9. Baloney

9 Baloney Monday Dear first-grade journal, Room One is still mad at me about Friday. After we went back to the room, Mrs. Gutzman brought baloney sandwiches for the children who didn't eat. They were not a hit. I sat at my desk. And I ate

out of my new lunch box. I had a tasty peanut butter and jelly sandwich. 'Cause brought lunch is better than bought lunch. And that is not even my fault. Some of the children watched me eat. They made growly faces at me. Today Herbert is my only friend. Also, Lennie and Jose are being reasonable. I wish Friday never happened. From, Junie B., First Grades I peeked my eyes at the clock. It was almost two-fifteen. Just one more hour before I could go

home. I tried to make the clock go faster with my eyes. It did not actually work that good. Just then, there was a knock on our door. Mr. Scary answered it. "Why, hello!" he said. "Why, hello yourself," said a friendly voice. And guess what? It was Mrs. Gutzman! She walked in the room with two boxes in her arms. My heart pounded and pounded to see that woman. 'Cause what if she came to scold me? I slumped way down in my seat so she couldn't see me. Mrs. Gutzman set the boxes on Mr. Scary's desk.

Then she looked all around the room. I slumped in my seat even farther. Only too bad for me. Because Blabbermouth May pointed at me. "MRS. GUTZMAN! MRS. GUTZMAN!" she hollered. "JUNIE JONES IS TRYING TO HIDE FROM YOU! SHE IS SLIDING DOWN IN HER CHAIR SO YOU CAN'T SEE HER! BUT I AM KEEPING TRACK

OF HER MOVEMENTS!" After that, I slid all the way to the floor under my desk. I curled into a ball and hid my head. Pretty soon, I heard feet walking to my desk. I am getting used to that sound. The feet stopped next to my chair. I opened one eye and peeked out. I saw the bottom of Mrs. Gutzman's white apron. "Junie B.?" said her voice. "Why are you sitting on the floor?" I didn't move any muscles. 'Cause maybe she would still go away, possibly. "Junie B.?" said Mrs. Gutzman again. "I brought something for your class. Don't you

want to see what it is?" I shook my head real fast. "No, thank you," I said. "I don't want to see it. And so you can be on your way now, please." I opened my other eye and looked at her feet. They kept on standing there. Then, all of a sudden, I heard a loud groan. And what do you know? That woman squatted right down next to me! I was shocked to see her. "Mrs. Gutzman!" I said. "What are you doing down here?" Mrs. Gutzman did not look comfortable. "Please, Junie B. I need your help," she said. "I brought cookies for your class today. But there's no one up there to help me pass them out."