“The Big Parade”

was created especially for

Jeffrey John Chambers

at the age of 6

With Love From,

Mic & Donny

Christmas, 2001

Jeffrey Chambers sat up wide awake in his bed.  The sun was just coming up in Nocona, Texas.  He could tell that it was going to be a gorgeous day.  He glanced out his bedroom window.  Jeffrey remembered exactly where he was planning to go today with Wendy, Jody, and Lisa.

4

Jeffrey had been so excited for the past week.  With Wendy, Jody, and Lisa, 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.

Jeffrey had even tried to go to sleep as fast as he could last night to make the morning come more quickly.

7

Jeffrey began to think about all the fantastic fun he would have.  Last year, his favorite act was the clown with the invisible dog.  Jeffrey wondered if the clown would be there again today.  Then Jeffrey thought about the child who would be selected by the mayor this year to lead the parade.  Who would that lucky person be?

8

Just then the phone rang.  “Jeffrey Chambers, will you lead the big parade for us this year?” asked the mayor of Nocona, Texas.  “Oh yes, yes!” exclaimed Jeffrey.  “Will I get to ride in the fire truck?”  The mayor chuckled, “You most certainly will, Jeffrey!”

11

Wendy, Jody, and Lisa waited with Jeffrey while a huge helicopter landed in his back yard.  It was there to pick up Jeffrey.  The helicopter took off minutes later with Jeffrey in the front seat grinning from ear to ear.  After waving goodbye, Wendy, Jody, and Lisa hurried downtown to see the parade.

12

From the helicopter, Jeffrey could see the circus parade beginning to assemble at the edge of town.  The helicopter landed and Jeffrey 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 Jeffrey.  Jeffrey was thrilled.

15

Someone shouted, “Look, Jeffrey Chambers is leading the parade this year!”  At that very moment, a big drum roll was heard.  Jeffrey carefully climbed aboard the fire truck next to the driver who was dressed like a clown.  Jeffrey enjoyed the marvelous, marching music played by the band as the fire truck drove down the main street of Nocona, Texas.

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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.  Jeffrey imagined that the fine, fancy feathers on the noble horses’ head were bobbing to the beat of the music.  He bobbed his head also.

19

The fire truck turned a corner.  Jeffrey 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, Jeffrey daydreamed about taking him home.  When the elephant fanned his big floppy ears, Jeffrey 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 Wendy, Jody, and Lisa.  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.  Wendy, Jody, and Lisa knew it took practice to be that good.

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Jeffrey 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.  Wendy, Jody, and Lisa 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.  Jeffrey 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-o loud that Jeffrey 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.

31

The fire truck stopped at the entrance of the big top circus tent.  Jeffrey talked to the circus stars as they went inside.  It made him feel like an important star to be so close to them.  Then Jeffrey joined Wendy, Jody, and Lisa in his special section inside the tent.

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When the circus was over, Jeffrey was escorted outside by the mayor and the ringmaster.  Jeffrey did not want this special day to end. As he turned to look one last time, some performers were waving goodbye.  Jeffrey waved back and smiled, for he knew he would never forget the day he led THE BIG PARADE!

35

Jeffrey Chambers

In THE BIG PARADE, there were many

different characters.  Can you unscramble

the names?

olin______________

reba______________

ymnkoe____________

esorh_____________

lesa______________

nlwoc_____________

glreguj___________