Eli wasn’t just any black and white puppy—he was the most energetic ball of fluff on Maple Street. His tail wagged like a metronome, and his floppy ears bounced with every step he took.
One sunny morning, as the neighborhood prepared for the Fourth of July parade, Eli found something special poking out of the decorations box: a small American flag on a wooden stick. With a proud woof!, he grabbed it gently in his mouth and trotted out the door.
The neighbors burst into laughter and applause. There went Eli, prancing down the sidewalk like the grand marshal of his own parade! The flag waved proudly with every bounce of his paws, and the red, white, and blue sparkled against his black and white fur.
Children began to follow him, giggling and clapping, while parents snapped pictures. A marching band joined in from the corner, and suddenly Eli was leading an impromptu parade down the street.
By the time they reached the town square, Eli was the star of the day. The mayor even declared, “Today, we honor Eli, the most patriotic puppy in town!”
Eli wagged his tail so hard he nearly toppled over. With the flag still clutched in his mouth, he barked happily—as if to say, “Happy birthday, America!”
And from that day on, whenever there was a parade, Eli was always front and center—leading the way, with the stars and stripes held proudly between his teeth.
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