7. A Stumper

7 A Stumper The next morning was school. I put my spit cup into my backpack. And I took it to my bus stop. 'Cause Mother said I couldn't take my tooth. But the spit cup was Grampa's idea. I saved Herb a seat. Then I bounced up and down real excited. 'Cause I couldn't wait for him to see me, of course! Finally, we got to his bus stop. I waved to him from the window.

Then, ha! I leaned my face real close to the glass. And I smiled my biggest smile! Herb's eyeballs popped out of his head! He ran on the bus zippedy quick. "It came out, Herb! It came out!" I said. "My tooth came out on Friday! And it's been out ever since!" I smiled for him again. "See me, Herb? See how I look? I look fascinating, right? I don't look like Uncle Lou, hardly." Herb's eyeballs kept popping out at me. "Whoa!" he said. "Wow!" I laughed at that nice comment. I smiled and pointed. "See my tooth hole, Herb? Huh? I look cute, right? I don't even look like Uncle Lou! Correct?"

Herb said Wow again. After that, I quick got my backpack. And I unzipped the zipper. "Yeah, only wait till you see this, Herbert!" I said. "I brought something special for you to see!" After that, I pulled out the cup. And I put it right on his lap. "Ta-daaa! It's my spit cup, Herb! I used this cup to rinse my actual spit!"

I showed him the edges. "See the pink color right there? That pink is from the bleeding." Herbert's face did not look delighted. "Okay. Thank you," he said. "Please get it

off of me now." I got it off. "But I thought you would like this," I said very disappointed. Herb patted me. "Live and learn," he said. Pretty soon, his face got normal again. "So how much money did you get from the fairy, Junie B.?" he asked. "Did you get a lot of cash?" My stomach did a flip-flop at that question. 'Cause I didn't want to discuss that matter, of course. I squirmed in my seat kind of worried. Then I looked out the window. And I didn't talk. Herb tapped on me. "What's wrong, Junie B.?" he said. "How come you're not answering me? The fairy did

come, right? She didn't forget you, did she?" I looked all around. Then I scooted next to him very close. And I quieted my voice to a whisper. "Yeah, only I can't even discuss that matter, Herb," I said. "'Cause I know stuff about that fairy." "Stuff? What kind of stuff?" he asked. I whispered even softer. "Sorry," I said. "But I have to keep it a secret. And so please don't ask me any more questions. And I mean it." After that, I pretended to lock my lips. And I threw away the key. I saw that on TV once. Herb looked annoyed at me. I unlocked my lips again. "Don't be mad at me," I said. "I can't help what I know, Herb. And anyway, all you