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My mom was graduating from graduate school this past May, and although we celebrated last fall when she finished her classes and took her exam, I wanted to make her graduation day as special as she had made mine. My family often makes gifts for each other or comes up with creative ways to give gifts so writing a story based on one of our favorite characters, Junie B. Jones, seemed like the perfect idea. I came up with it while driving home from work one day, and though I was still driving, I picked up my phone and called my brother Clayton to tell him my idea. I didn’t want to write this story alone and Clayton is a fantastic writer. He loved the idea and we got started.
I read some Junie B. to get her in my head and then just started writing. I have never been a great creative writer, but when it comes to Junie B., I can write a storm. I ended up writing half the story in one night. I had no plan of where the story was going, I just kept writing and the story came to life. The following day I emailed my half to Clay, who lives in Boston, and waited to hear what he had to say. I was amazed that he loved it so much. Like I said, I’ve never been a creative writer, so I was thinking Clay would tell me I was too heavy handed with the Junie B.-isms or there wasn’t enough dialogue. But he loved it. And so we carried on. It was at this time we also asked his girlfriend, Emilie, to do a couple illustrations for the book as well. She was a little intimidated at first, but it is clear to see that she did an amazing job.
Now, keeping all of this to myself was a really big job. I am terrible at keeping gifts to myself. So I spread the word with my friends and coworkers. When I got the final copy and was making my edits, I read it during an indoor recess with a colleague. We were both laughing loudly (LOL has ruined “laughing out loud” for me) at the parts Clay had added. When the final edits were complete, I created a cover, printed out the story, laminated it, and bound it in the bookmaker. I could hardly contain myself after it was all made. I even made a Caldecott Medal to put on it.
The night before my mom’s graduation Clay and Emilie called me and I put them on speakerphone so we could all give my mom her gift. She had no idea what was coming. I first gave her a copy of the real Junie B. Jones is a Graduation Girl. She was thrilled to have it and started looking through it and reading sections she came across. I told her to put it down because there was another half to her gift. I handed her the wrapped Marijane F. Monck is a Graduation Girl. She gently opened it as it was wrapped in very pretty paper. She then saw the cover. She looked confused and then it hit her that she was holding a story written by her children about her on graduation day. Tears of happiness started flowing. We read the book together with Clay on the phone and talked about how it all came together.
My favorite line that I wrote in the book is “’It’s graduation day! It’s graduation day!’ I shouted out the front door to the neighborhood. Except no one responded but a dumb ol’ bird. ‘Be quiet you dumb ol’ bird,’ I said to him.” I thought it was funny when I wrote it and I still laugh when I think about it. I also yell that at birds now. My favorite line that Clay wrote is “Yesterday I practiced marching and I made the trumpet sounds with my lips. Except my boyfriend Michael had rubbed his head in the way that means its not pretend band marching time and I had to stop.” That is exactly what would have happened. One difficulty I had with writing was making my mom the child while she was still an adult. I couldn’t make her completely dependent on others, but she had to be somewhat child like, or it wouldn’t have worked at all. This book is probably the best thing I have ever made. I surprised myself with how well I could write. And the best part is that my mom loved it and has taken to bringing it with her places to show people.
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Marijane F. Monck is a Graduation Girl
Written by Clayton and Dana Alsup
Illustrations by Emilie Staubs
1/ Graduation Morning
My name is Marijane F. Monck. The F stands for Francis. Except I don’t like Francis. I just like Marijane and that’s all.
I go to graduate school. Graduate school is what comes after college. Except for I don’t know why it’s called that silly name. Cause it should just be called 17th grade, I think.
I’m a teacher. I have the name of Ms. Monck. The kids call me other names like Monk and Monick. But I just like Ms. Monck and that’s all.
This morning, I woke up very excited. Cause it’s graduation day, that’s why!
“It’s graduation day! It’s graduation day!” I shouted to my daughter, Dana. She woke up very fast and started moaning about how early it was.
“It’s graduation day! It’s graduation day!” I shouted out the front door to the neighborhood. Except no one responded but a dumb ol’ bird. “Be quiet you dumb ol’ bird,” I said to him.
I went back inside where Dana was sleepily pouring herself some cereal.
“It’s graduation day! It’s—“
“I know! I know, Mom. It’s very exciting, but it’s also very early. Maybe we should save some of that excitement for the ceremony.”
I nodded and squeezed my mouth real tight to keep my excited words in there. And I squeezed my hands into fists so my excitement wouldn’t escape through my fingers.
Dana told me to unfold my hands and open my mouth so that I could eat some breakfast, too.
“All good graduates eat their breakfasts,” she said.
After breakfast, Dana said it was time to get ready.
“Go take a shower and put your dress on. We can iron your gown when you’re ready to go so it doesn’t get too wrinkled.”
I zoomed speedy quick upstairs to my shower. I took off my jammies and told them it was the last time they’d see me before I was a graduate. I hoped they would recognize me when I got into them later.
I used the bestest smelling soap I had and when I got out of the shower, I put on my ruffleiest dress.
Dana was still getting ready, but I wanted to iron my gown. I looked over at my favoritest stuffed animal Greeny.
“I think I will iron the gown all on my own, Greeny.”
“I don’t know, Marijane. I think you should wait for Dana. She did iron it two weeks ago and it looked really nice.”
“Listen, Greeny, I’ve ironed tons more than she has so I’m doing it.”
Greeny covered his eyes with his long green ears. I stuck my tongue out at him.
Then I went into the Retreat and took the gown out of the closet.
3/ Ironing
On my way to iron I heard a noise so I went to investigate. When I was done investigating I found out it was two messages on my phone.
One was from my bestest friend Shari. She was wishing me a happy graduation day. I hugged my self real tight cause I know that’s what she would do if she was there.
The other one was from my other bestest friend Lisa. She was letting me know she was on her way to my house. Lisa, and her daughter, Riley, were coming to watch me graduate that day.
With those messages in my head, I walked downstairs to the basement.
I plugged the iron in and set the dial to low cause I know that gowns can burn real quick.
When the iron was ready, I started moving it back and forth on the gown real nice and steady.
I started thinking about how amazing graduation was going to be. There was going to be a band and they would play as we marched in! Yesterday I practiced marching and I made the trumpet sounds with my lips. Except my boyfriend Michael had rubbed his head in the way that means its not pretend band marching time and I had to stop. Today there would be a real band though! And after the band people would talk and that would be boring.
But then! It would be my turn to get up. I would walk forward and then I would be at the stage and then they would call my name! I would walk out to the cheers of the crowd! Everyone would be clapping for me and—
OH NO!
4/ The Spot
I forgot to move the iron while I was having that thought. Maybe it hadn’t been that long so the gown wouldn’t have burned. Yeah! It hadn’t been that long. The gown would be fine. All I needed to do was lift up the iron and check.
I closed my eyes and lifted the iron up nice and straight and slow. Then I did a peep at it. A peep is when you don’t want to look at something so you just look a little till it’s okay.
I couldn’t see much while I was peeping so I opened my eyes all the way.
“Oh no! Oh no! Oh no!” I said. Cause there was an iron shaped melty spot in the middle of my gown, that’s why.
I quick put the iron down away from my gown cause I had to find a solution. I looked around but there was nothing to help me.
“Mom! Do you have the gown? Are you ironing it?” Dana yelled from upstairs.
“Yes! And everything is going perfectly, swimmingly, okay? I didn’t need to wait for you at all cause I’m a good ironer and I’m best at easily meltable gowns!”
I could hear her make a sigh and walk away.
“What do I do?!” I asked myself out loud. I decided I had to finish ironing the rest of the gown but no daydreaming allowed.
When I finished that, I folded it real nice so no one could see the burny part and carried it upstairs to my bedroom.
Once I was in my bedroom, I tried bunches of stuff to make the burned spot go away.
I tried taping black paper over it, but it wasn’t as shiny as the rest of the gown.
Then, I tried shoe polish, but it smelled funny and I got it on more than the gown.
Next, I tried putting tape over it and coloring it black, but the tape kept coming off.
When I was done trying I looked at my gown and did a frown. It had a shiny, greasy, sticky spot on it.
Just then, Dana knocked on my door and asked, “May I come in?”
I quick folded the gown on my bed so she couldn’t see the spot.
“Come in!” I said real casual.
“Are you ready to go? Lisa and Riley are here and we need to get a move on if we’re going to get good seats.”
“I just have to put my shoes on and I’ll be down,” I said.
Dana left my room and went downstairs. I gathered my gown in my hands, put my shoes on, and went downstairs. Graduation days aren’t as much fun as I thought.
When I got downstairs Michael gave me a big hug.
“It’s going to be really exciting when you walk across the stage,” he said. “Everybody will get to see you in your gown!”
“Except I don’t know why everybody has to be looking at me all the time,” I said. “Also, I heard sitting too close hurts your neck so you should probably sit way far away.”
Michael just laughed.
Before we got in the car, I threw my gown in the trunk so no one would see. Except for I kept seeing it in my head and it had a big spot on it and I didn’t know what to do!
We parked the car at the school and got out. I carefully took my gown out of the trunk, making sure the bad spot was covered.
“Should we do some pictures before?” that Lisa asked.
“Nope! We shouldn’t!” I said real quick. “We don’t want any pictures until I’m a real graduate.”
“Put your gown on so we can get a good look at you”, said Dana.
“I heard it’s bad luck to do that”, I lied.
Dana did an eye roll at me. “You know that’s not true. I had that very same gown on recently and I wore it before graduation and I was fine.”
“It’s not the same. That graduation was in another state.”
“Mom, that makes no sense. You can—“
“NO! THERE IS NO TIME FOR GOWN WEARING BEFORE GRADUATION!” I shouted real loud. I did a huff and walked away from them toward the graduation building.
Dana, Lisa, Riley, and Michael followed me. They were being very quiet.
When we got to the graduation building, there was a sign saying “Graduates” with an arrow pointing to the right and “Guests” with an arrow pointing to the left.
“Good luck!” said Dana.
“We’ll see you in there!” said Lisa.
“Don’t trip!” said Riley.
We waved goodbye and I went to the right. Now I had to put on my gown.
6/ Backstage
I followed a hallway back behind the stage. There were lots and lots of people and they were all wearing their gowns already. A woman with a clipboard and big curly hair walked up to me.
“Excuse me, the guests needed to stay to the left,” she said real quick.
“Yeah, I know, except for I’m not a guest I’m a graduate and today’s my graduation day!” I did a mean face at her. She did a sigh back at me.
“Well, you need to put your gown on. Graduation starts in just a few minutes! When it’s on, just stand in that line over there.” Then she pointed at a bunch of other graduates.
I walked over to the line and I started to unfold my gown. I unfolded it real slow and I did another peep. I thought that maybe the peep would work this time. Only it didn’t. The big ugly spot was still there.
Just then my phone did a buzz at me. I took it out of my pocket and looked at it. My son, Clayton, was calling. Maybe he would know what to do!
“Hi Clay!” I said real loud. “It’s my graduation day!”
“I know, Mom. That’s why I’m calling. Emilie and I just wanted to wish you luck and I wanted to let you know I’m proud of you.”
“Yeah, but what do you do when sometimes you get a spot on your clothes?”
“Did you get a spot on your gown?”
“NO! MY GOWN IS SPOTLESS, THAT’S WHY I SAID ‘YOU’ AND NOT ‘ME’!” I said real loud. One of the other graduates looked at me with big eyes all of a sudden.
Clayton didn’t say anything for a little while. Then he said, “I guess I wash it or wear something else.”
I gave a big huff. This wasn’t helping.
“Or I don’t get a spot on it in the first place,” he added. That Clayton can be such a smarty-pants.
“Okay, but it’s graduation day, so I can’t keep talking to you all the time!” I said. Clayton said goodbye and I turned my phone off.
I unfolded the gown all the way and I put it on over my head real fast so maybe no one would see. Then I walked over to the line and stood behind the girl that gave me the big eye look. Her gown had no melty spots. She did a big smile at me.
“Hi, I’m Julia!” she said. “Can you believe we’re finally graduating?”
I smiled back at her but my stomach was doing a lot of jumps so I didn’t say anything. I could hear the band start to play and I thought about how I would look marching with my melty spot and I felt like crawling right back into bed. It wasn’t fair that this was how my graduation day was going!
7/ New Gown
“Oh my goodness!” said a loud voice behind me. I turned around and there was a man with big glasses and a red face. He was looking at my melty spot.
“What happened to your gown?” he asked.
Suddenly everything that had been living deep down came out at once.
“It was my graduation day and I wanted to look real nice so I ironed my gown because that’s how you look nice and that Dana was taking too long so I did it instead and then I was thinking about the band and marching and everybody clapping except for I left the iron on my gown and it made a melty spot and I even peeped twice but it’s still there and now I have to wear a melty gown and I should have listened to Greeny!”
The man with the glasses stood very still for a long time. Then he took a deep breath.
“Well, it’s a good thing I saw you before you walked out. The line is starting to move, so hurry up and come with me and I can give you a replacement gown.”
I jumped super high in the air when he said that. “Really?! You have more gowns? And they’re not melty?”
When he nodded I gave him a big hug and did another jump. He got even redder. Julia looked at the ground. I looked there too, but I didn’t see anything.
The man walked with me to a big rack of gowns and helped me pick one out the same size as my melty one. I looked at myself in the mirror in it and I looked like a real graduate. But the man said I had to hurry or I wouldn’t get to graduate at all!
8/ Walking
I ran back to the line. Julia hadn’t waited behind for me, so I got behind another woman who was graduating. Her gown wasn’t as smooth as mine and I did a secret smile that no one else could see.
Finally we got outside the curtains. The band was playing and I was marching along. I tried to play the trumpet part with my lips again, but I was smiling and it didn’t work too good. We all got to our seats. They were really uncomfy.
Then it was boring for a long time because the big curly hair woman had to talk a lot, and then lots of other people talked. People kept clapping, except I don’t know why because it was just a bunch of dumb talking.
But then my row stood up and we walked toward the stage. The big curly hair woman was calling names and I was listening really hard for mine.
Then she said it! “Marijane Monck!” the big curly hair woman said, and I jumped up the stairs to the stage and I marched right up to her. She shook my hand and gave me my diploma, and I looked toward the crowd and everyone was cheering. And right in front were Dana, Lisa, Riley, and Michael, and they were clapping too, and it was the best graduation day ever!
