Free Junie B. Jones Is a Party Animal by Barbara Park Page A

things,” I told her.
    I touched one of the sequins.
    Lucille pushed my hand away.
    I tickled her under the chin very friendly.
    “Coochie-coochie-coo,” I said real fun.
    Lucille turned her back to me.
    I swinged her ponytail.
    “Swingy, swingy, swingy,” I sang.
    Just then, Lucille springed out of her chair.
    “STOP TOUCHING ME!” she hollered right in my face.
    My teacher hurried to my table speedy fast.
    Her name is Mrs.
    She has another name, too. But I just like Mrs. and that’s all.
    I smiled at her very cute.
    “Hello. How are you today? Me and Lucille are not even fighting. We are just having a loudish conservation.”
    Mrs. looked funny at me.
    “I think you mean
conversation
, Junie B.,” she said. “
Conservation
is when people save something.”
    I tapped on my chin very thinking.
    Then all of a sudden, I jumped up real excited.
    “Yeah, only I
do
, Mrs.! I
do
save something!” I said. “I save that Grace a seat on the bus!”
    I shouted across the room. “GRACE! HEY, GRACE! TELL MRS. HOW I SAVE YOU A SEAT ON THE BUS! ’CAUSE SHE THINKS I DON’T KNOW MY WORDS, APPARENTLY!”
    That Grace shouted back. “SHE DOES, TEACHER! JUNIE B. SAVES ME A SEAT ON THE BUS EVERY SINGLE DAY!”
    I smiled very proud. “See, Mrs.? I toldyou! I told you I save something!”
    Mrs. stared at me a real long time.
    Then she closed her eyes.
    And she said she needs a vacation.
    Pretty soon, the bell rang for recess.
    Lucille didn’t even wait for me and Grace. She runned right out the door without us.
    That is how come we had to chase that girl down and surround her.
    I made my voice very growly.
    “I am at the end of my string with you, madam!” I said. “How come you keep being mad at us? ’Cause me and Grace didn’t even do anything to you!”
    Lucille stamped her foot.
    “Yes, you did! You ruined everything! I was begging my nanna for a little whitepoodle! And she was almost going to say yes! And then you guys got in my back seat! And now everything is ruined!”
    I did a huffy breath at her.
    “Yeah, only that is not even our fault, Lucille! ’Cause we didn’t know you were begging! We just wanted to see your richie nanna, and that’s all!”
    “I don’t care!” said Lucille. “You should have stayed away! You guys have your
own
nannas!”
    Just then, me and that Grace got very glum again.
    “I
know
we have nannas, Lucille,” I said. “But they are not
richie
nannas like yours.”
    That Grace hanged her head.
    “Our nannas are just
regular
nannas,” she said.
    “They are duds,” I said real soft.
    After that, Lucille acted nicer to us.
    “Sorry,” she said. “Sorry about your regular nannas. I was just upset about not getting my poodle, that’s all. Usually my nanna gives me whatever I want.”
    Just then, I smiled real big. ’Cause a great idea popped in my head, that’s why! It came right out of thin hair!
    “Lucille! Hey, Lucille! Maybe me and Grace can come to your nanna’s house! And we can help you beg for a poodle!”
    I danced all around.
    “And here is
another
great idea! Maybe we can even spend the night, possibly! ’Cause me and Grace never even saw a richie house before! Plus that way we can beg for your poodle the whole entire evening!”
    All of a sudden, that Grace started dancingall around, too. “When can we come? When can we come?” she asked.
    I clapped my hands very thrilled.
    “I am available on Saturday, I believe!” I said.
    “Me, too! I am available on Saturday, too!” said that Grace.
    Lucille thought and thought.
    “Hmm. I don’t know about Saturday,” she said. “My mommy and daddy and brother are going away for the weekend. So it’s just going to be my nanna and me.”
    I jumped up and down.
    “Hurray!” I said. “That will work out even better! ’Cause now we can beg your nanna with positively no interruptions!”
    Just then, Lucille started to smile.
    “Hey, yeah! Why didn’t
I
think of that?” she said.
    I pointed at