Part 3 (1/2)

”My fact is about the richie queen of Spain,” she said. ”The richie queen of Spain was named Isabella. And she gave Chris the money for the trip. So I am going to be richie Queen Isabella in the play. Because if there's one thing I know, it's how to be rich.”

Jose raised his hand.

”You shouldn't call him Chris Chris, Lucille,” he said. ”In Spain, they called him Cristobal Colon. Cristobal Colon.”

Lucille made squinty eyes at him.

”Chris ... Crystal Ball ... whatever,” she said. ”A queen can call you whatever she wants to.”

She fluffed her hair and sat down.

That's when I springed up. And I waved my paper all around.

”Eighteen facts! I have eighteen facts!” I said real happy. ”And so listen to this, people! The Nina Nina was the was the smallest smallest s.h.i.+p. And the s.h.i.+p. And the Pinta Pinta was the was the fastest fastest s.h.i.+p. And the s.h.i.+p. And the Santa Maria Santa Maria was a big old tub.” was a big old tub.”

Mr. Scary winked at me.

”Those are outstanding s.h.i.+p facts, Junie B.,” said Mr. Scary. ”Great job.”

He printed them on the board.

And guess what?

After that, s.h.i.+rley told him even more more s.h.i.+p facts. s.h.i.+p facts.

And so that's how the whole rest of the morning kept going.

Room One kept on telling him facts. And Mr. Scary kept on writing them down. Until finally, we'd told him every fact in the book!

Then ha! That's when the funnest part of all happened.

'Cause Mr. Scary walked around the room. And he counted how many facts each of us had listed on our papers.

And wait till you hear this!

He said, ”We have a tie tie!”

Because me and my friend Jose both both had EIGHTEEN FACTS! had EIGHTEEN FACTS!

We jumped out of our seats and gave each other a high five!

Then I skipped around my desk very joyful. Plus also, I skipped to the pencil sharpener and back.

Mr. Scary came back and shook our hands.

He said we would choose our play parts when we come back from lunch. And so meanwhile we should be thinking about what parts we want.

”Yeah, only I already know know what part I want!” I said real thrilled. ”And it is the bestest part I can think of. Only I'm going to keep it a secret till after lunch. And so n.o.body ask me. And I what part I want!” I said real thrilled. ”And it is the bestest part I can think of. Only I'm going to keep it a secret till after lunch. And so n.o.body ask me. And I mean mean it.” it.”

After that, I pretended to lock my lips with a make-believe key.

Herb turned around. ”You mean you're not even going to tell me?” he said kind of disappointed.

I got out my key and unlocked my lips.

”Okay ... except for I will just tell Herb, and that's all,” I said.

I locked my lips again.

Jose frowned at me.

I unlocked my lips one more time.

”Plus also, I will tell Jose. But that is my final offer. And I mean it.”

Just then, s.h.i.+rley did a big huffy.

”Okay, fine ... and s.h.i.+rley,” I said.

That's when Sheldon raised his hand and pointed to himself.

Then all of the other children pointed to theirselves, too.

And so that day at lunch, I whispered my secret to everybody in Room One.

But that was all.

After we got back from recess, Mr. Scary went back to the board.

”Okay, everyone. It's time for the big event,” he said. ”We're going to begin choosing our play parts now. We'll start with Junie B. and Jose. Are you two ready to go?”

”Ready!” hollered Jose.

”Ready!” I hollered. ”And guess what else else, Mr. Scary? I'm even going to let Jose go first. 'Cause that will be very polite of me. Plus Jose already told me that he wants to be Columbus. And I don't. So being polite will work out beautifully this time.”

I pointed at Jose.

”Okay, go,” I said.

Jose looked annoyed at me. ”But you already told told him, Junie B. I want to be Columbus.” him, Junie B. I want to be Columbus.”

I clapped my hands real delighted.

”I knew it!” I said. ”I knew being polite would work out good this time! On account of I want to be the Pinta Pinta! 'Cause the Pinta Pinta was the fastest s.h.i.+p! And the fastest s.h.i.+p is the winner s.h.i.+p. And the winner s.h.i.+p is the was the fastest s.h.i.+p! And the fastest s.h.i.+p is the winner s.h.i.+p. And the winner s.h.i.+p is the star star s.h.i.+p!” s.h.i.+p!”

I skipped to the pencil sharpener and back again.

Mr. Scary said please stop doing that please stop doing that.