9. The Only One in Room Nine

9/The Only One in Room Nine Mother runned into my room. She pushed right through my nails. "JUNIE B. JONES! WHAT IN THE WORLD ARE YOU DOING IN HERE?" she shouted. She looked at my door. Her eyes got very bulging. "YOU WERE HAMMERING?" she yelled. "YOU WERE HAMMERING NAILS???…IN YOUR DOOR?" Just then Daddy runned in, too. "WHERE IN THE WORLD DID YOU GET A HAMMER?" he yelled. "Tell him, Junie B.! Tell your father where you got the hammer!" growled Mother.

I pointed at her. "She gave it to me," I said. Just then, steam came out of Mother's head. "NO! I DID NOT GIVE YOU THAT HAMMER, JUNIE B.! THAT HAMMER WAS FOR JIM! AND YOU KNOW IT!" After that, Mother picked me up. And she sat me on my bed. And she growled more mad words at me. They were…I cannot be trusted to have a real actual hammer. And I cannot be trusted to have a real actual tool belt. And I am never ever allowed to have nails until I am all grown up and I live in my own apartment. Daddy walked up and down in front of me. "Why, Junie B.? Why would you do such a thing? Why would you ever nail your door

shut?" he said. I started to cry a little bit. "Because," I said. "Because why?" he grouched. "Because I felt pressure inside me," I said. "Because that party is ruining my whole entire Saturday. Because first I had to shop. And then Mother said I had to get a bath and wash my hair. Only I don't even like that meanie head boy. And so how come I have to get clean and give him that wonderful tool belt? 'Cause what kind of deal is that?" Mother did an angry breath. "This was your decision, Junie B.," she said. "You're the one who wanted to go to the party. No one is making you do it." I wiped my nose on my sweater sleeve. "Yeah, only if I don't go, I will be the only one in Room Nine," I said. "And that is the

saddest story I ever heard of." Daddy sat down next to me. "Why?" he said. "Why is it sad to spend your Saturday the way you want to spend it? Why is it sad to spend the day having fun, instead of wasting it on a boy you don't like?" Mother sat down, too. "That doesn't sound sad to me," said Mother. "That sounds good, in fact." "No, that does not sound good," I said very snapping. "What is so good about being the only one?" Daddy did his shoulders up and down. "Lots of things," he said. "Like you'll be the only one who doesn't have to take a bath. Have you ever thought of that?" "And you'll be the only one who doesn't have to wash her hair," said Mother. "And," said Daddy, "you'll be the only one

in Room Nine who doesn't have to give Jim a present. How 'bout that one? Huh?" I sat up a little bit straighter. 'Cause that one was excellent, that's why. Mother ruffled my hair. "And what about Grampa Miller?" she asked. "You haven't forgotten that he invited you to his house today, have you?" Just then, my whole mouth came open. 'Cause I did forget about that! "The toilet!" I said. "I forgot about the toilet! 'Cause me and Grampa were going to fix that thing! And we were going to touch that big ball that floats on top!" Mother made a face. "Lovely," she said. "I know it is lovely," I said. "And so I have to get over there right now. Or else Grandma is gonna get to touch it, and not me."

Then Mother looked at me very strange. And Daddy went to get his keys. Mother and Daddy made me take the tool belt back to the store. They made me give it to the man. "Here," I said. "I cannot be trusted with this wonderful thing." The man smiled kind of sad. "Sorry, sis," he said. "That's okay," I said. "'Cause the nails didn't actually work that good." He gave me my money back. "Maybe when you're older," he said. "Maybe," I said. "Plus also I might get a toilet brush." After the store, I went to my Grampa