Junie B. Jones Has a Peep in Her Pocket - Barbara Park [7]
After that, I put the chick in the grass. And on my lap. And in my straw hat. Plus also, I put it in my big, wide pocket.
I peeked at it in there.
“I wish I could take you home with me,” I said. “I wish I could take you home to my house. And then you could live with me and my dog Tickle forever and ever. Would you like that? Huh? Would you?”
The baby chick did a peep.
“Hey! You said yes!” I said.
I turned around. “Did you hear that, Farmer? The baby chick said it would like to come home with me!”
Farmer shook his head.
“Oh, I don’t know, Junie B.,” he said. “I’m not sure you’d really like having Spike grow up at your house.”
I did a frown at that man.
“Spike? Who’s Spike?” I asked.
Farmer pointed at the baby chick.
“Spike, the chick,” he said. “We named that little guy Spike.”
I peeked at the chick again.
“Yeah, only Spike is not actually a good name for a fluffery baby chick,” I said.
“I know, Junie B.,” he said. “But Spike isn’t going to be a little chick forever, you know.”
“I know,” I said back. “’Cause someday Spike will be a big giant chick. Right, Farmer? Right? Right?”
Farmer Flores shook his head again.
“Well, not exactly,” he said.
I looked at him real curious.
“Well, if Spike won’t be a big chick, what’s Spike going to be?” I asked.
Farmer Flores took Spike back from me.
He held him in his hands. And patted his little softie head.
“Someday, Junie B.,” he said, “Spike will be a rooster.”
8/Confusion
I had confusion in my head.
’Cause first I hated roosters.
Only then I liked Spike.
Only Spike is going to be a rooster.
And so now what am I supposed to do?
I didn’t talk much after that. ’Cause confusion takes a lot of thinking, that’s why.
Plus also, I might need counseling, possibly.
Finally, the children finished seeing the chickens. And they came out through the gate.
Then Farmer Flores held my hand one more time. And he took us to a field with wild flowers in it.
He said we could pick wild flowers for our mothers! ’Cause that would be like a gift from the gift shop, he said.
After all of us had our flowers, Mrs. took our picture with that nice man.
And here is the bestest part of all!
Farmer Flores took off his hat!
AND HIS HEAD WAS NOT A NUB!
I danced all around that guy very thrilled.
“Farmer Flores! Farmer Flores! Your head is not a nub! Your head is not a nub!”
He wrinkled up his eyebrows. “Uh… thank you,” he said kind of quiet.
“You’re welcome, Farmer!” I said back. “’Cause guess what? Now I don’t have to be afraid of roosters anymore!”
I jumped up and down. “Now maybe I can be afraid of goats! Just like you!” I shouted.
After that, Farmer Flores looked at me a real long time.
Then he rolled his eyes way up to the sky.
I looked up there, too.
But I didn’t see anything.
Laugh out loud with Junie B. Jones!
#1 Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus
#2 Junie B. Jones and a Little Monkey Business
#3 Junie B. Jones and Her Big Fat Mouth
#4 Junie B. Jones and Some Sneaky Peeky Spying
#5 Junie B. Jones and the Yucky Blucky Fruitcake
#6 Junie B. Jones and That Meanie Jim’s Birthday
#7 Junie B. Jones Loves Handsome Warren
#8 Junie B. Jones Has a Monster Under Her Bed
#9 Junie B. Jones Is Not a Crook
#10 Junie B. Jones Is a Party Animal
#11 Junie B. Jones Is a Beauty Shop Guy
#12 Junie B. Jones Smells Something Fishy
#13 Junie B. Jones Is (almost) a Flower Girl
#14 Junie B. Jones and the Mushy Gushy Valentime
#15 Junie B. Jones Has a Peep in Her Pocket
#16 Junie B. Jones Is Captain Field Day
#17 Junie B. Jones Is a Graduation Girl
#18 Junie B., First Grader (at last!)
#19 Junie B., First Grader: Boss of Lunch
#20 Junie B., First Grader: Toothless Wonder
#21 Junie B., First Grader: Cheater Pants
#22 Junie B., First Grader: One-Man Band
#23 Junie B., First Grader: Shipwrecked
#24 Junie B., First Grader: BOO…and I MEAN It!
#25 Junie B., First Grader: Jingle Bells, Batman Smells! (P.S. So Does May.)
#26 Junie B., First Grader: Aloha-ha-ha!
#27 Junie B., First Grader: Dumb Bunny
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