The McClowder All-Kitty Pipe and Drum Band
at the
Inauguration Day Parade

4

We go to the Inaugural Ball

Of course we had all been excited to learn that after the Inaugural Parade, there was going to be an Inaugural Ball for all kitties, taking place at the Ballroom in the White house. Tours of the White House were going to be provided, with Socks as host and tour guide. Buffet tables with all kinds of good food were promised, and more of our favorite drinks, from fresh water to spikearitas would be served at the free bar. After a hard day of marching, a good party was just what we needed.

So after our naps, off we went with all our friends to the Inauguration Ball. When we got there, we learned how lucky we were to get to go to the kitty party instead of the hoomin parties. The hoomin parties were way full and not alla hoomins could get in, even if they had tickets or invitations, and if they did get in, they didn't even have room to move, much less get to the snack tables. And then we learned that the hoomin parties didn't even have snacks! Well, we were having a much better time, as the hoomins who stopped by to look in the door enviously had to agree.

It was a lovely ball -- lotsa good food and drinks and efurrything that had been promised. Alla kitties were there to celebrate the inauguration of Clarence, the first president of Catmerica, and they danced and ate and had a wonderful time. Then we got the best idea! We decided we should do some jammin wif thuh band. After all, Socks' hoomin plays saxophone, so there had to be some instruments around we could borrow. The clarrynets and floots were just sticks wif holes like the bagpipes--how hard could it be? We went looking for Socks. "Hey, Socks -- can we use your saxophone? Thanks! We'll bring some spikearitas for the orchestra -- playing mewsick is thirsty business!"

Hoomins looking in at the door would have seen a round brown Siamese kitty accompanied by a graceful smoke-and white kitty, both wearing Dress Gordon plaids across one shoulder pinned with a red-white-and-blue rosette, trotting over to the band. They picked up an alto and tenor saxophone and began to play String of Pearls. A bob-tailed tabby and white kitty -- Tally! -- sat down behind the drums and picked up a wire brush and swirled it on the highhat cymbol. The kitties on the dance floor gathered round and the orchestra members sat back and enjoyed their spikearitas.

More kitties from the audience found instruments, and efurryone called for Presicat Clarence.  Thuh Catmander in Chief stepped onto the stage and twirled the lovely Jaeger as the watching kitties applauded. The mewsic took a decidedly up-tempo turn as Thistle jumped onstage, grabbing a clarrynet, and joining in. When Chester and Jaeger stepped down, she said, "Let's play an official macarroooni fur Biker Coon to dance to -- he's been wanting to dance thuh macarroooni all night!"

And off they went. Dancing kitties began to pitter patter slink, twist. Pitter patter slink, twist. Pitter patter slink, twist. Bend an twist, wiggle wiggle, pitter patter slink. "Ooooh, that's more like it," declared Biker Coon. "Hey, Thistle, me sweet! Let the band carry on by themslves, and come on down wif me fur a dance." Pitter patter slink, twist.  Bend an twist, wiggle wiggle, pitter patter slink. All the kitties began to bounce and wave their paws in unison and Biker Coon declared the party had now begun. Heeeeeyyyyyy, Macarrroooooni!

As dawn began to break, it was time to take our leave of Socks, thanking him for being such a gracious host. As we all went our separate ways, returning home to long naps on a warm windowsill, we all agreed that this had been the most spectaular and exciting parade and inauguration ever.