Junie B. Jones and a Little Monkey Business - Barbara Park [5]
“Oooooh,” I said. “I love this thing, Grace.”
“I know,” she said. “And so now I get to see your monkey brother first. Right, Junie B.? Right?”
After that I had to think a little bit.
“Yeah, only here’s the trouble, Grace,” I said. “Now I have one thing from you and one thing from Lucille. And so it’s a tie.”
Then Lucille quick took off her red sweater with the Scottie dog on it. And she tied it around my waist.
“Here!” she said. “Now I’ve given you two things! And so I’m still the winner.”
“Oh no you’re not!” hollered that Grace. “Because I’m gonna give Junie B. my snack ticket for today. And so she can have my cookie and milk!”
“Excellent idea, Grace!” I said.
Then me and her did a high five.
“Oh yeah?” said Lucille. “Well, then I’m going to give her my snack ticket, too! And so I’m still the winner!”
After that Grace looked all over herself.
“But that’s not fair,” she said. “Because I don’t have anything else to give her.”
And so I looked all over her, too. And then I jumped up and down again.
“Yes you do, Grace!” I said. “You do too have something else to give me! And their name is your new pink high tops!”
That Grace stared at her feet. She looked very sad.
“Yeah, only this is the first time I ever wore these,” she said real quiet.
And so I patted her so she would feel better.
“I know, Grace,” I explained nicely. “But if you don’t give them to me, then you won’t be able to see my monkey brother.”
And so then me and that Grace sat down on the grass. And she took off her new pink shoes. And she gave them to me.
“Thank you, Grace,” I said politely.
Then I stood up.
“Okay. Your turn,” I said to Lucille.
Only too bad for me. ’Cause just then the stupid bell rang.
7/Some School Words
I wore my brand-new things back to Room Nine.
They looked very beautiful on me. Except my new pink high tops were too big. And my feet were very sliding around in there.
Before I sat down I looked at Lucille’s red chair. Then I tapped on her.
“I’m sorry, Lucille,” I said. “But red is my favorite color. And so I would like that chair of yours, I think.”
Lucille looked very upset at me. “But red is my favorite color, too, Junie B.”
I patted her. “I know, Lucille,” I said nicely. “But you still must give it to me. It’s the rules.”
And so she did.
“Now I’m the winner for sure, aren’t I?” she asked.
I made my shoulders go up and down. “I don’t know, Lucille,” I said. “That Grace said she might have some cash in her purse.”
After that, Mrs. passed out construction paper. And we cut out autumn leaves for our bulletin board.
Autumn is the school word for fall.
We sprinkled our leaves with shiny glitter.
Also, I sprinkled glitter in my hair. And I pasted some to my eyebrows.
Then Mrs. confiscated my shiny glitter jar.
Confiscate is the school word for yanked it right out of my hand.
Just then, Mrs. Gutzman knocked on our door. And she came into the room with our milk and cookies.
“HURRAY! HURRAY FOR MRS. GUTZMAN!” I shouted at her. “GUESS WHAT, MRS. GUTZMAN? I GET THREE SNACKS TODAY! SEE? I HAVE THREE SNACK TICKETS!”
Mrs. walked over to my chair. She stared down at me.
“How did you get two extra tickets, Junie B.?” she asked. “Did you find them on the playground?”
Then she took my two extra tickets away. And she held them way high in the air.
“Did anyone lose their snack tickets today?” she said to the class.
“NO!” I hollered. “Those are my tickets! Lucille and Grace gave them to me!”
Mrs. raised her eyebrows. “Lucille? Did you give Junie B. your snack ticket today?” she asked.
“Yes,” said Lucille. “That’s because she made me.”
“No, I did not, you dumb Lucille!” I said. “I did not make you!”
Mrs. said, “Be quiet,” to me.
She folded her arms. “Grace? Did you give your snack ticket to Junie B., too?”
Then that Grace started to cry. Because she thought she was in trouble.
Mrs. tapped her foot. “Please come get your snack ticket, Grace,” she said.
And so then that Grace walked to my table in just her socks.
And Mrs. made squinty eyes at her feet.
“Where are your shoes,