3. Being a Grown-up Lady

3/Being a Grown-up Lady At dinnertime, I told Daddy about what happened on the playground. And guess what? He said the same dumb thing as Mother! "You're way too young to have a boyfriend, Junie B.," he said. "It's nice to have Ricardo as a friend. But little girls should be footloose and fancy-free." I covered my ears when I heard that. "Quit saying that about my feet!" I said. "I don't want loose feet, I tell you! I want grown-up feet just like Mother has!" Just then, Mother looked at Daddy. "I think someone is s-l-e-e-p-y," she spelled.

I did a mad breath at her. "Yeah, only guess what? I'm a grown-up lady. And grown-up ladies know how to spell. And so I am not one bit slippery. So there." Then Mother did a chuckle. Only I don't know why. After that, she got me down from the table. And she took me in the bathroom. And she filled up the tub for my bath. She put lots of bubbles in the water. Also, she gave me bath toys. And a washcloth puppet. I gave them right back to her. "These things are for babies," I said. "And I am all grown up." "Suit yourself," said Mother. After that, she sat down on the floor. And she watched me sit in the bubbles. I sat and sat and sat.

"See me, Mother? See how I am just sitting here?" I said. "When grown-up ladies take a bath, we just sit in the water. And we don't splash. And we don't play with baby toys." I sat and sat some more. Then finally, I did a big sigh. 'Cause I was bored out of my mind, that's why. I patted the bubbles a little bit. "Sometimes grown-up ladies pat the bubbles," I said. "It is not the same as playing." Mother smiled. I picked up some bubbles and put them on my arms. "Bubbles are good for ladies' skin," I said again. "They make us very smoothie." I put bubbles on my face and chin.

"Sometimes grown-up ladies enjoy making a bubble beard," I explained very serious. After that, I covered my whole entire self with bubbles. "Hey! It is very fluffery in here!" I said real happy.

Mother laughed. "You look like a bride in a long white veil," she said. Then, all of a sudden, her whole entire mouth came open. "Oh my gosh! I almost forgot to tell you the good news, didn't I?" she said. "Your Aunt Flo called today! And she said she's getting married!" Mother clapped her hands together. "Aunt Flo, Junie B.! Aunt Flo is getting married! Isn't that exciting? You're going to go to your very first wedding!" After that, Mother smiled real big. And she hummed a pretty bride song. And she danced with my towel. And so guess what? Getting married must be a very big deal.