Ramona the Pest by Beverly Cleary

the bathroom.” The older boys and girls thought this remark was funny, which made Ramona so angry she wanted to cry. There was nothing funny about it at all, and if she didn’t hurry—
    The yard teacher turned to Beezus. “Take her to the bathroom and then to the principal’s office. She’ll find out what the trouble is.”
    The first words were a relief to Ramona, but the second a shock. No one in the morning kindergarten had ever been sent to Miss Mullen’s office in the big building, except to deliver a note from Miss Binney, and then the children went in pairs, because the errand was such a scary one. “What will the principal do to me?” Ramona asked, as Beezus led her away to the girls’ bathroom in the big building.
    â€œI don’t know,” said Beezus. “Talk to you, I guess, or call Mother. Ramona, why did youhave to go and do a dumb thing like hiding behind the trash cans?”
    â€œBecause.” Ramona was cross since Beezus was so cross. When the girls came out of the bathroom, Ramona reluctantly allowed herself to be led into the principal’s office, where she felt small and frightened even though she tried not to show it.
    â€œThis is my little sister Ramona,” Beezus explained to Miss Mullen’s secretary in the outer office. “She belongs in kindergarten, but she’s been hiding behind the trash cans.”
    Miss Mullen must have overheard, because she came out of her office. Frightened though she was, Ramona braced herself to say, I won’t go back to kindergarten!
    â€œWhy, hello, Ramona,” said Miss Mullen. “That’s all right, Beatrice. You may go back to your class. I’ll take over.”

    Ramona wanted to stay close to her sister, but Beezus walked out of the office, leavingher alone with the principal, the most important person in the whole school. Ramona felt small and pitiful with her knees still marked where the asphalt had gouged her.Miss Mullen smiled, as if Ramona’s behavior was of no particular importance, and said, “Isn’t it too bad Miss Binney had to stay home with a sore throat? I know what a surprise it was for you to find a strange teacher in your kindergarten room.”
    Ramona wondered how Miss Mullen knew so much. The principal did not even bother to ask what Ramona was doing behind the trash cans. She did not feel the least bit sorry for the poor little girl with the gouged knees. She simply took Ramona by the hand, and said, “I’m going to introduce you to Mrs. Wilcox. I know you’re going to like her,” and started out the door.
    Ramona felt a little indignant, because Miss Mullen did not demand to know why she had been hiding all that time. Miss Mullen did not even notice how forlorn and tearstained Ramona looked. Ramona had been so cold and lonely and miserablethat she thought Miss Mullen should show some interest. She had half expected the principal to say, Why you poor little thing! Why were you hiding behind the trash cans?
    The looks on the faces of the morning kindergarten, when Ramona walked into the room with the principal, made up for Miss Mullen’s lack of concern. Round eyes, open mouths, faces blank with surprise—Ramona was delighted to see the whole class staring at her from their seats. They were worried about her. They cared what had happened to her.
    â€œRamona, this is Miss Binney’s substitute, Mrs. Wilcox,” said Miss Mullen. To the substitute she said, “Ramona is a little late this morning.” That was all. Not a word about how cold and miserable Ramona had been. Not a word about how brave she had been to hide until recess.
    â€œI’m glad you’re here, Ramona,” saidMrs. Wilcox, as the principal left. “The class is drawing with crayons. What would you like to draw?”
    Here it was seat-work time, and Mrs. Wilcox was not even having the class do real seat work, but was letting them draw