Toothless Wonder by Barbara Park Read Free Book Online

I put down my pencil. And I opened my mouth. Then I reached in my finger and I wiggled my tooth.
    That thing has been loose for a very long time. Only no matter how hard I wiggle it, it still won't come out.
    I pulled on it a teensy bit.
    “Ow, that hurt! You dumb bunny tooth!” I said.
    May turned her head and looked at me.
    May sits next to me in Room One.
    She is not a pleasure.
    “You shouldn't say
dumb bunny
, JunieJones,” she said.
“Dumb bunny
is not a nice word.”
    I raised my eyebrows at her.
    “Oh, really?” I said. “Well, thank you for telling me that, dumb bunny May.”
    Just then, May's face got puffy and red.
    “DON'T SAY THAT WORD, I TOLD YOU!” she hollered.
    My teacher stood up at his desk.
    “Problem back there, girls?” he said.
    “Yes, Mr. Scary!” said May. “There's
always
a problem back here. And her name is Junie Jones!”
    I stamped my foot.
    “B.
, May!” I said. “B., B., B., B., B.! You're always forgetting my B.!”
    Mr. Scary closed his eyes.
“Please
, girls. Can't we just have one morning without any spats?”
    I looked surprised at that man.
    “But I didn't even
spat
, Mr. Scary,” I said. “My mother doesn't let me spat. Not even on the sidewalk.”
    After that, I went up to his desk. And I smiled very cute.
    “I have a loose tooth,” I said. “Would you like to see it, Mr. Scary? Huh? Would you?”
    I opened my mouth and wiggled it for him.
    “See it? See how loose it is? It is a loosey goosey, isn't it?” I said.
    He smiled. “Wow. It really
is
loose, Junie B.,” he said. “And it's a
top
tooth, too. Losing a top tooth is the best.”
    I looked puzzled.
    “It is? How come it's the best, Mr. Scary?” I asked. “Is a top tooth funner thana bottom tooth, do you mean? Because last year I lost a bottom tooth. And I didn't actually get a kick out of it.”
    My teacher did a chuckle. “Ah … but when you lose a
top
tooth, your smile looks really cute, Junie B.,” he said. “And when your new tooth comes in, you'll start looking like a
big
kid.”
    I did a gasp at that news.
    “A big kid?” I said. “Really? I'm going to look like a big kid?”
    Mr. Scary nodded. “Sure you are,” he said. “Here. I'll show you what I mean.”
    He looked around the room. “Class? Does anyone in here have their big top teeth yet? If so, please raise your hand,” he said.
    All of the children looked and looked at each other.
    But no one raised their hand.
    Mr. Scary was surprised.
    “Really?” he said. “No kidding? No one in our class has lost a top front tooth, huh?”
    He turned around and shook my hand.
    “Well, congratulations, Junie B. Jones,” he said. “It looks like you're going to be the first person in Room One with a big top tooth!”
    I felt very thrilled. “Thank you!” I said.
    Then I skipped back to my seat. And I sat down real proud.
    May did a huffy breath at me.
    “Big deal. What's so special about losing a top tooth?” she said. “Everyone in our whole room is going to lose their top teeth, Junie Jones. It's not like you're the only one, you know.”
    I did a huffy breath right back at her.
    “Yes, May. I know I'm not the
only
one,” I said. “But I am the
first
one. And the
first
one is the winner. So there. Ha ha on you.”
    May crossed her arms. “Well, if you're the winner, then where's your prize? Huh, Junie Jones? I don't see a prize. Do you?”
    I tapped my fingers kind of stumped. Then I hurried back to my teacher's desk again. And I patted him on the shoulder.
    “Okay, here's the thing,” I said. “The children are wondering where's my prize for being the tooth winner. And so how would you like to handle this situation?”
    Mr. Scary did not answer right away.
    Finally, he shrugged. “Well, the truth is, there
aren't
any prizes,” he said. “I wasn't exactly running a contest, you know.”
    “Yes, I know,” I said. “But I bet you could still come up with a little something to make me happy.”
    I pointed at his desk