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"The Big Parade"
was created especially for
Michael Jeremy Smith
at the age of 8
with love from
Grandma and Grandpa
November 9th , 2004
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Mike Smith sat up wide awake in his
bed. The sun was just coming up in
Pensacola. He could tell that it was
going to be a gorgeous day, He
glanced out his bedroom window. Mike
remembered exactly where he was
planning to go today with Larry,John
and Tommy.
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Mike had been so excited for the past
week. With Larry,John and Tommy, he
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.
Mike had even tried to go to sleep as
fast as he could last night to make the
morning come more quickly.
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Mike began to think about all the
fantastic fun he would have. Last
year, his favorite act was the clown
with the invisible dog. Mike wondered
if the clown would be there again
today. Then Mike thought about the
child who would be selected by the
mayor this year to lead the parade.
Who would that lucky person be?
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Just then the phone rang. "Mike Smith,
will you lead the big parade for us
this year?" asked the mayor of
Pensacola. "Oh, yes, yes!" exclaimed
Mike. "Will I get to ride in the fire
truck?" The mayor chuckled, "You most
certainly will, Mike!"
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Larry,John and Tommy waited with Mike
while a huge helicopter landed in his
back yard. It was there to pick up
Mike. The helicopter took off minutes
later with Mike in the front seat
grinning from ear to ear. After waving
goodbye, Larry,John and Tommy hurried downtown to see the parade.
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From the helicopter, Mike could see the
circus parade beginning to assemble at
the edge of town. The helicopter
landed and Mike 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
Mike. Mike was thrilled.
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Someone shouted, "Look, Mike Smith is
leading the parade this year!" At
that very moment, a big drum roll was
heard. Mike carefully climbed aboard
the fire truck next to the driver who
was dressed like a clown. Mike
enjoyed the marvelous, marching music
played by the band as the fire truck
drove down the main street of
Pensacola.
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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. Mike imagined that the
fine, fancy feathers on the noble
horses' heads were bobbing to the beat
of the music. He bobbed his head also.
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The fire truck turned a corner. Mike
saw three small children mimicking the
dancing bear who as 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.
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The circus elephants followed next. As
he watched the playful pranks of the
darling baby elephant, Mike daydreamed
about taking him home. When the
elephant fanned his big floppy ears,
Mike 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.
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A jolly juggler on a unicycle juggling
five full bottles fascinated Larry,
John and Tommy. 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. Larry,
John and Tommy knew it took practice to
be that good.
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Mike 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. Larry,John and
Tommy had fun imitating his funny,
barking noises.
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The acrobatic troupe was next. Their
tumbling and flipping routines had the
crowd cheering. Mike was enjoying his
place of honor, but was really tickled
when the driver told him he would have
a chance to watch the entire parade
pass before him as each act entered
the big top circus tent.
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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 Mike 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.
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The fire truck stopped at the entrance
of the big top circus tent. Mike
talked to the circus stars as they
went inside. It made him feel like an
important star to be so close to them.
Then Mike joined Larry,John and Tommy
in his special section inside the
tent.
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When the circus was over, Mike was
escorted outside by the mayor and the ringmaster. Mike did not want this
special day to end. As he turned to
look one last time, some performers
were waving goodbye. Mike waved back
and smiled, for he knew he would never
forget the day he led THE BIG PARADE!
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Mike Smith
In THE BIG PARADE, there were many
different characters. Can you
unscramble the following names? |
olin ________________________________________
reba ______________________________________
ymnkoe __________________________________
esorh _____________________________________
lesa _______________________________________
nlwoc _____________________________________
glreguj ____________________________________
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