The parade is super fun. Everyone is dressed up, and there are parents and pets everywhere—mostly dogs, though Alyssa and Mira’s mom brought their bunny in a cage. It even has a superhero cape on! Mira is dressed as Little Red Riding Hood, which is funny because I know she’s going to be a wolf for Halloween. As soon as I see my mom and Bean arrive, I run up to them and give them both hugs. I ask Ms. Garcia if I can walk with the kindergartners during the parade so I can be with my family, and she says yes.

“You make a great llama!” I tell Ben.

“And Bean makes a great Maria,” he says proudly. Bean is definitely excited to be at Northland Elementary, and he makes lots of new friends.