As soon as I finished writing, Mr. Scary walked to the front of the room. And he asked us to put away our journals.
“Boys and girls, there are a few more things I need to tell you about the kick-ball tournament on Friday,” he said. “For one thing—today and tomorrow—we'll be taking extra-long recess periods to get ready.”
“Those of you playing on the team will be practicing on the softball field. And those of you who are cheerleaders will be practicing on the sidelines,” he told us.
Camille and Chenille jumped right up from their seats.
“Mr. Scary! Mr. Scary! We have good news!” said Camille.
“Yes, we do!” said Chenille. “Our mother was a cheerleader in college. And last night she taught us some cheers!”
“Right!” said Camille. “And so today Chenille and I can teach them to the other girls!”
Mr. Scary smiled very pleased.
“That's excellent news, girls,” he said. “I'll put you two in charge of teaching the cheers. Then I will have more time to work with the kickball team and the halftime show.”
He looked back in my direction.
“Oh … and speaking of the halftime show, have you made a decision about what you want to do yet, Junie B.?”
I started to nod real happy.
Then, all of a sudden, I stopped.
On account of what if I told Room One that I was going to juggle in the halftime show? Only I still couldn't learn that talent by Friday?
Then some of the children might shout BOO at me. Plus others might laugh and laugh.
I tapped on my desk very thinking.
BUT—on the other hand—maybe I should just tell my class the whole entire truth. ’Cause Mother says the truth is always best. Only that is not the truth, of course. But maybe this one time, the truth might be the easiest.
“Junie B.?” said my teacher again.
I stood up at my desk. And I looked at Room One in their eyes.
“Okay … here is the whole entire truth,” I said. “I am trying to learn how to juggle for Sheldon's halftime show. Only please do not get your hopes up, people. ’Cause I maybe might not learn it in time. And so—if I don't juggle at halftime—there is no laughing or booing allowed. And I mean it.”
I quick sat back down again.
Lennie and Herb turned around in their seats.
“Whoa! You're learning to juggle?” said Lennie. “That's cool.”
“Yeah, it is cool,” said Herbert. “I wish I could juggle.”
May rolled her eyes.
“I don't,” she said. “What's so fun about throwing stuff in the air? And anyway, juggling is only for the circus. Who ever heard of juggling in a halftime show?”
I wrinkled my eyebrows very serious.
“Hmm … that's a good question, May. Let me think,” I said.
Then I leaned real close to her face.
“ME! THAT'S WHO!” I said.
Lennie and Herb laughed very hard.
Then Sheldon looked back at me. And he gave me a happy thumbs-up.
I smiled.
’Cause what do you know?
This time, the truth worked beautifully.
