The Big
Parade
was created
especially for
Kristy Lynn Smith
at the age of 2
With Love From
Aunty Sue
February 14, 2000
Kristy Smith sat up wide awake in
her bed. The sun was just coming up in Bellivue, Vermont. She could tell
that it was going to be a gorgeous day. She glanced out her bedroom
window. Kristy remembered exactly where she was planning to go today with
Max, Sam and Judy.
Kristy had been so excited for the
past week. With Max, Sam and Judy, she had made a game of finding the most
circus posters all over town. Today was the big parade and that meant the
start of all the circus activities. Kristy had even tried to go to sleep as
fast as she could last night to make the morning come more quickly.
Kristy began to think about all the
fantastic fun she would have. Last year, her favorite act was the clown
with the invisible dog. Kristy wondered if the clown would be there again
today. Then Kristy thought about the child who would be selected by the
mayor this year to lead the parade. Who would that lucky person be?
Just then the phone rang. "Kristy
Smith, will you lead the big parade for us this year?" asked the mayor of
Bellivue, Vermont. "Oh, yes, yes!" exclaimed Kristy. "Will I get to ride
in the fire truck?" The mayor chuckled, "You most certainly will, Kristy!"
Max, Sam and Judy waited with
Kristy while a huge helicopter landed in her back yard. It was there to
pick up Kristy. The helicopter took off minutes later with Kristy in the
front seat grinning from ear to ear. After waving goodbye, Max, Sam and
Judy hurried downtown to see the parade.
From the helicopter, Kristy could
see the circus parade beginning to assemble at the edge of town. The
helicopter landed and Kristy ran to the mayor. On their way to the shiny,
red fire truck at the head of the parade, they walked past all the
practicing performers and anxious animals that would be following Kristy.
Kristy was thrilled.
Someone shouted, "Look, Kristy
Smith is leading the parade this year!" At that very moment, a big drum
roll was heard. Kristy carefully climbed aboard the fire truck next to the
driver who was dressed like a clown. Kristy enjoyed the marvelous, marching
music played by the band as the fire truck drove down the main street of
Bellivue, Vermont.
Immediately behind the band was a
beautiful bareback rider. Her two magnificent, prancing horses were so well
trained that the rider could balance on both their backs while standing up.
Kristy imagined that the fine, fancy feathers on the noble horses' heads
were bobbing to the beat of the music. She bobbed her head also.
The fire truck turned a corner.
Kristy saw three small children mimicking the dancing bear who was dressed
in a pink ballerina costume. The big, brown bear was very entertaining as
she proudly performed bouncy ballet steps while balancing on a ball.
The circus elephants followed
next. As she watched the playful pranks of the darling baby elephant,
Kristy daydreamed about taking him home. When the elephant fanned his big
floppy ears, Kristy could almost picture him flying through the sky with the
greatest of ease. If the baby strayed too far, the mother elephant would
lovingly wrap her trunk around his.
A jolly juggler on a unicycle
juggling five full bottles fascinated Max, Sam and Judy. He pedaled so fast
that there were times when it was hard to keep up with him. It was
incredible that he never dropped a bottle, no matter how fast he pedaled.
Max, Sam and Judy knew it took practice to be that good.
Kristy was amused by the antics of
the slippery seal. The seal would flip the ball backwards and then, with
his hind flippers, smack it right back to the tip of his nose. Everyone
loved watching the seal clap after each trick he performed. Max, Sam and
Judy had fun imitating his funny, barking noises.
The acrobatic troupe was next.
Their tumbling and flipping routines had the crowd cheering. Kristy was
enjoying her place of honor, but was really tickled when the driver told her
she would have a chance to watch the entire parade pass before her as each
act entered the big top circus tent.
A majestic lion with all his
marvelous mane was in the last wagon. He was so-o-o-o big, and his roar was
so-o-o loud that Kristy could hear him from the very front of the parade.
The mild-mannered monkeys on top of his cage did not seem at all frightened
of the ferocious feline.
The fire truck stopped at the
entrance of the big top circus tent. Kristy talked to the circus stars as
they went inside. It made her feel like an important star to be so close to
them. Then Kristy joined Max, Sam and Judy in her special section inside
the tent.
When the circus was over, Kristy
was escorted outside by the mayor and the ringmaster. Kristy did not want
this special day to end. As she turned to look one last time, some
performers were waving goodbye. Kristy waved back and smiled, for she knew
she would never forget the day she led THE BIG PARADE!
Kristy Smith
In THE BIG PARADE, there were many different characters. Can you unscramble
the following names?
olin
_____________________
reba _____________________
ymnkoe _________________
esorh ____________________
lesa _____________________
nlwoc __________________
glreguj __________________
