Click here Roddy The Rooster Contest Answer three simple questions (all answers at this site) to enter a monthly draw to win Roddy The Rooster & Friends video, cd and colour-in book and consolation prizes. Story #20 The Grand Parade If you would like to have Roddy's Story of the Month sent to you each month by e-mail, subscribe to Roddy's Story of the Month Mailing List! You can also read previous months' feature stories, one for each month since August 1997. Most have a picture, so have a look! - Other Farmyard Stories

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Written by Roddy Lee Every year in the month of March Roddy The Rooster and his farmyard friends have a Grand Parade in the farmyard for the bush animals that live near Roddy's farm. It's a great day of fun and fancy dress! And every year the event gets bigger! This year, as usual, invitations were delivered personally by Cassie The Carpetsnake to all the bush animals to come see The Grand Parade at Roddy The Rooster's farm! "Go Biserkus at the Circus!" was the theme for this year's Grand Parade. Cassie delivered invitations to Old Mr Wombat, Mrs Possum, Kenny Kangaroo, Kira Kookaburra, Uncle Tim The Koala, The Magpies and Mrs Fieldmouse. And, of course, having the reputation and history of a wonderful occasion, all the bush animals accepted the invitation. Weeks of preparation went into this year's Grand Parade. And on the big day all the bush animals arrived at Roddy's farm to "Go Biserkus at the Circus!!" A big banner was draped across the barnyard and scalloped ribbons lined the Grand Parade route. The loud trumpeting of a bugle signaled the start of the parade!! This year it was Desmond Duck's turn to lead the parade. And there was no mistaking Desmond Duck dressed as the Circus Ringmaster. He wore a big top hat, a big wide smile and twirled a baton with great dexterity. Behind Ringmaster Desmond Duck was Mrs Cow. Kenny Kangaroo laughed as Mrs Cow went past him - she was dressed as "Little Egypt - The Belly Dancer". Sewn to Mrs Cow's veils were one hundred tiny bells that rang sweetly as she shuddered her udders. Mr Horse was next to appear, marching proudly in full armour, like the horse of a brave knight from medieval times. Cassie The Carpetsnake came into view pulling a small wagon bearing a hand written sign:- "The Hooded Escapologist." A mysterious figure stood on the wagon covered in a white sheet and wrapped in chains and padlocks. No one could recognise Joe The Jolly Jumbuck under that white sheet and wrapped in all those chains and padlocks! Mrs Hen was in fancy dress too as Wanda the Fortune Teller. She wore a long purple gown and a dark scarlet scarf on her head. As she passed Kira Kookaburra, Mrs Hen heard Kira say to Mrs Magpie, "I'm looking forward to having my wing read!" Behind Wanda the Fortune Teller danced the Cheeky Chicks in full cheer squad regalia. Their matching uniforms were decorated with blue and white pom poms. Their routines had been well rehearsed and all the bush animals applauded as the Chicks danced by. Penny Piglet dressed as Marvelette the Magician. She had a silver magic wand and a long length of colourful silks, whilst Pixie Piglet wore bright pink acrobat's tights as she hoola-hooped her way along The Grand Parade route. Last in this year's parade was Roddy The Rooster, who appeared with bright red rosy cheeks, a short striped pointy hat, big bright yellow overalls, oversized shoes and a red bubble on his nose. Yes, Roddy was the "Biserkus at the Circus" Grand Parade clown! Roddy carried a dozen balloons which he handed out one by one to the bush animals that lined the parade route. The Baby Magpie asked Roddy for a green balloon! And he got one! The Grand Parade always finished at the edge of Mrs Cow's field where a picnic was laid out for all to enjoy. As the afternoon passed the farm animals performed acts in the fancy dress costumes they were wearing. The first performance of the afternoon was the funniest of all. "The Hooded Escapologist" performed his daring escape from white sheet, chains and padlocks from behind a curtain Cassie had hastily erected from a low hanging branch. The routine started smoothly. "The Hooded Escapologist" told his audience, "I will escape from the chains and padlocks behind the curtain." The audience oohhed and aahhed! No sooner had "The Hooded Escapologist" vanished behind the curtain when the Baby Magpie, chasing after his green balloon, flew through the curtain, bringing it down, thus revealing Joe The Jolly Jumbuck, caught red handed holding the keys to the padlocks and a toolbox of pliers and wire cutters which he had hidden under the sheet that covered him. The audience went hysterical. "Oh Joe, you are so funny," wailed Uncle Tim. Old Mr Wombat was laughing too much to say anything at all! And so the afternoon continued each of the farm animals performing - sometimes successfully, sometimes not. But by sunset all the animals - the farm animals and bush animals - were exhausted from a great day out. That night all the animals - the farm animals and the bush animals - slept like babies. There was no escaping that! Hey kids, next time you have a large picnic why not have your own Grand Parade? Ask mum or dad for some fancy dress clothes, make some props and be your favourite character for the day! It's fun dressing up! More Roddy The Rooster's Farmyard Stories #1 #2 #3 #4 #5 #6 #7 #8 #9 #10 #11 #12 #13 #14 #15 #16 #17 #18 #19 #20 #21 #22 #23 #24 #25 #26 #27 #28 #29 #30 #31 #32 #33 #34 #35 #36

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