“That’s right,” said Mr. Quimby. “Starts

tomorrow.”

“Great,” said Mr. Huggins, and Ramona

silently agreed. Having a father without a

job had been hard on the whole family.

Then Mrs. Swink smiled at Ramona and

said, “My, Juanita, you’re getting to be a big girl. How old are you? I can’t keep track.”

Should Ramona tell Mrs. Swink her name

was not Juanita? No, Mrs. Swink was very

8

old and should be treated with courtesy. Last year Ramona would have spoken up and

said, My name is not Juanita, it’s Ramona.

Not this year.The room fell silent as Ramona answered, “I’m seven and a half right now.”

She was proud of herself for speaking so

politely.

There was soft laughter from the grown-

ups, which embarrassed Ramona. Why did

they have to laugh? She was seven and a half right now. She would not be seven and a

half forever.

Then the Grumbies arrived, followed by

Howie’s mother and father, the Kemps, and

of course Willa Jean. Although Willa Jean

was perfectly capable of walking, her father was carrying her so she would not get her

little white shoes and socks wet. Willa Jean in turn was carrying a big stuffed bear.When Mr. Kemp set his daughter down, her mother

peeled off her coat, one arm at a time so

9

Willa Jean would not have to let go of her bear.

There stood usually messy Willa Jean in a

pink dress with tiny flowers embroidered

on the collar. Her curly blond hair, freshly washed, stood out like a halo. Her blue eyes were the color of the plastic handle on

Ramona’s toothbrush.When she smiled, she

showed her pearly little baby teeth. Willa

Jean was not messy at all.

Ramona in her corduroy slacks and turtle-

neck sweater suddenly felt big and awkward

beside her little guest and embarrassed to

have jack-o’-lantern teeth.

And the things those grown-ups said to

Willa Jean! “Why, hello there, sweetheart!”

“My, don’t you look like a little angel!”“Bless your little heart. Did Santa bring you the

great big bear?”Willa Jean smiled and hugged her bear. Ramona noticed she had lace ruffles sewn to the seat of her underpants.

10

“What is your bear’s name, dear?” asked Mrs. Swink.

“Woger,” answered Willa Jean.

Mrs. Kemp smiled as if Willa Jean had

said something clever and explained, “She

named her bear Roger after the milkman.”

Mrs. Quimby said with amusement,

“I remember when Ramona named one of

her dolls Chevrolet after the car.” Everyone laughed.

She didn’t have to go and tell that,

thought Ramona, feeling that her mother

had betrayed her by telling, as if it were

funny, something she had done a long time

ago. She still thought Chevrolet was a beau-

tiful name, even though she was old enough

to know that dolls were not usually named

after cars.

“See my bear?” Willa Jean held Woger up