Thanksgiving Parade story background

Yesterday, Madeline Smoot posted (at Buried in the Slush Pile) the short story I entered in her writing contest. I offer the following bits of background on the story:

• The first Macy's parade was November of 1924
• The ship Stockholm did exist and had arrived just prior to Thanksgiving 1924
• There were only real animals in that year's parade -- no balloons until a few years later.
• My father traveled to this country aboard the Stockholm, but on a trip in early 1924. He was nine years old.

Thanks to Madeline for posting the contest on her blog.

Jim D.