Junie B. Jones Is (Almost) a Flower Girl - Barbara Park [5]
“What a perfect flower girl you are!” he said real proud.
“Thank you,” I said. “Only I’m not the real flower girl. Remember, Daddy? I’m just the alternate.”
Just then, my shoulders drooped a teeny bit. And I didn’t feel that happy anymore.
’Cause at first you’re very, very glad to be the alternate.
And after that…
You’re not.
That night after dinner, Mother tucked me in bed real snug.
She kissed me good-night on my head.
“Yeah, only don’t turn out my light yet. ’Cause I forgot to do something very important,” I said.
After that, I quick got out of bed again. And I looked out my window.
“Star light, star bright. First star I see tonight. I wish I may, I wish I might…have the wish I wish tonight.”
I crossed my fingers for luck.
“Dear Star, Please make Bo sick for Aunt Flo’s wedding. Love, your friend, Junie B. Jones.”
I hopped back in my bed.
Mother’s eyes got big and wide at me.
“No, Junie B.! Absolutely not!” she said. “We do not wish for people to get sick. You go back to that window. And you change that wish right now.”
I raised up my eyebrows at her.
“Yeah, only how can I change it? It already got sent,” I explained.
“Fine,” said Mother. “Then go back to the window and wish a nicer wish on top of it.”
She snapped her fingers and pointed.
“Now, Junie B. I mean it.”
I got out of bed real slow.
Then I walked to the window again.
And I looked at my same star.
“Dear Star, Mother says not to make Bo sick. And so maybe you could just give her a case of head lice and that’s all. Thank you and good night.”
Mother shook her head.
“No, Junie B.,” she said. “No, no, no.”
I did a mad breath.
“But head lice doesn’t even hurt, Mother,” I said back. “Head lice just takes a little extra shampoo. And that’s all.”
But Mother kept on shaking her head. And she made me change my wish again.
“Okay, Star, never mind the whole dumb thing. Only now I won’t be a flower girl for my whole entire life, probably. And so I hope my mother is happy. Amen.”
After that, I got back in my bed. And Mother turned out my light.
After she left, I did a big sigh.
“Shoot. That lice idea was a beaut,” I said real soft.
Just then, my stuffed elephant named Philip Johnny Bob tapped on me.
Don’t feel bad, he said. You might still get to be the flower girl.
“Yeah, only how?” I asked him.
He thought and thought.
Maybe Bo’s daddy will be driving her to the wedding. And their car will get stacked at a railroad crossing. And the train will be a million bajillion miles long, he said.
I felt a little perkier at that idea.
“Hey, yeah,” I said. “Or else maybe his car might get stucked in something else. Like in some ooey gooey mud. Or in a traffic jam. Or in…or in…”
Or in a giant paddle of Krazy Glue! said Philip Johnny Bob.
After that, me and him laughed and laughed.
Then I hugged that guy very tight.
’Cause he’s always giving me hope.
8/A Little Tussle
Aunt Flo’s wedding took forever to get here. I waited for my whole entire life, practically.
Then, one day at breakfast, Mother told me a happy surprise.
“Well, tomorrow is the big day!” she said.
And so what do you know!
MY VERY FIRST WEDDING WAS ALMOST HERE!!!
That night, I could hardly even sleep.
I got up bright and early in the morning.
Then Mother came in my room. And she decorated my hair with a green velvet ribbon. And she helped me get dressed in my flower girl clothes.
Pretty soon, a lady came to babysit for Ollie.
Then me and Mother and Daddy got in our car. And we rode to the church together.
And guess what? There was a million bajillion people there already!
I hurried up the steps.
Then I stood on my tippytoes. And I looked all around for Bo.
“Where is she, Mother? Where is Bo? Is she sick, do you think? Did her car get stucked in Krazy Glue? I don’t see her anywhere! And so maybe I will be the flower girl after all!”
Mother smoothed my hair very nice.
“Honey, I’ve already talked to Aunt Flo today,” she said. “And Bo is feeling fine. She’s probably getting dressed with the bridesmaids.”
Mother smiled.
“Let’s be happy for her, okay?”
I