Junie B., First Grader_ Shipwrecked - Barbara Park [2]
Finally, Mr. Scary stood up real calm. And he walked May back to her seat.
“Boys and girls, I know that many of you are still worried about what happened to Roger this morning,” he said. “And I promise that we'll talk more about this after recess, okay? But right now, I want all of you to release your nostrils. And eat your lunch.”
He stood there and waited.
One by one, all of us let go of our nostrils.
Only not Sheldon.
Instead, Sheldon ducked his head under the lunch table. And he said he was looking for his pickle.
I peeked at him under there.
He was hiding under his napkin holding his nose.
When the bell finally rang for recess, Room One was the first class out the door.
“FRESH AIR! FRESH AIR! FRESH AIR!” we shouted very joyful.
Then all of us breathed big snorts of breath. Because Roger couldn't have shot his germs all the way outside, probably.
After that, we skipped and jumped and clapped and played.
Except for not Sheldon.
And not May.
Sheldon sat down and held his nostrils some more.
May went to the water fountain and washed her shoulder.
Just then, there was a knock at our door. And Mrs. Weller came in.
Mr. Scary went to meet her.
“Mrs. Weller, I'm very glad you could come back,” he said. “Room One is still worried about what happened to Roger this morning. And we need some advice about how to stay healthy.”
Mrs. Weller's eyes glanced over to Sheldon's bag head.
Mr. Scary's eyes glanced there, too.
“Some of us are a little more worried than others,” he said kind of soft.
Mrs. Weller went to the board. And she printed some big letters:
V-I-R-U-S
“Virus,” she said. “These letters spell the word virus, children. Have any of you ever heard the word virus before?”
Lucille jumped right up.
“I have! I have!” she said real excited. “My nanna grows viruses all over the place! You should see our house, Nurse! Sometimes we have fresh viruses in every single room, almost!”
For a second, Mrs. Weller's face went funny. Then, all of a sudden, a light bulb came on in her head, I think.
“Ohhhhh. I think you mean irises, Lucille,” she said. “Irises are very beautiful flowers, aren't they? But viruses are tiny little germs that can make people sick.”
Lucille started fluffing her hair very embarrassed.
Then she fluffed and fluffed and fluffed. Until finally, she sat down again.
Mrs. Weller kept on talking.
“Boys and girls, there's a stomach virus going around school. And I'm guessing that your classmate Roger has caught it now, too.”
May nodded her head and pointed at herself.
“That's why I'm holding my nose,” she said. “See me, Mrs. Weller? I'm being smart by not breathing the germy air.”
Mrs. Weller looked kind of puzzled.
“Yes, but you're still breathing, May,” she explained. “The air is simply going in your mouth instead of your nose.”
May looked shocked at that comment.
Mrs. Weller smiled.
“I'm sorry, dear. But I'm afraid it just doesn't help to hold your nose,” she said.
“In fact, one of the easiest ways to catch a virus is to touch your nose with germy hands.”
May didn't move a muscle. She just kept on sitting there looking surprised.
Finally, I leaned over and tapped on her.
“I think that means you, nose squeezer,” I said.
Lennie and Herbert laughed real loud.
They enjoy my humor.
After that, Mrs. Weller printed four rules on the board about how to stay healthy:
Do not share straws or glasses or forks or spoons!
Do not share food or drinks!
Keep your hands away from your mouth, eyes, and nose!
Wash your hands—OFTEN—with soap and water!
She put down the chalk and glanced over at Sheldon again.
“Oh, and I'm sorry to have to tell you this … but you can't really hide from germs, either,” she said. “So—for those of you wearing paper bags on your heads— there are probably thousands of germs in there with you.”
For a second, Sheldon sat as still as a statue.
Then, all of a sudden, he shouted real loud, “AAUUGGHH!” And he quick pulled off the bag!
Then he zoomed straight to the sink!
And he washed his hands and face with soap! Plus