A Caturday Adventure
Even though Stinky had just seen Periwinkle five days previously, he was super excited to see and spend the day with her. They had been invited to join the annual Childrens’ Parade, which was on Caturday.
The Childrens’ Parade is an annual event in Stinky’s city, but he had never attended and was looking forward to seeing and being in it with Periwinkle. He had been told that 55 groups were participating, and he was really hoping they wouldn’t get stepped on.
The parade didn’t start until 11 a.m., so he wasn’t concerned about Periwinkle arriving on time. Nonetheless, he was waiting by the teleportation tunnel when he saw it begin to vibrate, and Periwinkle tumbled out with a whoosh right into his waiting paws.
The two spent several minutes whisker kissing and paw hugging. Then Periwinkle asked, “Why am I here on a Caturday? Do you have something special planned?”
“I do. We need to go down to the garage. My mom and dad are taking us. When they get downstairs, Periwinkle runs up to check out the kittens before hopping in the car. After they get buckled into their seat belts, Stinky’s dad backs out of the garage and heads down the alley.
Just minutes later they arrive at their destination where Periwinkle sees thousands of people. She asks Stinky, “What is happening? Why are there so many people? And why are some dressed up funny?”
Grandin Village Holiday Children’s Parade
Stinky explains that this is the Grandin Village* Holiday Children’s Parade. It has been an annual event on the Caturday prior to Thanksgiving since the late 1970s. Local organizations, dance groups, daycares, churches and scouting groups as well as others participate. “We have been invited to join in the fun. We are going to be near the front of the parade, which has 55 groups entered this year. Then we will join some of the other groups and walk with them.”
“Stinky, this sounds like loads of fun,” replies Periwinkle.
Before they join the start of the parade, Stinky gives Periwinkle a Christmas tree hat and light garland to wear, and he dons a Santa hat and holiday scarf.
“Periwinkle, look at that giant lady. That is the tallest person I have ever seen. I think she’s supposed to be a snow person.”
“Stinky, you are so silly. That is not a giant. That is a woman walking on stilts,” explains Periwinkle.
“Oh, that explains it,” replies Stinky.
Periwinkle & Dancers
As they are at the front of the parade, they arrive at its endpoint first. They begin to work their way back through the various groups, walking with some and riding with others, as they advance along the parade route. Periwinkle joins one of the dance groups.
Periwinkle & Stinky With Scouts
“Oh, Stinky, look, there’s a Scout troop. Let’s join them. I know how much my brofur Raz and your brofurs, Cooper Murphy and Mau, loved being Cat Scouts.”
“And my dad was an Eagle Scout,” replies Stinky.
The Scouts tell the tabbies they can ride atop their banner.
Baton Twirlers
When Periwinkle sees a group of baton twirlers, she runs off to join them while Stinky watches from the side of the street. periwinkle wishes she had a baton to twirl.
Getting a Ride
The tabbies see an elf at the front of a group on bicyclists and decide to walk with him for a little while. But a couple of the cyclists ask Periwinkle and Stinky if they would like to ride on their handlebars. Both tabbies take them up on their offers.
Stinky notices Periwinkle is no longer wearing her tree hat and asks her what happened to it?
She tells him, “My head got so hot, I felt as if my brain might explode. Your mom has my hat for safe-keeping. I hope you don’t mind that I changed to this bow and flower.”
“Of course not. I can now see more of your pretty face,” Stinky replies.
Periwinkle blushes and blows him a kiss.
Joining Frosty & Some Other Groups
Stinky and Periwinkle spot a snowman and decide to walk along with him for a while. He is the strong, silent type and doesn’t talk to the tabbies.
When Periwinkle spies another group of dancers, she runs to catch up and join them.
After walking with Frosty and dancing, Periwinkle’s paws are tired. She and Stinky look for another group where they can hitch a ride and find more cyclists.
Disney Princesses
As the end of the parade draws near, Periwinkle begins to bounce from back paw to back paw and clap her front paws together. Then Stinky hears her squeal, “Stinky look at the princesses. Do you think it will be okay for me to join them?”
“Of course, go for it.”
Periwinkle yells at Stinky who has joined his parents in the front yard of friends, “Look, Stinky, they knew we were coming and brought a dress and tiara for me!”
Stinky yells back, “You look fabulous. Have fun with the princesses.”
The Parade Ends
Periwinkle walks with the other princesses for a few blocks, then runs back to Stinky and his mom and dad. Mom Janet explains that there is a reception with Santa, hot chocolate and cookies several blocks away, but they are going to skip it. She says it will be way too crowded, and she doesn’t want Periwinkle and Stinky to get lost in the crowd and trampled. She promises to take them to see Santa another time. Periwinkle doesn’t mind, as she wants to visit the kittens, and Stinky does not complain.
Visiting the Kittens
Mom Janet takes a couple of the kittens out of the enclosure so Periwinkle can get a better look.
Periwinkle squees when she sees them and gives each a head butt. After several minutes of visiting, Periwinkle joins Stinky upstairs for a snack. When they have finished, the tabbies spend several minutes whisker kissing, paw hugging and telling each other, “I love you.” Then Periwinkle enters the teleportation tunnel and with a blown kiss, a wave and a whoosh, she is gone. Sawyer retires to the bedroom for a long nap.
The End
*Grandin Village is a neighborhood near the one where Kitties Blue live. It is where Sawyer was found when he went on his Walkabout in 2021.
Happy Tuesday
Periwinkle & Stinky will be participating in the Happy Tuesday blog hop at Comedy Plus. To join them there, click on the Happy badge.
Sometimes events in our universe align themselves purrfectly, and that is what happened on July 21, 2021, when I brought Sawyer home after his three-and-a-half week walkabout. Sawyer found an opportunity to escape from the house on June 26. During the time he was missing, he managed to travel .9 miles from home and end up at the exact house from where Dad Tom and I adopted our very first cat, Skooter, in the mid-80s. So, we now celebrate two anniversaries every July 21st.
