That’s how come Mrs. had to put a wet towel on his head. And she said he didn’t have to hold Wendell.

Charlotte went next.

She showed us her bunny named Slippers.

She carried him all around the room. And she let us pet his head.

Slippers smelled like stinky feet.

After Charlotte came Paulie Allen Puffer.

He showed us his parrot named Pirate Pete. Only too bad for Pirate Pete. ’Cause he kept on saying a bad word. And he wouldn’t even stop. And so Mrs. had to send Pirate Pete to the office.

After that, lots of children showed pictures of their dogs and cats.

Plus Jamal Hall showed us his lizard named Gizzard.

And a boy named Ham showed us his hamster named Elvis.

Finally, I raised my hand real calm.

“It’s nice to see you being so polite, Junie B. Would you like to go next?” Mrs. asked. “Did you bring a picture of your dog?”

I shook my head. “No,” I said. “’Cause I didn’t want to bring a picture, remember? I wanted to bring a real actual pet. Only too bad for me. ’Cause Mother said no raccoon. And then my Grandma Helen Miller stoled Sparkle. Plus also I lost my Noodle. And then we couldn’t find the orange juice. And so that’s how come my grampa moved the frozen vegetables. And boom! I saw a pet in there! So I put him in my backpack! And here he is now!”

After that, I quick unzipped my zipper pocket. And I held up my pet for everyone to see.

“FISH STICK!” I said real delighted. “I NAMED HIM FISH STICK BECAUSE HE’S A FISH STICK, OF COURSE!”

Room Nine stared and stared.

Then all of a sudden, everyone laughed at once.

“YOU GOONIE BIRD!” yelled that meanie Jim. “Fish sticks aren’t pets! Fish sticks are dinner!”

I felt very shrinking inside.

“But…but fish sticks have to be pets. Right, Mrs.? Right?” I asked. “’Cause fish sticks are fish. Aren’t they? And fish are pets. Right?”

Mrs. was hiding behind her hands. She peeked at me between her fingers.

“Um…yes. Sure. Of course fish are pets,” she said.

I felt a teeny bit better.

“So then fish sticks can be pets, too. Right?” I said.

Mrs. hided a little while longer.

Then finally, she took a big breath. And she got up from her desk.

“Well, let’s see. Maybe we should see what the dictionary has to say about this,” she said.

After that, she took out her dictionary. And she looked up the word pet.

She read us what it said.

“Pet,” she said. “Any tamed animal that is kept as a companion.”

“Okay,” she said. “Now that we have the definition, let’s see if Fish Stick fits the bill.”

She looked at me.

“Junie B., is Fish Stick tame? Or is he wild?”