Part 3 (2/2)

”Being the Pinta Pinta is fine, Junie B.,” he said. ”But you is fine, Junie B.,” he said. ”But you do do understand that our s.h.i.+ps will not be understand that our s.h.i.+ps will not be racing racing, right? All three of our s.h.i.+ps will be arriving together. together.”

I did a little frown.

”Yeah, only that's not how I actually had it pictured in my head,” I said. ”'Cause a race will be more exciting, I think. And so maybe I will just arrive a little bit little bit first. Like by an inch, or a foot ... or half an hour, possibly.” first. Like by an inch, or a foot ... or half an hour, possibly.”

Mr. Scary shook his head no.

”This play is not about stars or winners. It's about teamwork teamwork,” he said. ”You are more than welcome to be the Pinta Pinta, Junie B. But you can't arrive before the other s.h.i.+ps. Got it?”

I did a big sigh.

”Got it,” I said kind of glum.

Mr. Scary wrote my name next to the Pinta. Pinta.

Then he called on the other children to choose their play parts, too.

Lucille chose richie Queen Isabella.

And Camille and Chenille chose the Atlantic Ocean.

Then my bestest friend Herbert chose to be Land. And that is the importantest role of all, almost. 'Cause without Land, you can't actually land, probably.

After Herb, lots of other children picked their parts, too.

Then finally, it was May's turn.

May had to go last because all her facts were about the dumb Mayflower Mayflower, and not about Columbus.

She stood up very grouchy. ”All the good roles are already taken. So I guess I'll have to be the tubby old Santa Maria Santa Maria,” she grumped.

Mr. Scary wrote her name on the board.

”The Santa Maria Santa Maria is an excellent choice, May,” he said. ”The is an excellent choice, May,” he said. ”The Santa Maria Santa Maria was the biggest s.h.i.+p. And it carried Columbus, you know.” was the biggest s.h.i.+p. And it carried Columbus, you know.”

May sat up a little straighter.

”It did did?” she said. ”It really did did? It carried Columbus? n.o.body told me that before.”

She reached over and tapped on me.

”I bet you you didn't know that, either. Did you, Junie Jones? If you knew that, I bet didn't know that, either. Did you, Junie Jones? If you knew that, I bet you'd you'd be the be the Santa Maria Santa Maria,” she said.

I rolled my eyeb.a.l.l.s at her.

”Of course course I knew that, you silly-head May,” I said. ”The whole entire world knew that except for you, probably.” I knew that, you silly-head May,” I said. ”The whole entire world knew that except for you, probably.”

May looked disappointed.

She turned her head back around.

I waited for a second to make sure she wasn't looking.

Then I slumped down in my chair. And tapped my fingers very annoyed.

'Cause guess what?

I didn't know that.

Just then, the bell rang for school to start. And so I quick put away my journal. And I got ready to work on the play some more!

'Cause hurray, hurray!

Today we were making our costumes!

Mr. Scary got out costume supplies from boxes he brought from home.

He gave me and May cardboard to make our s.h.i.+ps. Plus also, he gave us s.h.i.+p patterns!

He gave Sheldon a s.h.i.+p pattern, too.

Because guess what?

Sheldon was going to be the Nina Nina!

He said he didn't even care that the Nina Nina was the smallest s.h.i.+p. On account of he liked the little squiggle over the was the smallest s.h.i.+p. On account of he liked the little squiggle over the n n!

”The little squiggle makes the Nina look special,” he said. ”It looks like a little bird.”

Mr. Scary smiled at that comment.

Then he told us how to tape our s.h.i.+p pieces together. Plus he showed us how to make banners and sails.

”I'm going to color my s.h.i.+p banner red. 'Cause red is my favorite color,” I said.

May looked down her nose at me.

”I'm going to color my my s.h.i.+p banner s.h.i.+p banner gold gold,” she said. ”'Cause gold means you're the golden best. And the Santa Maria Santa Maria had to be the best. Or else why would Columbus choose it?” had to be the best. Or else why would Columbus choose it?”

I tapped on my chin very thinking. Then I did a little grin.

”Maybe he liked big old tubs,” I said.

After that, I laughed and laughed at my own joke.

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