When Cathy was told she could take part in the May Day Parade, she could hardly believe it. Her two elder sisters had already secured their place, marching with the Guides, but she herself was considered too young. However, the Committee had a change of heart and decided to include children, whose older brothers and sisters were taking part. They were required to come as Nursery rhyme characters and Cathy had been allocated Bo-Peep. She would have a lovely new dress to wear, not the usual hand-me-downs from her sisters.
“Can I come with you to choose the material for my dress?” she asked her mother.
“I’m not going to buy material” said her mother. “I can’t afford to do that. I’ll use that table cloth that Aunt Maud gave me”.
Cathy blinked back her tears. “Oh”, she said “I thought you said it was horrible”.
“Yes, only because Maud had the cheek to give it to me for a birthday present,” her mother replied. “And it wasn’t even new. She probably got it at a jumble sale”. She caught sight of Cathy’s little disappointed face and added “But it’ll make a lovely dress. It’s quite a nice pink check and I’ll buy some pretty trimmings for it and I’ll make you a mobcap. You’ll look lovely”.
The next day, her mother retrieved the hated table cloth from the bottom of the junk drawer and gave it a good wash. It came up quite bright. “Must’ve been filthy” she muttered.
The dress turned out very well. The full skirt was calf-length. It had a frill on the bodice and large puffy sleeves, and the promised mobcap completed the outfit. Everything was finished with a pretty deep pink trimming. There were even two bows made from the same material to fit to her white canvas shoes.
The day of the parade was bright and sunny and there was much excitement as all those taking part lined up at the Town Hall. Cathy proudly carried a toy lamb under her arm and there had been enough material to give him a nice pink bow. He had been a present to Cathy the Christmas before last; just a happy co-incidence.
After a lot of to-ing and fro-ing by the organisers, the parade was ready to go. The Scouts band was to lead the parade, then came the Guides, the Brownies and Cubs and the younger children in their pretty costumes. They were followed by representatives from all sorts of clubs and organisations – The Women’s Institute, St John’s Ambulance, The Rotary Club, various shops and businesses, in fact anyone who contributed to the Town’s wellbeing. Finally came the May Queen herself in the open topped Mayoral car accompanied by the Mayor and Mayoress.
The procession wound its way along the High Street, amid cheering and waving from the many sightseers lining the route, and then turned off to a small stretch of grassland, known affectionately as The Village Green. A small platform had been erected with a makeshift throne and there, the May Queen was crowned. Children from the local stage school entertained everyone with a lovely display of dancing. Then it was all over. Although people lingered, hoping to meet the Mayoress, who was strolling around the Green, talking to as many people as she could.
When Cathy saw the Mayoress approaching her, she felt quite shaky – whatever was she to do? However, the Mayoress smiled reassuringly. “I thought your dress was one of the nicest in the parade my dear” she said.
“My mum made it” said Cathy proudly.
“And who chose this really pretty material?” asked the lady.
Cathy crossed her fingers. “Oh, I did” she answered.
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