Junie B., First Grader by Barbara Park

Author:Barbara Park [Park, Barbara]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-0-307-55713-1
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Published: 2004-10-17T04:00:00+00:00

And oh no! Oh no!

There were scary clown parts hanging everywhere, I tell you!

I quick jumped behind Mother's skirt.

Then very slow, I peeked out.

There were round clown noses. And creepy clown hair. And big white clown gloves. And giant, baggy clown pants with s'penders on them.

I did some deep breaths.

Then finally, I came out from behind Mother. And I looked all the way down the aisle.

“Yeah, only here's the problem. I don't actually see the Squirty suits,” I said.

Mother patted me. “Yes, well, I didn't think we'd find a real Squirty costume,” she said. “But with all of these clown parts, you can be much cuter than Squirty, Junie B.”

She took a wig off the shelf and plopped it on my head.

“Here, how 'bout this funny, frizzy red hair?” she said.

I quick took it off.

“No, Mother. No!” I said. “I don't want to be frizzy! I want to be Squirty!”

I stamped my foot.

“Squirty! Squirty!” I said. “I have to be Squirty!”

“Shh! Honestly, Junie B.! What has gotten into you?” she said very snappish.

Just then, a boy walked by. And he saw me getting snapped at.

I asked Mother to tone it down a notch.

I will not be saying that comment again, probably.

Her face turned steamy mad. And she talked through closed teeth.

“That's enough out of you, young lady,” she said. “Not one more rude word! Do you understand me?”

I rocked back and forth on my feet kind of nervous.

Then I did a gulp.

“Yeah, only that is really going to cut down on my end of the conversation,” I said kind of quiet.

Mother looked at me a minute. Then she quick covered her mouth with her hand.

She was doing a grin back there, I think.

After that, her voice got nicer.

“You've got to listen to me about this costume business, Junie B.,” she said. “There … are … no … Squirty … suits, okay? They don't even make Squirty suits. Squirty is not a famous clown.”

I felt shocked at that information.

“But… but how can he not be famous, Mother?” I said. “I know that clown like the front of my hand.”

Mother nodded. “Yes, well, I'm afraid Squirty made a strong impression on all of us. And why you're determined to be such a terrible clown is a total puzzle to me,” she said. “But if you really, really want to be Squirty, the best we can do is to get you an outfit that is similar to his.”

My shoulders slumped very much.

'Cause similar does not mean exactly.

Mother looked at her watch.

“It's your choice, Junie B. We either buy you an outfit similar to Squirty's … or we buy you a Little Bo-Peep costume.”

I did a sad sigh.

Then I walked down the aisle very glum.

And I looked for a similar seltzer bottle.

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