Author's Note:

Like "The Three Stooges of JobTrain" and "Ed, Edd n Eddy in Wonderland," "Junie B. Jones and the Jungle Boy" is based on my imagination.

While I was in 5th Grade, I've read all 20 Junie B. Jones books. Also, "The Jungle Book 2" was just around the corner when the year 2003 started.

So please note that the story you are about to read takes place at Foster City School while the jungle is replaced with a more natural setting, the forest.

And now, without further ado, under the narration of Junie B. Jones, I present to you, "Junie B. Jones and the Jungle Boy," the prequel to "Nathan Rosenberg: 5th Grader," in theatres everywhere, October 19th.

My name is Junie B. Jones. The B stands for Beatrice, except I don't like Beatrice. I just like B and that's all.

I go to kindergarten at Foster City School. That is where Nathan Rosenberg goes to 5th Grade.

Only this is not a story about Nathan. This is about his classmate, Mowgli, and the adventures we had together.

It all started one day at recess while me and my bestest friends, Grace and Lucille were playing horses.

As always...

"I'm Brownie!" I shouted.

"I'm Blackie!" shouted Lucille.

"And I'm Yellowie!" shouted that Grace.

We ran outside of Room 9 and did what horses do; gallop, trot and snort.

Not far away, Mowgli and Ranjan were playing a game of their own.

Ranjan is in my kindergarten class. He is new to Foster City School, and so is Mowgli.

They must be brothers, I think.

"Amscray, you mean old tiger," yelled Ranjan. as he chased Mowgli. "Or I'll tie some fire to your tail and burn your butt!"

"I like to see you try, monkey!" replied Mowgli.

Only too bad for him 'cause he didn't see where he was going. And he bumped into me.

"Hey, watch where you're going, mister!" I said.

"Oh, uh, sorry, Junie B." said Mowgli as he helped himself up. "Ranjan and I were just playing a game of our own."

I did a frown at him and said. "If you two are playing horses, guess what? That's our game!"

"Well, actually, we were playing tigers and monkeys." explained Mowgli.

"Tigers and monkeys?" repeated that Grace.

"What kind of game is that?" asked Lucille.

"Baloo and I used to play it all the time in the jungle." said Mowgli. "Man, we had some crazy times together."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Hang on." I said. "You use to live in the jungle?"

"You bet I did." said Mowgli. "Here, let me show you a little trick I learned back there."

He walked over to a tree and knocked on it with his butt, catching a falling banana, which he shot out of its peel like a gun and into my mouth.

"Mmm!" I said while eating the banana. "That was the most delicious trick I ever saw."

"Didn't anyone tell you not to play with your food?" asked a voice.

We turned to see Shanti leaning on a wall.

Like Mowgli, Shanti is in the same 5th grade class as Nathan, where she gets a lot of straight A's than everyone else.

"I wasn't playing with my food, Shanti." said Mowgli. "I was just showing the girls a trick I learned...in the jungle."

"Well, here's a little trick I learned right here at home." said Shanti as she pulled out a pear and tossed it into the air.

The pear caught on a branch and peeled itself all the way down to Shanti's hand.

"Wow, that's a neater trick!" exclaimed Ranjan as he munched on the pear.

Mowgli groaned in jealousy as Shanti said. "It's like I told Ranjan, girls. Don't listen to him."

"She's right, girls." said Mowgli. "Don't listen to me, listen to the jungle."

At first, me and my friends heard nothing. But then, we heard something that started to get louder.

"Can you hear it?" asked Mowgli.

"Yeah, I can hear it." I said.

"Me too." said that Grace. "It sounds so...jazzy!"

"Yes, well, I would've preferred Tchaikovsky." said Lucille.

"But, when you hear that rhythm, Lucille." said Mowgli. "You get a crazy feeling inside."

"Like what?" asked Lucille.

Mowgli: That morning sun peeks over the mountains
And all the rhinos rub their eyes
When they hear

"Hear what?" I asked.

"Hear the jungle rhythm." sang Mowgli.

Those birds are tap-tap-tappin' the tree trunks
The busy bee hums as he flies
Loud and clear
To the jungle rhythm

Now you can hightail it out of the jungle
But it never leaves your heart
First you feel that beat start
bubbling under
Then you hear the tom-toms
Loud as thunder

It's moving me!
Sounds a lot like being free
When you feel
Feel the jungle rhythm
Feel the jungle rhythm

Soon everyone joined in as Mowgli kept on singing.

Can't do without rhythm
And when it fills the air
Animals everywhere
Join in the dance

You'll dance along with 'em
Feeling it steal your soul
Jamal Hall: We'll stomp our paws!
Charlotte: Flap our wings!
Maybe do one or two crazy things

"Caw, caw!" exclaimed Ranjan, who pretended he was a bird.

"Yeah, that's it!" said Mowgli.

Then, everyone started making jungle sounds, dressed up as their favorite animals and followed Mowgli all over the school as if he was leading a parade.

Check out those chat-chat-chattering monkeys
Swinging through the banyan trees
Two by two (two by two)
To the jungle rhythm

Sounds like a wolf pack
Way in the distance
Singing pretty harmonies
Woo-woo-woo (woo-woo-woo)
To the jungle rhythm

Now you can hightail it out of the jungle
But it never leaves your heart
First you feel that beat start
Bubbling under
Then you hear the tom toms
Loud as thunder

It's moving me!
Sounds a lot like being free
When I feel (When I feel)
(When I feel) (When I feel)
Feel the jungle rhythmmmm (x5)

Only too bad for us, 'cause while we're singing and dancing, the school bell rang. That means the end of recess.

"Darn it!" I said. "Just when it was getting good."

"You girls can wait till after school to hear more of that jungle music." said Shanti. "But right now, we have to get back to class."

"Till after school." Mowgli recalled Shanti's words. Then, his whole face lit up. "That's it!"

"What's it?" asked that Grace.

"Listen, this may sound a little awkward," said Mowgli. "But my step-family and I are heading over to Muir Woods for a hike on Saturday. And I was wondering if you'd like to come join us. That way, you can meet my friends and hear the call of the wild without any distractions."

"Call of the wild?" I asked. "I thought you grew up in the jungle."

"Forest, jungle. What's the difference?" said Mowgli. "What do you say?"

Me and Grace looked at each other and smiled.

"I'm free this Saturday!" I said.

"I'm free too!" said that Grace.

"I don't know about Saturday." said Lucille. "My mommy and daddy and brother are going away for the weekend. So it's just going to be my nanna and me."

"I'll take that as a possible yes." said Mowgli. "What about you, Shanti? You wanna come with us?"

Shanti nearly lost her grip on her books when she heard that.

"Me, out in the forest with you?" she said. "I wouldn't go out with you if you were the last kid on Earth. Besides, I have a lot of work to do. And if the rest of your party animals had any sense, you'd be doing the same."

"Yeah, well, it's your loss!" I called out as Shanti walked away.

"Oh, why do we need Shanti for, anyway?" said Lucille.

"Yeah." said that Grace. "The five of us can still hear the jungle rhythm together."

Mowgli shrugged. "I guess."

Just then, the school bell rang again. That means it's time for class.

"Uh...catch ya gators later!" said Mowgli, who then zoomed off to 5th Grade.

"In a while, crocodile!" Ranjan called out.

Just then, a familiar voice called out to us. "Lucille, Junie B., Grace, and Ranjan. Didn't you hear the bell? It's time to go back to class."

That was our teacher, Mrs. She has another name too, but I just like Mrs., and that's all.

"What were you kids up to, anyway?" she asked.

"We were listening to the rhythm of the jungle." I said. "Can you hear it?"

Only Mrs. heard nothing.

"I think you've been spending too much time outside, Junie B." she said, ruffling my hair. "Let's get you back to class."

And so guess what? We went back to class.