3. New Friend

3 New Friend The next day was Saturday. I woke up with ants in my pants. 'Cause just one more day till Hawaii, of course! After breakfast, me and Mother packed my suitcase for the trip. Also, we stuffed crayons and toys in my backpack for the airplane. "This plane ride is going to be fun! Right, Mother? Right?" I said. "This plane ride is going to be the time of my life!" Mother sighed. "Well, it's definitely going to be long. That's for sure," she said. "And it could get a

little boring, too, I'm afraid." She stood there a minute. Then she winked at me. "That's why I got you a brand-new friend for the trip, Junie B.," she said. My eyes lighted up very thrilled. "A new friend?" I said. "You got me a new friend?" She ruffled my hair. "I sure did. Wait here and I'll go get her," she said. As soon as she left, I grabbed my favorite stuffed elephant named Philip Johnny Bob. And I danced him all around the room. "A new friend, Philip! I'm getting a new friend!" I sang real happy. Philip sucked in his cheeks. You don't need a new friend, Junie B. You have me, remember? I am your friend.

I hugged him very tight. "Yes, I know you are my friend, Phil," I said. "But it's still nice to make other friends, too. Right?" Wrong, said Philip. You only need me. And that's all. Just then, Mother came back with my new friend. And my whole mouth came open, I tell you! "A HULA GIRL BARBIE! IT'S A HULA GIRL BARBIE! I'VE ALWAYS, ALWAYS WANTED ONE OF THESE THINGS!" I said. "THANK YOU, MOTHER! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!" I looked at Barbie through her box. "Wow! Look! She has her very own hula skirt! And her very own hula sandals! Plus also, she's got a hula wreath around her

neck!" Mother smiled. "It's not a hula wreath, Junie B. It's called a lei," she said. "A lei is a necklace made of flowers. We'll see lots of them in Hawaii." I took Hula Girl Barbie out of her box. And I danced around some more. "I think I will name her Delores," I said. "Delores has a nice ring to it." Finally, I stopped dancing. And I introduced her to Philip. "Philip Johnny Bob, meet Hula Girl Delores," I said. Hello, said Delores. Whatever, said Philip. After that, I put both of those guys in my backpack. And I zipped them up real tight. "Now I won't even be boring on the plane! Right, Mother? Right? 'Cause first I will

color. And then I will play with Hula Girl Delores. Plus also, I can take some pictures of the plane with my photo-journal camera!" Mother gave me a hug. And she went to her room to pack her own suitcase. As soon as she was gone, a scuffle broke out in my backpack. I opened it up to see the trouble. Philip said to please get him out of there right exactly now. On account of Hula Girl Delores was poking him with her pointy, hard hands. I took him out and put him on my bed. "Okay. You can stay out here for one more day, Phil," I said. "But tomorrow you're going to have to ride in the backpack with Delores. Or else you won't be able to fly to Hawaii with us." Just then, chill bumps came on my arms.

"Hawaii, Phil," I whispered. "We're really, really, really going to Hawaii." After that, I jumped off my bed. And I straightened out my arms. And I zoomed around my room like I was flying some more. The next morning, we took baby Ollie to my grandma and grampa Miller's house. 'Cause that is where his vacation was going to be. I kissed him goodbye. And I pretended I would miss him. "Goodbye, little Ollie. I wish you could come with us," I said real sad. Everyone smiled at me. Nice fibs are okay to say, I think. Only I'm not sure of the exact ruling on that. After all of us said goodbye, me and Mother and Daddy drove to the airport.