Chapter 1 C Howdy A gentleman in a red vest doffed his white cowboy hat You look like you might need some help young lady Where do you meet the people coming from Eng land asked Amanda Ross That would be over there at the international arrivals Are you here to meet a friend I sure am Her name is Leah and she is my BFF coming all the way from England to visit me here in Calgary I met her in the United Arab Emirates and then we met in Spain and I visited her in England too We always have so much fun together She is way cool I don't think this gentleman needs to know all that Amanda Mrs Ross sent an apologetic look to the airport host I finally found a parking spot and noticed Leah's flight has arrived She should be com ing through that door any minute Amanda please stand still Amanda almost danced she was so excited She never had a visitor from overseas before She carried a stuffed baby Maine Coon cat a gift for her friend The automatic doors swung open releasing a flood of travellers There she is There she is Amanda ran up the ramp leaving her mother behind Leah wore a VIP badge dragged a designer wheeler bag and carried a stuffed baby camel The girls ran towards each other and embraced They giggled as they exchanged gifts Come and meet my mom Amanda took Leah's wheeler
Mom this is Leah all the way from England So very pleased to meet you Mrs Ross Leah extended her right hand We've heard so much about you Leah and we are very happy you've come for a visit Amanda's mom shook Leah's hand and popped a white cowboy hat on her blond head Call me Evelyn All Amanda's friends do Leah touched the brim of her new hat Wowza A cowboy hat just like Princess Kate got when she came here Thank you ever so much Amanda and Leah happy to see each other again held hands in the back seat and talked nonstop on the drive to the Ross’s house So how's your new school and how's Rupert doing asked Amanda My new school is fine and Rupert is doing just great He's become my best pal and Mum and Dad really like him too It s like he has always lived with us He sends you tons of cat cuddles Here we are said Mrs Ross as she pulled into a Wide driveway My your house is so large said Leah as she entered the house It's just an average house here in Calgary replied Amanda's mom Mom said Amanda houses in England are much smaller Well I wouldn't know I'm not the world traveller you are Why don't you girls visit in the backyard while I get the barbeque ready Amanda led her friend into a spacious backyard sur rounded with a lilac hedge We have some fun things planned while you're here like visiting a dinosaur museum and Head Smashed In Buffalo
W what That sounds dodgy Tomorrow we ll go downtown and watch the Stam pede parade I hope you like barbequed hamburgers Leah Amanda's mom brought out colourful paper plates and a jug of pink lemonade I love burgers I seldom get them barbequed Thanks ever so much Mrs Ross I mean Evelyn The sun shone brightly as they made their way to downtown Calgary on the crowded C train the next morning Thousands of people wearing cowboy out fits lined the streets waiting for the parade Store fronts were decorated to look like a wild west town with bales of hay scattered everywhere The smell of tried sausages and maple syrup filled the air Let's stop here first for a pancake breakfast Amanda's mom pointed to a covered wagon with a long line up of people all in jeans cowboy hats and western shirts When they got to the front of the line they noticed a fellow in a huge cowboy hat and a bigger smile flipping pancakes Another man plunked two pancakes and two sausages on a paper plate He placed a square of butter on each pancake and poured maple syrup over everything Here you are young ladies Enjoy he said as he handed them each a plastic knife and fork rolled up in a paper napkin He put syrup on my sausages whispered Leah to Amanda Don't worry It'll be good They found a shady spot under a large maple tree where they sat on bales of hay and ate their breakfast Yum this is good said Leah as she wiped syrup off her chin With full tummies Amanda's mom led the girls through the swelling crowd to a good viewing spot in
front of the high rise building where she worked Chairs were set out with a sign that read RESERVED FOR D R ACCOUNTING I feel so special said Leah You should you are our special guest Amanda gave her friend's arm a squeeze T m so glad you came for a visit We'll have so much fun Just then a loud BOOM sounded the start of the parade Amanda and Leah sat spellbound as march ing bands in smart uniforms fancy baton twirlers cowboys and cowgirls wearing colourful sequinned shirts riding on decorated horses funny floats and First Nations people wearing traditional feather headdresses passed by A clown stopped in front of the girls to hand out candies He wasn't laughing though In fact Amanda thought he looked quite sad His eyes glanced into the crowd as if searching for someone He hitched up his baggy pants and an object fell on the ground Suddenly the clown turned around and ran down the street in his oversized shoes Children laughed as he almost tripped over his feet Amanda shouted after him Hey you dropped something But he was too far away to hear She picked up the stone object put it in her pocket and continued to watch the parade as a bagpipe band came by I can't believe you have bagpipes over here too My dad would be impressed He loves them and used to play in a pipe band said Leah I love them too said Amanda When they play Amazing Grace I always cry Oh you definitely would have cried when you heard my dad play He was awful Both girls giggled A beaming Stampede Princess wearing a tiara waved at them from her snow white
