Junie B. Jones Loves Handsome Warren - Barbara Park [2]
It is a Ten Commandments, I think.
Me and Lucille held hands.
“Now you’re gonna introduce me. Right, Lucille? Now I’m gonna get to meet that handsome boy.”
Just then, that Grace runned up behind us.
I was happy to see her.
“Grace! Grace! Guess what? Lucille is going to introduce us to Handsome Warren! ’Cause you and me are big pigs, that’s why!”
That Grace looked upset at me.
“I am not a big pig,” she said.
I quick whispered in her ear. “Yeah, only we’re not really big pigs, Grace. We just have to say we’re big pigs. Or else Lucille thinks we will steal her boyfriend. Get it?”
That Grace got it.
“I am a giant stink hog,” she said to Lucille.
And so after that, all of us skipped to the swing set very happy.
We sat down. And waited for Room Eight to come out.
We waited a real long time.
Then all of a sudden, Room Eight opened their door! And Handsome Warren came out of there!
Lucille runned to him and grabbed his hand.
She pulled him to the swings to meet us.
“That is Grace. And that is Junie B. Jones,” she said to Handsome Warren.
He waved very cute and friendly.
I quick hided behind my hands.
’Cause all of a sudden I felt shy of that guy.
I peeked through my fingers.
“Peekaboo. I see you,” I said.
Then I laughed and laughed. ’Cause I’m a laugh a minute, that’s why.
I kept on laughing at that funny joke.
Only too bad for me.
’Cause after while, I couldn’t even stop.
I was out of control, I think.
I holded my sides and fell on the ground.
Then I rolled and laughed and rolled and laughed. All around in the grass.
Handsome Warren looked nervous of me.
He backed up.
“What a nutball,” he said very soft.
Then he turned around. And walked away.
And Lucille and that Grace walked with him.
3/Not a Nutball
Mrs. blew her whistle.
That means come in from recess.
Lucille and that Grace ran to get me.
’Cause I was still in the grass, that’s why.
Lucille was happy and sparkly.
“Didn’t you love him, Junie B.? Wasn’t he so handsome? He was even handsomer up close, don’t you think? He was nice, too. Wasn’t he nice?”
That Grace was happy and sparkly, too.
“He said he liked my high tops,” she told me.
“He said he liked my dress,” said Lucille.
“He said I was a nutball,” I said.
Lucille twirled all around.
“Not me,” she said. “He didn’t say I was a nutball. That’s because he loves me!”
That Grace jumped high in the air.
“Me too! He loves me, too!” she said real squealy.
Just then, Lucille stopped twirling.
She crossed her arms.
“No, Grace,” she said. “He does not love you, too. He only loves me. ’Cause I saw him first. And you’re not allowed to steal him away, remember?”
That Grace crossed her arms, too.
“I’m not stealing him away, Lucille. He just automatically loves me on his own. And there’s nothing I can do about it,” she said.
I tugged on Lucille’s dress.
“How come he said I was a nutball, do you think? Why did he have to say that dumb thing?”
Lucille didn’t pay attention to me. She kept on being mad at that Grace.
“I knew it!” she grouched. “I knew this was going to happen, Grace! You’re trying to steal my boyfriend! Junie B. said you wouldn’t! But you are!”
She looked down at me.
“Tell her, Junie B.! Tell Grace she can’t steal my boyfriend!”
I looked curious at her.
“I am not a nutball. Am I? Am I a nutball?” I said. “I am not a nutball.”
Just then, that Grace leaned close to Lucille’s nose.
“I CAN LOVE ANYBODY I WANT TO, LUCILLE!” she hollered in her face.
“NO, YOU CANNOT, GRACE!”
“YES, I CAN, TOO, LUCILLE!”
I tapped on both their ankles.
“How many think I’m a nutball? Raise your hand,” I said.
Just then, Mrs. blew her whistle again.
And so I stood up from the grass. And I walked to Room Nine all by myself.
’Cause I couldn’t stop thinking about being a nutball, that’s why.
I thought about it the whole rest of the day.
I didn’t even talk.
Not at Show-and-Tell.
Not at snacktime.
Not even when I got on the bus to ride home.
That Grace sat down next to me. She was happy and sparkly again.
“I know he loves