One-Man Band by Barbara Park

Author:Barbara Park [Park, Barbara]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Published: 2003-01-01T10:00:00+00:00

I did not talk to Daddy.

Also, I did not talk to my baby brother named Ollie. ’Cause he is just learning words. And all he keeps saying is moo.

Mother tried to be nice some more.

“Are you sure you wouldn't like to be a cheerleader, Junie B.?” she said. “I know you couldn't jump up and down on your sore toe. But you could still yell and shout for your team.”

Daddy did a chuckle. “And yelling and shouting are right up your alley,” he teased.

I did not laugh at that remark.

Daddy poked me. “Oh, don't be so glum,” he said. “Being a cheerleader wouldn't be so bad, would it? Every little girl likes cheerleading.”

I rolled my eyes at the ceiling.

“But I'm not every little girl, Daddy. I am just me. Junie B. Jones. And I don't want to be a cheerleader. I want to be on the kickball team.”

Just then, my nose started to sniffle very much.

“I even had a daydream about it,” I said. “I was the star of the whole entire game. And it was very wonderful. Only now that is never going to happen.”

Mother gave me a hug. “Well, no one can be a star all the time,” she said. “It's just like I said earlier. Everyone has disappointments sometimes.”

“Right,” said Daddy. “And when life hands you lemons, you have to learn to make lemonade.”

I looked weird at that man.

“Huh?” I said. “What's lemonade got to do with this?”

Mother smiled. “It's just a saying, Junie B.,” she said. “It means that when life goes a little bit sour, you need to find a way to sweeten it up a bit.”

Just then, Daddy went to the refrigerator. And he took out three lemons.

“Here, look. I'll show you,” he said.

He held up the lemons for me to see.

“See what I have here?” he said. “They're just three sour old lemons, right?”

I did a shrug. “I guess so.”

Daddy grinned. “Ahhh … but maybe these sour lemons are more fun than they look,” he said.

Then, one by one, he threw each lemon into the air.

And WOWIE WOW WOW!

HE STARTED TO JUGGLE THEM!

I mean it!

He did!

My daddy juggled those lemons way high in the air! And I didn't even know that he had that talent!

I clapped and cheered very thrilled.

Ollie clapped, too.

Also, he said moo.

Then all of us started to laugh.

And Daddy did a bow.

“Do you see what I mean now?” he asked. “I turned three sour lemons into something more fun.”

“And you can do the same thing, Junie B.,” said Mother. “All you have to do is think of something fun to do in the kickball tournament. And then your sour situation will turn happy, too. Understand?”

I nodded very fast.

“I do, Mother! I do understand,” I said.

“And guess what else? I think I already know what I'm going to do!”

I jumped down from my chair. And I picked up the lemons from the counter.

“I think I'm going to juggle!” I said very joyful. “I'll juggle in Sheldon's halftime show! And then everyone

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