B. Jones, and that's all.”
Lucille's whole mouth came open at that news.
She put her hands over her ears.
“Oh no! Do NOT tell me that, Junie B. Jones!” she said. “You have to be the bunny. You have to!”
She ran to her daddy and pulled on his arm.
“Make her, Daddy! Make Junie B. be the bunny! Make her!” she yelled.
Lucille's daddy rubbed his chin.
“Well, we certainly would like it if Junie B. was the bunny,” he said. “But we can't really make her, Lucille.”
Lucille jumped up and down at me.
“You're going to ruin my whole party, Junie B. Jones!” she grouched. “We hired an expensive photographer and everything! We're all supposed to get our pictures taken with you!”
My ears perked up at that news.
“Pictures?” I said kind of curious.
Lucille nodded.