Junie B. Jones and the Mushy Gushy Valentime - Barbara Park [3]
“Put it right in my hands, okay, Mrs.? I won’t even peek. promise!”
After that, I stood there real patient. But nothing got put in my hands.
Finally, Mrs. bended down next to my ear.
“Junie B., honey, I’m really sorry. But there is no prize,” she said. “We weren’t actually having a contest.”
I opened my eyes.
“We weren’t?” I asked.
Mrs. shook her head no.
My shoulders slumped a teeny bit.
“So then, a prize would be out of the question, probably,” I said.
Mrs. shrugged. “I’m afraid I didn’t buy any prizes,” she said.
After that, I rocked back and forth on my feet. And I thought and thought.
“Would you have a mint in your drawer, maybe? Or some stickers?” I asked.
Mrs. smiled.
Then she took me to her desk. And we looked in her drawer.
“How about a broken piece of chalk and a yellow rubber band?” she asked.
“Sold!” I said.
After that, Mrs. told me congratulations. And she gave me my prizes.
I quick skipped to my table to show them to Lucille.
She wrinkled up her nose.
“Yuck. Have you been going through the trash can again?” she asked.
“No, silly! These are my prizes!” I said. “I got prizes for bringing in my valentimes first!”
Lucille smoothed her dress.
“Yes, well, I would have brought my cards in today, too. But they’re not back from the printers yet,” she told me.
“What?” I said. “What printers?”
“The printers where they print my name on the cards,” she said. “Wait till you see them, Junie B.! Every card will have Love and kisses from Lucille on the bottom of it!”
She hugged herself.
“They are so beautiful,” she said. “Each valentine has a cherry lollipop on the front. And the lollipop is in the shape of Cupid.”
She sighed very dreamy.
“Cupid is the symbol of Valentine’s Day, you know,” she said.
“Of course I know,” I said back. “Plus also skunks and shoes are symbols of Valentime’s Day, too. ’Cause that’s what are on my cards.”
After that, me and Lucille did our work till recess.
Then both of us went outside to play with our other bestest friend, Grace.
Only too bad for us. ’Cause Lucille kept on bragging about Valentime’s Day. And that’s how come she and that Grace got into a disagreedment.
“I am going to get more valentines than anyone,” bragged Lucille. “That’s because the boys love me better than any other girl. And they will bring me lots and lots of cards.”
Grace looked curious at her.
“But Mrs. said to only bring one card for every boy and girl, remember? Not lots and lots.”
Lucille flounced her flouncy dress.
“Silly Grace. Look at me, for goodness’ sake! I am precious! And when you’re precious, boys automatically bring you lots of valentines. They just can’t help theirselves.”
She twirled all around.
“I am the cutest girl in Room Nine, Grace,” she said. “I am way cuter than anyone else.”
She giggled and pointed. “Even you.”
After that, Grace did a little frown. ’Cause that hurt her feelings, I think.
I tapped on Lucille.
“Yeah, only Grace is the nicest, Lucille,” I said. “And so maybe the boys will bring her lots of valentimes, too.”
Lucille did a huffy breath at me.
“But I’m richer than Grace, Junie B. So that is another reason to bring me more,” she said.
I thought for a minute.
“Yes, but Grace can run faster,” I said.
“So?” said Lucille. “My hair is longer. And boys like long hair.”
I looked at Grace’s head.
“But Grace’s hair is springier and curlier,” I said. “And that is cute as a button.”
Lucille made squinty eyes at me.
“But I have a big-screen TV. And a pool!” she said real loud.
That’s how come me and that Grace leaned our heads together. And we got in a huggle.
Finally, I looked up at Lucille.
“Okay. Here’s what we came up with,” I said. “Grace can whistle through her teeth. Plus she can wiggle her ears. And also, she can dribble a basketball through her legs while she’s running.”
Lucille jumped up and down.
“BUT I HAVE A PONY!” she hollered.
I patted her very sympathetic.
“Sorry,” I said real soft. “Grace has a snake.”
After that, Lucille’s shoulders got very sagging. And she sat down in the grass.
’Cause boys love snakes better