Junie B. Jones Is a Graduation Girl - Barbara Park [3]
“And so Paulie Allen Puffer rhymed the word P.U.,” I said. “But then Mrs. got very mad at him. Because she did not appreciate his behavior, young man. Only too bad for me. Because my brain thought of an even sillier poem. And my mouth couldn't hold it inside.”
Principal closed his eyes. He did some deep breaths.
“All right,” he said. “Let's hear it.”
I gulped very worried.
Then I made my voice real soft.
“Roses are red,
Violets are blue.
Graduation is here …
And your feet smell like stink,” I said.
After that, Principal kept his eyes closed a real long time. And he did not say any words.
Then, very slow, he put his head down on his desk. And he started to laugh.
His laughing got louder and louder.
And so guess what? Then I started laughing, too!
“That poem was a beaut! Right, Principal? We are having ourselves a good chuckle over this, aren't we?”
Principal stopped laughing very fast. He raised his head again.
“No, Junie B. No. We are not having a good chuckle,” he said. “I'm sorry. Your poem caught me completely by surprise. But I never should have laughed like that.”
He crossed his arms at me.
“You are right about one thing, though,” he said. “Your poem is definitely silly. But silly things are not always appropriate to say in the classroom, are they? Your teacher made it clear that she didn't like what Paulie Allen had said, Junie B. But you called out your poem anyway.”
He made squinty eyes. “And please don't blame it on your mouth, okay? You know you could have held it inside.”
I shrugged my shoulders. “I don't know,” I said kind of quiet. “Maybe I could have.”
Principal tapped his fingers on his desk.
“It's a very serious matter to disobey a teacher, Junie B.,” he said. “And I want you to sit here and think about just how serious it is. Can you do that, please?”
“Yes,” I said. “l can.”
After that, I squeezed my eyes real tight. And I thought and thought.
Finally, I opened my eyes again. “Good news,” I said. “I've said my last stink.”
Principal nodded his head. “That is good news,” he said.
Then he stood up. And he held my hand. And he walked me into the hall.
“It's been an interesting year getting to know you, Junie B. Jones,” he said. “You're a fascinating little girl.”
“Thank you,” I said. “You are fascinating, too.”
After that, both of us waved good-bye. And I started skipping back to Room Nine.
Then, all of a sudden, I stopped. And I spun around.
“Yeah, only we are not saying good-bye forever. Right, Principal? Right? ’Cause next year, I will get sent down here, too, probably. Or else maybe you and I will see each other on the playground. Right?”
Principal did a chuckle.
“Right,” he said.
“Hurray!” I said. “Hurray! Hurray!”
Then I turned back around and I skipped to Room Nine my fastest.
’Cause maybe if I hurried, I could still sprinkle glitter on something!
I skipped in the door of Room Nine.
Then my whole face got happy.
’Cause guess who was talking to my teacher?
It was Gus Vallony, that's who!
And Gus Vallony is my favorite janitor!
I zoomed right over to that guy.
“Gus Vallony! Gus Vallony! It is a joy to see you!” I said. “And so what brings you here, anyway?”
Gus Vallony patted my head.
“I had an important delivery to make, sis,” he said.
Just then, my bestest friend Lucille came running up to me.
She pointed to a big stack of boxes.
“IT'S CATS AND GOWNS, JUNIE B.!” she shouted. “GUS VALLONY BROUGHT US CATS AND GOWNS!”
She twirled me all around.
“I heard him talking to the teacher! The cats and gowns are right there in those boxes! Everyone is getting one for graduation!” she said.
I jumped up and down at that wonderful news!
’Cause who doesn't love cats? That's what I would like to know!
“CATS AND GOWNS!” I hollered.
“CATS AND GOWNS!” hollered Room Nine.
Mrs. sat down in her chair real slow. Then Gus Vallony patted her shoulder. And he said the word good luck.
Mrs. said for Room Nine to please stop shouting.
“I'm sorry, boys and girls. But Lucille did not hear me correctly,” she said. “No one in Room Nine is getting a cat and gown for graduation.