Junie B. Jones Is Not a Crook - Barbara Park [4]
Only too bad for me. ’Cause all of a sudden, I remembered about the Lost and Found.
I stopped.
“Oh no. I wish I didn’t even remember about that,” I said. “Now I have to take my pen to the Lost and Found. Or else I won’t wear a grin.”
I did a frown. ’Cause something didn’t make sense here, that’s why.
“Yeah, only I was already wearing a grin,” I said. “I weared a grin as soon as I saw this wonderful thing. And so taking it to the office will only make me sad.”
I tapped on my chin.
“Hmm. Maybe Principal is a little mixed up about this,” I said to just myself. “I’m pretty sure I will be happier if I keep it.
“And here’s another thing I am thinking. I am thinking whoever owned this pen didn’t even take good care of it. So I will give it a good home. And so what can be a gooder deed than that?”
I took it out of my pocket and looked at it.
“Plus this even makes sense. ’Cause first I got my mittens stolen. And then I couldn’t have the teddy backpack. And so keeping this pen is fair and square.”
All of a sudden, my whole face lighted up. ’Cause I just thought of a different poem, that’s why!
And it is called Finders keepers, losers weepers!
“Finders keepers, losers weepers!” I said real thrilled. “Finders keepers, losers weepers!”
Then I jumped up and down very happy. ’Cause everybody says that! And so Finders keepers is really the rule, I bet!
After that, I put my pen back in my pocket.
And I skipped the rest of the way to Room Nine.
6/My Grampa’s Wallet
I kept my pen in my pocket the whole rest of the day.
I didn’t want people to see it. Or else they might tattletale to Mrs. And she would make me take it to the Lost and Found.
I behaved myself very good. ’Cause I didn’t want to ’tract ’tention, that’s why.
I kept my hand in my pocket so my pen would not fall out.
Also, I kept thinking about my mittens. ’Cause I still missed those furry guys.
I put my head down on my table.
“Maybe my grampa Miller might buy me some more furry mittens,” I whispered. “’Cause that would be a perfect solution, I think.”
I raised up my head.
“Hey, yeah! Then I would have wonderful new mittens, plus a wonderful new pen. And so what more can a girl ask for? That’s what I’d like to know!”
I sat up in my chair and tapped on Lucille.
“Guess what, Lucille? Maybe my grampa Frank Miller might buy me some new mittens. And then all my troubles will be over.”
Lucille said whoop-de-do for me.
“I know it is whoop-de-do,” I said real thrilled. “And so, thank you for your support.”
After school, me and my bestest friend named Grace rode the bus together.
I runned home from my corner like a speedy bullet.
My grampa Frank Miller was babysitting my brother named Ollie.
“GRAMPA FRANK MILLER! GRAMPA FRANK MILLER! WE GOTTA GO TO THE MITTEN STORE! WE GOTTA GO TO THE MITTEN STORE!” I hollered real loud.
Grampa Frank Miller was in the living room rocking Ollie.
He looked funny at me.
“Go where?” he asked.
“TO THE MITTEN STORE! TO THE MITTEN STORE! WE GOTTA GO TO THE MITTEN STORE!”
I pulled on his hand.
“GET UP! GET UP! LET’S GET A WIGGLE ON!”
Grampa Miller looked confused at me.
That’s how come I had to sit down. And I told him what happened at school.
“Someone stoled my mittens,” I said. “They stoled them while I was being Brownie. And I didn’t even know there were crooks at that place.”
Grampa Frank Miller shook his head very sad.
“I guess you can find crooks almost anywhere, honey,” he said.
“I know it,” I told him. “That’s how come I’m never going to see those furry guys again. And so you and me have to go to the mitten store.”
I felt in his back pocket. Then I danced around real thrilled.
“Hurray!” I shouted. “Hurray for your big fat wallet! ’Cause you got cash in there. Right, Grampa? Right? Right?”
Grampa Frank Miller laughed.
“Yes, I do. I’ve got cash all right,” he said. “But I’m afraid we won’t be able to buy you more mittens. The mittens I bought you were the only furry ones they had left. I bought the very last pair.”
Just then, all the happy went right out of me. ’Cause I didn’t actually count