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Larry, John and Tommy waited with
Michael while a huge
helicopter landed
in his back yard. It was there to pick
up Michael. The helicopter
took off minutes later with Michael
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, Michael
could see the circus parade beginning to assemble at the
edge of town. The helicopter
landed and Michael 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
Michael. Michael
was thrilled. |
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Someone shouted, ''Look, Michael
Smith is leading the parade this year!'' At
that very moment, a big drum roll was
heard. Michael carefully
climbed
aboard the fire truck next to the driver who was dressed
like a clown .
Michael 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. Michael
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.
Michael 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.
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The circus elephants followed next.
As
he watched the playful pranks of the
darling baby elephant, Michael
daydreamed about taking him home. When the elephant fanned
his big floppy ears, Michael
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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Michael
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. Michael
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 Michael 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. Michael
talked to the circus stars as they
went inside. It made him feel like an
important star to be so close to them.
Then Michael joined
Larry, John and Tommy
in his special section inside the
tent. |
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When the circus was over, Michael
was
escorted outside by the mayor and the
ringmaster. Michael
did not want this
special day to end. As he turned to
look one last time, some performers
were waving goodbye. Michael
waved back and smiled, for he knew he would never forget
the day he led THE BIG PARADE! |
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