When I got off the bus, I zoomed to Room Nine. That"s because I wanted Job Day to start very quick.
Only first we had to take attendance.
And then we had to say I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands.
Except I don"t know what that dumb story is even talking about.
Then finally Mrs. clapped her loud hands together.
And guess what? Job Day started, that"s what!
"Boys and girls, you all look wonderful in your outfits!" Mrs. said. "I can"t wait to learn what all of you want to be when you grow up! Who would like to go first?"
"I WOULD! I WOULD!" I yelled out.
Only then my bestest friend Lucille raised her hand very polite. And she got to go first.
Lucille looked the most beautifulest I"ve ever seen her.
She was wearing a new dress that her nanna bought for her. It was the color of pink velvet.
Also she had on shiny pink shoes. And socks with bows and lace on them.
Lucille"s nanna is loaded, I think.
Lucille went to the front of the room. She reached into a little bag and pulled out a sparkling crown with jewels on it!
Then all of Room Nine said, "Oooooh."
Except for not the boys.
"When I grow up, I"m going to marry a prince," she said. "And I"ll be a princess. And my name will be Princess Lucille."
Then she put the sparkling crown on her head. And she looked like a fairy tale guy.
Mrs. smiled. "That"s a lovely thought, Lucille," she said.
"I know," said Lucille. "My nanna says if you marry a prince, you"re set for life."
After that, Lucille said her dress costed eighty-five. And her shoes costed forty-five. And her lacy socks costed six fifty plus tax.
Then Mrs. told Lucille to sit down.
Ricardo went next.
He was wearing a round yellow hat. It was the kind of hat you can bang on.
"This is called a hard hat," he said. "You have to wear it when you"re building tall buildings. Or else somebody might drop a hammer from way up high. And it could hit you on the head and kill you."
Mrs. smiled. "So you"re interested in construction, right, Ricardo?" she asked.
But Ricardo just kept on talking about other stuff that could fall on your head and kill you. Like a paint can. And an electric drill. And a lunchbox.
Then Mrs. said, "Sit down," to him, too.
That"s when William raised his hand. Only he was being very bashful. And he wouldn"t go to the front of the room.
"You don"t have to be nervous, William," said Mrs. "Just tell us what you want to be when you grow up."
William covered his face with his hands.
"Super William," he said very quiet.
Then he got out of his seat. And he jumped way high in the air. Only his cape got tangled up in his chair. And he crashed into the table.
After that, Super William got very sniffling. And Mrs. said we would get back to him later.
Then lots of other kids talked about their jobs.
Like a boy named Clifton is going to be a rich and famous astronaut.
And a girl named Lily is going to be a rich and famous movie star. And also she wants to direct.
And a boy named Ham is going to be a rich and famous boss of a big company. And he taught us how to say the word you"re fired you"re fired.
And here"s the bestest one of all! "Cause a boy named Jamal Hall is going to be the rich and famous president of the whole United States!
"Cool!" said Ricardo.
Then the other boys said, "Cool," too.
I did a secret smile. Yeah, only not as cool as my job, I thought to just myself.
Then I raised my hand very polite. And Mrs. called my name.
"OH, BOY!" I shouted. "OH, BOY! OH, BOY! "CAUSE MINE IS EVEN BETTER THAN PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES!"
I zoomed speedy quick to the front of the room.
Then my excitement wouldn"t stay inside of me anymore.
"A JANITOR! I"M GOING TO BE A JANITOR!" I hollered out.
After that, I jingled my jangly keys! And I waved my paintbrush in the air! And I clapped and clapped!
Only too bad for me.
"Cause n.o.body clapped back.
And here"s something even worser.
Room Nine started laughing very much. And it was the mean kind.
"SHE WANTS TO BE A JANITOR!" they yelled.
Then they pointed at my brown pants.
And they called me the name of stupid.
And I didn"t know what to do. "Cause I felt very crumbling inside.
And so I just kept on standing there and standing there.
And my eyes got a little bit of wet in them. And my nose started running very much.
That"s how come I covered my face up.
"They"re not having courtesy for me," I said real soft.
Only just then Mrs. clapped her angry hands together. And she scolded Room Nine a real lot.
"Junie B. is right," she said. "Being a janitor is a very important job. You have to be hardworking and reliable and very, very trustworthy."
I peeked through my fingers at her.
"Yeah, and don"t forget the part where you have to save people from danger," I said.
Then that Jim I hate laughed right out loud. "Janitors don"t save people from danger, you goonie bird!" he said.
I stamped my foot at him. "Yes, they do! They do too! Because one time I was eating a dangerous Life Saver. And Janitor made me spit it out! And also he brought his flashlight to Room Nine. And he saved William from the dangerous dental floss!"
Then I held up my jingling keys.
"And see these things? Keys are what Janitor unlocks the bathroom door with. Or else we couldn"t even go to the toilet!"
Then I showed him my paintbrush.
"And Janitor paints litter cans, too," I said. "And painting is the funnest thing I love!"
That Jim did a mean smile. "Yeah, well, too bad for you, but you"re a girl. And janitors have to be boys. So there."
I runned to his table. "No, they do not, you stupid head Jim!" I said. "Girls can be anything boys can be! Right, Mrs.? Right? Right? "Cause I saw that on Sesame Street Sesame Street. And also on Oprah." Oprah."
Mrs. did a smile.
Then my bestest friend Grace started to clap.
And guess what? All of the other girls in Room Nine clapped too.
8/Gus Vallony
Today Janitor came to Room Nine for Show and Tell!
And it was the funnest day I ever saw!
That"s "cause he brought his very big toolbox with him.
And we played a game called Name the Tools.
And guess what?
I knew the saw.
And the hammer.
And the metric socket set with adjustable ratchet.
Then Janitor showed us how to use his stuff.
And Charlotte got to shine his giant flashlight.
And my bestest friend Grace got to push his big broom.
And lucky duck Lucille got to clean the chalkboard with his squishy sponge.
Except for then a little bit of trouble happened. "Cause I wanted the mop. Only that stupid head Jim wouldn"t let go of it. And so I had to pinch his arm.
After that, the mop got removed from us.
Removed is the school word for s.n.a.t.c.hed right out of our hands. is the school word for s.n.a.t.c.hed right out of our hands.
After that, Janitor sat in a chair. And Room Nine sat all around him.
Then he told us all about himself and his job.
And guess what?
He"s been Janitor for fourteen years.
And he was borned in a different country from ours.
And his name is Gus Vallony!
"Hey! I love that name of Gus Vallony!" I hollered out. ""Cause Vallony is my favorite kind of sandwich!"