Junie B. Jones Is Not a Crook - Barbara Park [3]
He smiled.
“And that makes everyone happy, Junie B.,” he said. “The owner is happy because she has her mittens back. And the person who found them is happy because she’s done a good deed.”
He pointed to a piece of paper taped on the box.
“See this? This is a poem the third grade wrote about the Lost and Found. It says:
“If you find stuff,
Bring it in.
All day long,
You’ll wear a grin.”
I did a frown.
“Yeah, only here’s the problem. I didn’t lose my mittens. They got stoled on purpose. And so no one will bring them in and wear a grin, probably.”
Principal raised up his eyebrows. “Well, you never know, Junie B. Why don’t you look in there and see?”
He opened up the box for me.
That’s when my eyes got big and wide.
’Cause it was filled with the wonderfulest items I ever saw!
There were sweaters! And sweatshirts! And baseball caps! And gloves! And balls! And a lunchbox! And a scarf! And sunglasses! And a watch with Mickey Mouse on it!
Also, there was a backpack that looked like a teddy bear!
“OOOOH! I ALWAYS WANTED ONE OF THESE!” I hollered real thrilled.
I put it on my back and skipped around the office.
“How does it look back there?” I asked.
Principal runned after me.
He took the teddy off my back. And put it back in the box.
“We’re looking for your mittens, remember?”
Just then, I felt upset again. ’Cause I almost forgot about those furry guys, that’s why.
“Oh, yeah… my mittens,” I said real glum.
I looked through the box some more.
“They’re not here,” I said. “My mittens are gone forever and ever, I think.”
I did a sad sigh.
Then I picked up the teddy backpack again.
“Maybe I will take this instead,” I said. “’Cause this teddy backpack will ease my pain, I believe.”
Principal said no.
“How come?” I asked. “’Cause the owner doesn’t even want it anymore, I bet. Her mother already bought her a new teddy backpack, probably. And so this one is just going to go to waste.”
Principal stood me up and turned me to the door.
That meant I am leaving, I think.
“Come back tomorrow and look for your mittens again,” he said.
I talked real fast.
“Yeah, only I just remembered something. I used to have a teddy backpack just like that one, maybe. Only then I lost it, probably. And so I better take that one home with me. Or else my mother might be mad.”
Principal walked me to the door. He faced me down the hall.
“Good-bye, Junie B.,” he said.
I hanged my head real disappointed,
’Cause guess why?
Good-bye means no teddy backpack.
5/Gargling and Scribbling
Room Nine is way far from Principal’s office.
I had to stop at the water fountain. Or else I might not make it.
I pressed the water button with my thumb.
Then I puckered up my lips. And I sucked the water in.
I didn’t even put my mouth on the spout. ’Cause there’s lip dirt on that thing of course.
I sloshed the water all around in my cheeks.
Then I bended my head way back. And I did some gargles.
I can gargle very perfect. Except I can’t keep the water in my actual mouth.
It runned out the sides and dribbled on the floor.
I splashed in it with my toe.
That’s when I saw something very wonderful down there.
“Hey! It’s one of those pens that writes four different colors!” I said.
I quick picked it up and pushed the little red button on the top.
A red pen popped out the bottom.
I scribbled red scribble all over my hand.
“Wowie wow wow! I love this thing!” I said.
After that, I pushed the green button and scribbled green scribble. And I pushed the blue button and scribbled blue scribble. Plus also I pushed the black button and scribbled black scribble.
“This pen makes scribbling a pleasure,” I said.
I put it in my pocket and started skipping