Junie B. Jones Is Not a Crook - Barbara Park [2]
After that, all of us did high fives. And we started playing horses.
We galloped. And trotted. And snorted. And snuffled.
Only too bad for me. ’Cause the sun kept on beating down on my horse head. And I got drippity inside my attractive winter jacket.
“I am going to die from heat perspiration,” I said.
That’s how come I trotted over to a tree. And I took off all my stuff.
First I took off my attractive winter jacket. Then I took off my furry black mittens. And I piled them in a careful pile.
After that, I galloped away to find my horse friends. And we played and played.
Pretty soon, Mrs. blew her loud whistle.
That means the end of recess.
“COMING!” shouted Yellowie.
“COMING!” shouted Blackie.
“COMING!” I shouted.
Then I hurried up back to the tree to get my stuff.
Only guess what?
I saw something very terrible there, that’s what!
And it’s called HEY!!! SOMEBODY STOLED MY MITTENS!!!!!
4/No Teddy Backpack
I runned all around the tree.
“911! 911! 911!” I hollered. “SOMEBODY STOLED THEM! SOMEBODY STOLED MY MITTENS!”
Mrs. came very quick.
“THEY STOLED THEM! THEY STOLED MY MITTENS! 911!” I shouted some more.
Mrs. bended down next to me. “Who, Junie B.? Who stole them?” she asked.
“A stealer, that’s who! A stealer stoled them! And so what kind of school is this? ’Cause I didn’t even know there was crooks at this place!”
Mrs. said calm down my voice.
“Yeah, only I can’t even calm it down that good. ’Cause I am heartsick, that’s why.”
Heartsick is the grown-up word for when your heart is sick.
I looked at the ground real sad. “Now all I have left is my dumb attractive jacket.”
Mrs. picked it up. Then she holded my hand. And me and her started to walk.
“You and I are going to the office,” she told me.
I quick tried to get my hand away from her.
“No, Mrs.! I’m not allowed to go there! Mother said if I get sended to the office one more time, I will get grounded, young lady.”
Tears came in my eyes.
“Grounded, young lady, is when I have to stay on my own ground,” I said. “Plus also I can go on the rug.”
Mrs. smiled. “I’m not taking you to the principal’s office to punish you, Junie B.,” she said. “I’m taking you to find your mittens.”
I did a gasp.
“Principal?” I asked very shocked. “Principal stoled my mittens?”
Mrs. laughed real loud.
“No, Junie B. He didn’t steal your mittens. The office is where the Lost and Found is located.”
After that, she took my hand again. And we hurried up to the office.
There is a grouchy typing lady at that place.
I am not fond of her.
“Junie B. needs to look through the Lost and Found,” Mrs. told her. “Please send her back to class when she’s finished.”
Then Mrs. went back to Room Nine and left me there all by myself.
The typing lady looked over the counter at me.
I did a gulp.
“Yeah, only I’m not even bad today,” I explained very nervous. “Somebody stoled my mittens. And that is the end of my tale.”
The typing lady kept on looking at me. She didn’t say any words.
Sweat came on my head.
“Whew…it’s warmish in here, isn’t it?” I said.
Just then, I heard a door open.
It was Principal!
He was coming out of his office!
I jumped up and down at his sight. ’Cause I know that guy very good!
“Principal! Look! Look! It’s me! It’s Junie B. Jones! My mittens got stoled on the playground! And so Mrs. brought me here to get them! So just hand them over and I will be on my way…no questions asked.”
Principal looked funny at me. Then he went to the closet and pulled out a big box.
“This is the Lost and Found, Junie B.,” he explained. “Anytime that someone finds something that’s been lost, they bring it here. And we put it in this box.”
“How come?” I asked. “How come they bring it here instead of taking it home? ’Cause one time I found a nickel in the street. And Daddy said I could put it in my bank. ’Cause finding isn’t the same thing as stealing. Right, Principal? Finding is a lucky duck.”
Principal laughed a little bit.
“Well, finding a nickel in the street is different, Junie