“Photo: The Intermediate School fifth grade band turns around and heads the other way at the halfway mark of The World’s Shortest Parade.Jim Larsen/staff photoThe 14th annual World’s Shortest Parade didn’t go off quite as scheduled Saturday morning, but the throng of 20 or more people assembled to watch found it well worth the wait.First Street in Langley was closed to traffic for the affair and emcee Jim Freeman plunked a microphone stand on the pavement in front of the Dog House Tavern. We’re pleased all 12 of you could show up, he told the crowd, which nearly doubled in size before the parade actually started about 15 minutes after its scheduled 10 a.m. starting time.Freeman entertained with his patented stream of local banter, patiently awaiting the arrival of the two-entry parade. At one point a boy ran down the hill and handed Freeman a note. We’re waiting for Martha, the note stated.Musical sounds arrived first, followed by the Intermediate School Fifth Grade Band accompanied by a pickup truck. The tune sounded familiar, and Freeman identified it as On, Wisconsin. Upon reaching the street barricade at First and Anthes, the band turned around, almost running over the second entry — Martha Murphy’s costumed, marching child actors from her original play, Dragon in Flower Land. Freeman stopped the parade to interview Samuel Lee, dressed as an apparent sorcerer, who told the assembly that the play would be presented later that morning at WICA.The purpose of the annual parade is to promote Youth in Arts Week on South Whidbey. Following the parade, intermediate and primary school student performances were presented at WICA.”