Free Junie B., First Grader: Cheater Pants by Barbara Park Page B

wait for it to be my turn. ’Cause I love to talk in front of the class, of course. Plus all I had to do was tell about my weekend, and Mr. Scary would think I did my homework!
    I put the paper I copied from May into my desk.
    I didn't need it after all.
    ’Cause what do you know?
    Today I lucked out!

Finally, we got to the row right next to mine.
    That is where José and Lennie sit.
    When José's turn came, he smiled very proud.
    He said on Saturday his daddy bought him brand-new soccer shoes. And he wore them to his soccer game. And he kicked the winning goalie with those things!
    Lennie went next.
    He said he got brand-new hair gel. Plus also, he got a thickening cream.
    “A thickening cream can make even the thinnest hair feel rich and full,” he said.
    “Whoa,” I said.
    “Whoa,” said Herb and José.
    Whoa
is what we say to be supportive.
    May sits behind Lennie.
    She stood up. And she read her paper real loud.
    “This weekend, one thing I did for fun was … on Saturday, I made a pot in my pottery class. And after that, I was punctual to my ballet class. And the teacher said I danced like a
gazelle
!”
    Mr. Scary did a chuckle. “A gazelle, huh?” he said. “A gazelle is a very graceful animal, isn't it?”
    “Yes,” said May. “Would you like to see me do a few steps?”
    After that, she ran to the front of theroom. And she started to ballet. But Mr. Scary said to please sit down again.
    As soon as she got back, I jumped right up.
    “My turn! My turn!” I said real thrilled.
    I tapped on my chin. “Okay, well, let's see now … on Saturday my grampa Frank Miller came to baby-sit me. And he let me roller-skate in the house. Plus also, he let me jump on Mother's bouncy bed. Only pretty soon, I got very pooped. And so I ran into the kitchen. And I drank chocolate milk right out of the
carton.
Without even a
glass
, I mean!”
    “Whoa!” said Herb.
    “Whoa!” said Lennie and José.
    Mr. Scary raised his hand to interrupt me.
    “Uh … excuse me, Junie B.,” he said.“It sounds like you had a great time on Saturday. But I'm wondering why you're not reading from your homework paper.”
    Just then, my heart got poundy and nervous. ’Cause I should have thought about that problem.
    I swallowed real hard. “Um, uh … well, let's see,” I said kind of quiet. “Why aren't I reading?”
    Mr. Scary smiled. “It's all right,” he said. “You can start over. Just take out your paper and read us what you wrote.”
    After that, I stood there very frozen. And I couldn't even move.
    Mr. Scary crossed his arms at me.
    “You
do
have a homework paper, don't you, Junie B.?” he asked next.
    I stood there a little while longer.
    Then finally, I reached into my desk.And I pulled out the homework I copied from May.
    I waved it in the air kind of weakish.
    “Here it is,” I said. “Here's my homework paper. See it? It's right here.”
    Mr. Scary nodded. “Yes. Good. Now could you read it for us, please?” he asked.
    I took a deep breath.
    Then I looked down at my paper.
    And I read it silently … to just myself.
    “Okay. Done,” I said.
    After that, I quick sat down. And I stuffed the paper back into my desk.
    Mr. Scary came back to where I sit.
    He said could he please see my paper?
    I felt shaky and sickish inside.
    Very slow, I took out my paper again. And I handed it over.
    After he read it, he shook his head.
    Then he took my hand. And he walked me into the hall.
    “It seems that you and May had
very
similar weekends. Doesn't it, Junie B.?” he said.
    I did a gulp. “Yes,” I said. “It does.”
    Mr. Scary read my paper once more.
    “So … you take a pottery class, do you?” he said.
    I rocked back and forth on my feet.
    “Yup, yup. I do,” I said. “I take a pottery class. And I make little … well, you know … pots.”
    Mr. Scary breathed real deep.
    “And let's see, you take a ballet class, too, huh?” he said. “And gee, what a coincidence … on Saturday your teacher said you