9. Learning a Lesson

9/Learning a Lesson Finally, Mrs. put my devil horn hat back on my head. "Here," she said. "This will be the only hat you'll need to wear today. I promise." After that, we went back into Room Nine. And Mrs. told a teensy beansy fib. "Boys and girls… may I have your attention, please? Junie B. is starting to get the sniffles. And so I'm going to let her wear her hat in class." She looked at that meanie Jim. "All day, Jim. She's going to wear it all day. And no one is to touch it," she said. "Not anyone." I jumped out of my seat.

"Yeah, Jim. You can't even touch it with your baby little pinkie finger. Right, Mrs.? Right? Right?" "Right," said Mrs. "Not even at recess. Right, Mrs.? Right?" Mrs. sucked in her cheeks. "Yes, Junie B. Right." "And not when I'm getting a drink at the water fountain. And not when I'm bending down to tie my shoe. And not when I'm walking to the pencil sharpener. And not when I'm just plain sitting in my chair. And not when I'm working in my workbook. And not when I'm practicing my alphabet. And not when—" "Okay, okay. We get the picture!" said Mrs. I smoothed my dress. "All rightie then," I said real nice.

After that, I sat in my chair. And I worked in my workbook. And I played at recess. And I went to the water fountain. And no one touched my hat. After school, Daddy came to Room Nine to get me. I was surprised to see that guy. "Daddy! Daddy! I didn't even know you were coming to get me today! And so this day turned out better than I thought!" Daddy stared at my hat. All of a sudden, my stomach did not feel good about this situation.

He reached out and took it off my head. Then he quick closed his eyes. "Lovely," he said. After that, he picked me up. And he carried me to the car. I tapped on him. "Did you really mean it is lovely? Or was that a little joke?" I asked kind of nervous.

Daddy didn't answer my question. Instead, he buckled me in my seat belt. And we started to drive. We drove and drove for a real long time. Finally, we pulled into a parking lot. I looked out the window. "Daddy! Hey, Daddy! It's the beauty shop! The beauty shop with Maxine!" I said. Daddy took me right inside. And guess what? Maxine was waiting for me! She did a smile. "Hmm. Looks like someone gave herself a little trim," she said. I felt shy of her. "I didn't turn out even-steven," I said kind of soft. Maxine ruffled my hair.

Then she put me in her giant spinny chair. And she sprayed my hair with water. After that, she snipped and snipped and snipped. Finally, she put gel on my hair. And she blowed me dry. I looked at myself in the big mirror. "Hey! What do you know! No more sprigs!" I said real delighted. "How did you do that, Maxine? How did you do that?" Maxine winked at Daddy. "Years of practice," she said. Daddy leaned close to my face. "Years and years and years," he said. After that, he lifted me down from the chair.