Parade Day

       

      

        This is not a sad story.  There is no heartache or loss.  It is the story of a boy and his dog, and how the magic in their lives tricks them.

      On a sunny day, in a small town, in a small country, a big parade was planned.  It was to be a spectacular event, with patriotic speeches in the square, colorful dancers, special meals, and best of all the parade itself.  The streets were adorned a week in advance, with flags, flowers, and bunting in preparation for a special mystery guest. Around the town rumors were whispered.  It was agreed among the wisest in town, that this year the President of the country himself would come to the town to see their fine parade.

       On a hill overlooking the town lived a boy and his little dog. 

For months the boy could hear the drummers practicing in the valley, for the drummers were the pride of the little town.  Day after day, after day, over and over, the drumming went on incessantly until the boy was ready to go crazy.  The little dog paid the drumming no mind, lounging in the tropical sun, digesting her own poop.

       Each year the crowds were great during the parade.  Many people would come to the little town each year just to be a part of the excitement.  The boy was excited too, for it would be his first time seeing the parade.  He pictured himself among the happy crowd, holding his little dog, and watching the colorful marching bands go past.  He would buy a small flag, he thought, and wave it proudly, and he would cheer and whoop when the town’s drummers went by.

On the day before the parade, the boy and his little dog left their home overlooking the town and went to stay overnight with a family on the other side of the valley.  They would get up early in the morning and drive to town in the family’s automobile, then find a good spot to watch the parade.  They all shared a big meal that evening and retired to bed with visions of sugarplums dancing in their heads due to the excessive amount of happy juice consumed at the table.

Finally the day had arrived!  The boy rose early, just as the sun was rising.  He dressed, brushed his teeth, and made his bed only to realize that no one in the main house was awake.  So he walked around the big yard while the little dog tiptoed across the dew covered grass looking for a place to leave a snack for later.  It was a grand property with many giant cacti and beautiful flowers.  The boy wished it was his own home, and wondered if the family might give it to him.  They said no.

When he finally went into the main house he drank coffee and talked with the family about the plans for the day.  To his surprise the family had decided to change the plans for watching the parade.

  “Since it is a long parade”, they said, “Perhaps, we do not have to rush. Let’s have a nice, relaxing breakfast,” they said, “then we’ll go to town around noontime.”

This concerned the boy, for he was wise, and had seen many things in his years that started as good ideas, but ended

in disappointment.  Still, he believed the family knew best, also it was hard for the boy to pass up food.  Even so, as he stuffed his pudgy face hole with eggs and potatoes, he worried about the change of plans.

It seemed to take a long, long, long time for the family to be ready to leave, but the boy found a big bug and that helped pass the time while he waited.  Eventually they arrived in town.  Things began to look up when they were pleased to find a decent parking place.  They could hear the marching bands now, and with a sense of relief, and excitement the boy and his little dog had finally arrived at the parade.

  There were many people, but they found a good spot on the sidewalk.  A band dressed in fancy blue outfits played their instruments and marched in place waiting for their turn to join in the wonderful parade.

But something was bothering the little dog, and she pulled and jumped on the end of her leash.  The boy, who was very wise, knew that the music was too loud for the little dog’s sensitive ears, but he hoped that she just had to pee or poop.  So he took the little dog across the street and down another one until he found some grass.  Soon it was clear that the little dog did not need to poop or pee.

The boy loved the little dog, for she loved him, and he decided to carry her in his arms back towards the parade. This seemed to help calm the little dog.  From across the street the two of them watched the band in the fancy blue uniforms begin to march down the street to their own snappy tune. 

The little dog was glad that the music was no longer as loud as it was, but the boy, who was very wise, began to wonder when the next marching band was going to start.  He watched as some of the crowd began to walk down the street, following the fancy blue uniforms, while others went in other directions until there was no one left to watch the parade.  

As the music faded away, the boy and his little dog realized that they had just watched the last marching band march away. They had missed all but the tail end of the parade.  At first the boy was angry that he had trusted the family with the automobile, but mostly he felt sad.  The little dog looked into his eyes and knew that he was sad, so she licked his nostril, to cheer him up.  It worked.

“There’s always next year”, the boy said, and he kissed the little dog on the head.

“Besides”, thought the little dog, “The music was too loud, and I’ve got to poop.”

I told you it was not a sad story.

                                                                 DP