Goose had a parade to lead.
First came Goose. Then Bear with his drum. Last came Raccoon with two little bells.
"Past the bakery and on to the fountain," said Goose.
The baker leaned out of her window.
"I'll wait here for the big ending!"
"An excellent BOOM," promised Bear.Goose lifted one wing.
"One, two—"
BOOM!
"We usually wait for three," said Goose.
"My BOOM was ready," said Bear.
"THREE!"
Off they went.But the baker's delivery barrow filled the narrow lane.
There was room for Goose.
There was room for Raccoon.
There was no room for Bear's drum.
Bear breathed in.
The drum did not."The long way, then. Everybody turn around."
Goose turned. Bear turned. Raccoon turned.
Now Raccoon was first.
Goose was last.
"Am I in charge?" asked Raccoon.
"Of the front," said Goose. "Walk forwards. I'll give directions."
"Ding-ding!" said the front.Raccoon marched to the corner.
He started to turn left.
"Right!" called Goose from the back.
He turned right.
"Very good!"
"Thank you!" Raccoon turned to bow.
Bear stopped.
Goose bumped gently into Bear.
POMF.
"Bows later," said the back.Around the corner, a baby slept in a pram. Her father sat beside her.
Goose lifted her wing.
"Quietly past."
Bear tucked away his sticks.
Raccoon held his bells still.
Tip. Tap. Tip. Tap.
One little foot poked from the blanket.
The baby was marching in her sleep.At the fountain, Raccoon raised his bells.
"The front has arrived!"
Bear raised his sticks.
Goose looked back towards the bakery.
"The baker's waiting for our ending."
Bear lowered his sticks.
"She's only had my beginning."
"We must take the ending back," said Goose."Everybody turn around!"
Raccoon turned. Bear turned. Goose turned.
Now Goose was first again.
"I was just getting good at the front," said Raccoon.
"You are an excellent back," said Goose.
"Ding-ding!" said the back.Past the pram:
Tip. Tap. Tip. Tap.
The father smiled and put one finger to his lips.
Goose nodded.
Bear nodded.
Raccoon nodded so hard that one bell went—
"D—"
He wrapped his paws round both bells.At the bakery, the barrow was gone.
"Is that the parade?" called the baker.
"The ending," said Goose.
Bear raised his sticks.
BOOM!
Raccoon's bells answered:
DING-DING-DING!
Windows opened all along the street.
The baker clapped.Bear bowed. Raccoon bowed.
Goose bowed very carefully, with plenty of space behind her.
"The fountain next?" asked Bear.
"The fountain next. Everybody turn around."
Raccoon found himself first again.
"I know the way!"
And this time, he did.At the fountain, Raccoon sat down first.
Bear sat down second.
Goose sat down last.
The baker followed with three warm buns.
She handed the first one to Goose.
"Oh," said Raccoon. "Are we eating backwards too?"
