Junie B. Jones Is Captain Field Day - Barbara Park [5]
I turned around at the fence. And I started running back.
Only all of a sudden, a very terrible thing happened!
And it's called OH NO! MY SHOE FLIED RIGHT OFF MY FOOT!
It went way high in the air.
I runned after it speedy quick.
Room Nine shouted and shouted at me to stop.
“YEAH, ONLY YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE TO WORRY, PEOPLE!” I hollered. “IT WON'T TAKE ME VERY LONG TO PUT THIS BACK ON! ’CAUSE GOOD NEWS …”
I picked it up and waved it all around.
“VELCRO!”
After that, I put it back on in a jiffy. And I zoomed right back to William.
I tapped him on his hand.
Only that boy just kept on standing there.
“Go, William! Go! Go!” I shouted.
But William shook his head no. And he pointed at Room Eight.
They were jumping up and down and dancing all around.
’Cause guess what?
They already won the race.
Room Nine was not a good sport to me.
They kept saying it was my fault we lost the race.
I stamped my foot at those people.
“No, it is not my fault!” I said back. “My shoe flied off. And so what am I supposed to do? Run in my sock foot?”
Meanie Jim got close to my face.
“Yes, you looney bird!” he yelled. “That's exactly what you were supposed to do! You were supposed to run in your sock foot!”
I thought very hard about that.
“Well, well. What do you know?” I said kind of quiet. “It looks like Captain Field Day has learned a little something here.”
Room Nine did a groan.
I backed away from them real careful. Or else they might tackle me, possibly.
I backed all the way to Mrs.
“They're mad at me,” I said. “They're mad because I lost the race.”
Mrs. ruffled my hair.
“It's not your fault, Junie B.,” she said. “Your shoe came off by accident. And besides, Field Day is not about who wins or loses. Field Day is about having fun.”
I hanged down my head.
“Yeah, only what's so fun about losing? That's what I would like to know,” I said.
Just then, Mrs. made a ’nouncement.
“Boys and girls, I don't want to hear one more word about winners and losers, okay? Field Day is a day to run around in the fresh air and enjoy the sunshine. We came out here to have fun and get some exercise. And we're not going to care one little bit about who wins or who loses.”
As soon as Mrs. walked away, New Thelma skipped up next to me.
“Room Eight is winning,” she said real squealy. “Room Eight is beating Room Nine one to nothing.”
I made a mad face at her.
“Yeah, only didn't you hear my teacher, Thelma?” I said. “Room Nine doesn't even care who wins and loses. Room Nine just came out here to run in the air. So ha ha on you.”
“Yeah,” said Ricardo.
“Yeah,” said Jamal Hall.
“Yeah,” said Lynnie.
Then all of those people gave me a high five. ’Cause I made a good point, apparently.
Pretty soon, the Room Eight teacher blew her whistle again.
“The next event will be the softball throw,” she said. “Unlike the relay race, this contest is not going to be a team event. The softball throw is for anyone who wants to join in. If you'd like to see how far you can throw the ball, please form a line behind me.”
Paulie Allen Puffer was the first one in line.
“I'm a good thrower,” he said. “I'm probably the best thrower in Room Nine, in fact.”
Lynnie lined up next. “I'm a good thrower, too,” she said.
“Me too,” said Jamal Hall.
Just then, Crybaby William pulled on my cape. ’Cause he wanted to whisper again, that's why.
“I'm not good at this event, either,” he said real quiet. “I don't have to do it, right, Captain? I don't have to throw the ball.”
I put my arm around his shoulder.
“No, you don't,” I said. “You don't have to worry about this at all, William. Paulie Allen Puffer is going to win this thing in a breeze for us.”
Just then, a boy from Room Eight jumped in line.
New Thelma did a loud squeal.
“Ooooh! It's Strong Frankie! Strong Frankie is the strongest boy in kindergarten!” she said very thrilled.
All of us looked at him.
Strong Frankie made a big arm muscle. It was largish and roundish.
New Thelma cheered and cheered.
“Go, Strong Frankie! Go, Strong Frankie! Go, Strong Frankie!” she hollered.
I tapped