I Loathe a Parade

Mayor Joe Possumz, who's just announced that he'll be running for his fourth term as mayor of Elmtown in the fall elections, is in the reviewing stand for the 4th of July parade, waving and wearing his now-famous, red-white-and-blue bowtie.

As the final drum-and-bugle corps passes by, the mayor bites into a hot dog coated with traditional brown mustard and topped off with a dark-green dill pickle. When he finishes the culinary treat, Possumz wipes the perspiration off his brow, smiles faintly at the crowd and collapses. To the amazement of those nearby, the local doctor rushes to him, checks for a pulse, and pronounces him dead.

Twelve years ago, when Mayor Possumz was first elected to office, the Elmtown parade was a 10-minute affair, consisting of four units and a lot of fire trucks. With the mayor's backing, the parade has become a holiday extravaganza.

The 80-plus units in the parade now take two hours to pass by the official civic reviewing stand, strategically positioned in front of City Hall where the mayor gazes with pride at the event that he has built and nurtured.

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But, any politician is only as secure as his last controversial decision, and the mayor has made many enemies over the years. Could one of them have done him in as he was enjoying the latest version of his most noteworthy accomplishment?