4. Cats and Gowns

4/ Cats and Gowns I skipped in the door of Room Nine. Then my whole face got happy. 'Cause guess who was talking to my teacher? It was Gus Vallony, that's who! And Gus Vallony is my favorite janitor! I zoomed right over to that guy. "Gus Vallony! Gus Vallony! It is a joy to see you!" I said. "And so what brings you here, anyway?" Gus Vallony patted my head. "I had an important delivery to make, sis," he said.

Just then, my bestest friend Lucille came running up to me. She pointed to a big stack of boxes. "IT'S CATS AND GOWNS, JUNIE B.!" she shouted. "GUS VALLONY BROUGHT US CATS AND GOWNS!" She twirled me all around. "I heard him talking to the teacher! The cats and gowns are right there in those boxes! Everyone is getting one for graduation!" she said. I jumped up and down at that wonderful news! 'Cause who doesn't love cats? That's what I would like to know! "CATS AND GOWNS!" I hollered. "CATS AND GOWNS!" hollered Room Nine. Mrs. sat down in her chair real slow. Then

Gus Vallony patted her shoulder. And he said the word good luck. Mrs. said for Room Nine to please stop shouting. "I'm sorry, boys and girls. But Lucille did not hear me correctly," she said. "No one in Room Nine is getting a cat and gown for graduation." Room Nine did a loud groan. "Then what are we getting, exactly?" I asked. "Caps and gowns," said Mrs. "You're all getting a cap and gown for graduation. Not cat and gown." "No, no, no!" said Lucille. "I heard you say cat, teacher! I know I did! I know I did!" Mrs. said for Lucille to hush. Then she passed out the boxes to all the children. I looked inside my box real curious.

Then I kept looking and looking. Because something was not right in there. "My cap got run over by a truck, I think," I said. "It is a big, square flatso." Mrs. laughed. Then she came to my table. And she unfolded my cap. And she put it right on my head. "Hey! What do you know! It fits!" I said. After that, all of us put on our caps and gowns. And we skipped all around the room. Only not Lucille. 'Cause she was still upset about the cat issue, of course. Pretty soon, the bell was going to ring. And

so Mrs. made us put our outfits back in our boxes. "I'm going to let you take these home with you today," she said. "But please do not play with them on the bus. And don't play with them at home, either. These caps and gowns are white, okay? And white material gets soiled very easily." "I know it, Mrs.!" I said. "I know white material gets soiled easy! 'Cause one time, my grampa Miller spilled beer on his new white tie. And you can still see beer splots on that thing!" Mrs. looked and looked at me. Then she sat back down at her desk very quiet. And she waited for the bell to ring.