In Chapter 6 of Junie B. Jones titled “Bestest Friends,” Junie B. narrates a lively recess scene where she, Lucille, and Grace compete to be the first to see Junie B.’s mysterious “monkey brother.” The contest turns into a barter of treasured items: Lucille offers a gold‑heart locket, Grace trades a fake plastic diamond ring, Lucille adds a red sweater, Grace contributes a snack ticket, and finally Grace gives her new pink high‑tops. Each child argues that the value of their gift makes them the rightful winner. The back‑and‑forth escalates until the school bell rings, ending the showdown. The passage showcases Junie B.’s energetic, childlike voice, her quick‑thinking negotiations, and the playful dynamics of friendship and rivalry during recess.
Chapters
Chapter 6, Bestest Friends. Recess is my best subject. I learned it my first week at school. Recess is when you go outside and you run off your steam. Then when you come in, you can sit still better and you don't have ants in your pants. At recess, me and Lucille and that Grace play horses together. I'm Brownie, Lucille is Blackie, And Grace is yellowy. I'm brownie! I hollered as soon as we got outside. I don't want to play horses today, said Lucille. I want to know more about your bunkie brother. Me too! said That Grace. Then Lucille pushed That Grace out of the way and she whispered a secret in my ear. If you let me be the first one to see him, I'll let you wear my new locket. Yeah, only guess what, Lucille? I don't even know what a dumb locket is. So then Lucille showed me her locket. It was a little gold heart on a chain. Isn't it beauticious? She said. My Nana gave it to me for my birthday. Then she opened up the little heart and there was a bitty picture inside of that thing. Hey, there's a teeny head in there! I said very excited. I know, said Lucille. That's my Nana. See her? I squinted very hard at the little picture. Your Nana is a shrimpy, Lucille! I said. After that, Lucille closed the locket and gave it to me. Now I'm your best friend, right, Lucille Junie B? she said. And so I get to be the first one to see your monkey brother! Just then, that Grace stomped her foot very hard. No, you're not, Lucille! she hollered. I'm her best friend, 'cause me and her ride the bus together, and so I get to see her monkey brother first! Right, Genie Bee? Right? Right? I made my shoulders go up and down. I don't know, Grace, I said, 'cause Lucille just gave me a locket with the Teeny Nana, And so that means she gets to go first, I think. That Grace stomped her foot again. She made a mad face at me. Pooh-wee! she said. Except for just then I got a great idea. Hey, guess what, Grace? I said very excited. Since Lucille gave me something beautiful, you can— now you can give me something beautiful too. And so that'd be very fair of me, I think. Then that Grace started smiling and she took off her sparkly new ring. Here, she said. I got it out of cereal this morning. See how shiny the stone is? That's because it's a real genuine fake plastic diamond. Then she put some breath on it and she shined it on her sleeve for me. Ooh! I said. I love this thing, Grace! I know, she said. And So now I get to see your monkey brother first, right, Junie B? Right? After that, I had to think a little. Yeah, only here's the trouble, Grace, I said. Now I have one thing from you and one thing from Lucille, and so it's a tie. Then Lucille took off her red sweater with the Scottie dung on it, and she tied it around my waist. Here! Now I've given you 2 things, and so I'm still the winner. No, you're not! I'll lead that, Grace, because I'm gonna give Juniper Bee my snack ticket for today, and so she can have my cookie and milk. Excellent idea, Grace! I said. Then me and her did a high five. Oh yeah? said Lucille. Well, I'm gonna give her my snack ticket too, and so I'm still the winner. After that, Grace looked all over herself. But that's not fair! she said. Because I don't have anything else to give her. And so I looked all over her too, and then I jumped up and down again. Yes, you do, Grace! I said. You do have something else to give me, and their name is your new pink high tops. That Grace stared at her feet. She looked very sad. Yeah, only this is the first time I ever wore these, she said real quiet. So I patted her so she would feel better. I know, Grace. I explained nicely. If you don't give them to me, then you won't be able to see my ba— monkey brother. And so then me, that Grace, sat down on the grass and she took off her new pink shoes and gave them to me. Thank you, Grace! I said politely. Then I stood up. Okay, your turn! I said to Lucille. Only too bad for me, 'cause just then the stupid bell rang.
