Free Junie B., First Grader (at Last!) by Barbara Park Page B

the next corner.
    Herb came around the seat and sat next to me.
    “Maybe, just for today, I can sit here,”he said. “Just until you get your bus friend back, I mean.”
    I tapped on my chin very thinking.
    Then, all of a sudden, I raised my voice real loud.
    “Why,
sure
you can sit here, Herbert,” I said. “You can sit here
forever
if you want to! Because I
used
to have a bus friend named Grace! But today I am dropping her like a hot tomato!”
    Bobbi Jean Piper peeked over the seat at me.
    “You mean
potato
,” she teased.
    I sprang up again.
    “BOBBI JEAN PIPER WEARS A DIAPER!” I hollered.
    Mr. Woo frowned in the mirror.
    “Sit
down
, Junie B.!” he grouched.
    I sat down.
    Then I did a big breath. And I looked at Herb.
    “Today is not off to a good start,” I said kind of quiet.
    Herb nodded. “I hear you,” he said.

    I slumped way down in my seat.
    “My bestest friends are dropping like flies,” I said.
    Herb nodded. “Join the club,” he said.
    “First grade is a flop,” I said.
    Herb nodded. “Totally,” he said.
    I looked out the window.
    “
Grr
,” I said.
    “
Grr
,” said Herb.
    I smiled to just myself.
    I think I might like this Herb.

Me and Herb walked to Room One from the bus.
    He waved to Mr. Scary.
    Then I waved, too.
    “I am not even scared of that teacher, hardly,” I said to just myself.
    We kept on walking to our seats.
    May was already sitting at her desk. She was organizing her pencil box.
    Lennie was at his desk, too.
    Only wait till you hear this.
    I didn't even recognize that guy, almost!
    Because Lennie had a thrilling new haircut, that's why!
    It was pointish and spikish and stiffish and straightish.
    That hair can puncture you, I think.
    “Whoa!” I said.
    “Cool!” said Herb.
    “
Gel,
” said Lennie.
    “Shh!” said May.
    Just then, José came hurrying down the row. He was rushing real fast. ’Cause the bell was almost ready to ring.
    “
Hola
, everyone,” he said, out of breath. “
Hola, hola
.”
    Me and Herb and Lennie looked curious at him.
    José grinned.
    “Whoops,” he said. “
Hola
means
hello
in Spanish. I know two different languages,and sometimes I forget which one I'm speaking.”

    “Wow, José!” I said. “You really speak two languages?”
    “Cool,” said Herb.
    “Big deal,” said May. “I know Spanish,too. I can count all the way to three in Spanish. Does anyone want to hear me?”
    The rest of us looked at each other.
    “Not really,” said Herb.
    “Not me,” said Lennie.
    “Me neither,” said José.
    May didn't pay attention to us. “
Uno, dos, tres
,” she said real loud.
    I leaned nearer to her.
    “Shh!” I said.
    Then everyone laughed and laughed.
    But not May.
    Pretty soon, the bell rang for school.
    Mr. Scary got our morning started.
    First, he took attendance of the children. Then we said,
I pledge allegiance to the flag
. Plus also, we listened to boring bulletins from the office.
    Finally, Mr. Scary walked to the chalkboard. And he printed a list of words.
    “Boys and girls,” he said. “This morning, I have a fun assignment for you.”
    He winked at us and pointed to the list.
    “I want you to read these words to yourselves,” he said. “Then—without talkingto your neighbor—choose any word from the list and draw a picture of it in your journal.”
    May squealed very thrilled.
    “Oh, goody, goody!” she said. “I love this kind of assignment, Mr. Scary. I am perfect at not talking to my neighbor!”
    After that, she quick took a pencil out of her box. And she started to draw.
    I stared at the words.
    Then I tapped on my chin. And I scratched my head.
    ’Cause I didn't actually
get
this assignment, that's why.
    “Hmm,” I said. “Hmm. Hmm. Hmm.”
    I glanced my eyes at Herb and Lennie and José.
    All of them were drawing, too.
    I looked back at the board again.
    Then I stretched my neck as far as it could go. And I squinted my hardest.
    But those words had me stumped, I tell you!
    Finally, I