Junie B. Jones Is (Almost) a Flower Girl - Barbara Park [6]
After that, all of us went inside. And a man named Usher holded out his arm. And he walked Mother to her church seat.
Me and Daddy followed them down the aisle.
And guess what? I still didn’t trip!
Three ladies smiled at me.
I smiled back.
“HELLO, LADIES! SEE HOW GOOD I AM WALKING DOWN THIS AISLE? TOO BAD I’M NOT THE FLOWER GIRL, RIGHT?”
My voice sounded loud in the church.
I like that kind of loud voice.
After I got to my seat, I smoothed my dress very nice.
And guess who I saw?
I saw my Grandma Helen Miller!
She was sitting right in front of me!
I tapped on her head.
“GRANDMA MILLER! IT’S ME! IT’S YOUR GRANDGIRL, JUNIE B. JONES! LOOK HOW GROWN-UP I AM BEING, HELEN!”
Then Grandma smiled and winked. And she said don’t call her Helen.
After that, the organ started to play real loud. And everybody stood up.
Then all of us looked at the back of the church.
And what do you know?
I SAW BO!
She was walking right down the aisle! And she was throwing pink flower petals on the floor!
It looked like fun, I tell you!
My heart got pumpy and poundy inside. ’Cause Bo was coming in my direction!
And so that’s how come a great idea popped into my head. And it’s called Hey! Maybe Bo wouldn’t mind if I took one or two petals out of her basket and threw them! ’Cause that would be fair of her, I think!
Bo kept getting closer and closer and closer.
And then, all of a sudden…
SHE WAS RIGHT NEXT TO ME!!
I quick reached for her flower basket!
“NO!” shouted Bo.
“YES!” I shouted back.
Then I tried to take some petals out of the basket. But Bo pulled it away from me. And so that’s how come I had to pull it right back again. And then me and her got into a little tussle.
Little tussle is the grown-up word for how come she just won’t let go of the darned thing!
Then, all of a sudden, my mother reached over. And she pulled my hands right off of the basket.
Her face was steamy mad.
I did a gulp.
“Hello. How are you today?” I said kind of shaky. “I am fine. Only I just wanted two little petals. But that plan did not work out, apparently. And so now I will just behave myself for the rest of the wedding, I think.”
After that, I smoothed my skirt.
And I fluffed my hair.
And I acted like my best grown-up lady.
9/Loose Feet
After the church, everybody went to the reception.
The reception is a big, giant room where you sit at tables. And you listen to loud music. And you eat food and cake.
And then wait till you hear this! The bridesmaids’ table was the longest table in the whole entire place!
I runned right to the end of that hugie thing. And guess what? There was a teensy card with my name printed on it!
“Here! Here! I am sitting here!” I hollered to Mother.
Just then, I saw Aunt Flo.
She was coming over with Bo.
“Uh-oh,” I said very nervous.
Then I quick hided behind Mother’s skirt.
But Aunt Flo didn’t even look mad! She bended down next to me in her beautiful wedding gown. And she held my hand real nice.
“Junie B., honey? I didn’t see what happened in the church. But Bo said you tried to take her basket. Is that true?”
I shook my head very fast.
“No, Aunt Flo. I didn’t try to take her whole entire basket. I promise. I just wanted two teensy petals and that’s all,” I said.
I held up two fingers.
“Just this many, Aunt Flo. Just two. ’Cause Bo got all the rest of the petals. And so two would be fair of her, I think.”
Aunt Flo looked at Bo.
“Bo, honey? Did you hear that? Junie B. only wanted two little flower petals.”
Bo looked shy at me.
Then, all of a sudden, she reached into her basket. And she gave me two petals!
I smiled real big.
“Hey! That is a nice gesture of you, Bo!” I said.
After that, Bo smiled back at me. And Aunt Flo put us in our chairs.
Bo asked me how old I am.
I sat up straight and tall.
“I am almost six,” I said very proud.
Bo did a sad sigh.
“Poo,” she said. “I’m only five. I’m always the littlest. Always, always, always.”
I patted her arm very understanding.
“Don’t worry,