The Tiny, Weeny Snowman

There was heavy snowfall last night. But when Mrs. Harriet opened the windows of her cottage the sun was shining brightly and warmly on the white snow that had accumulated in her garden, on the path that went through the woods into the small town of Berkley that lay at the end of the woods. Under the huge Oak tree in her garden stood a tiny weeny snowman that Reddy had made the other day with balls of snow, dry sticks, and black shiny buttons. He was smiling broadly and Mrs. Harriet thought that she heard him wish her good morning. But she was busy thinking about going to the market to buy some carrot and radishes for lunch. Her vegetable basket was almost empty as it had snowed for a few days continuously, and she could not get out of her home.

Reddy was still sleeping in his bed, tucked under his warm blanket. Mrs. Harriet added some more firewood into the smouldering fire burning in the fire place. The fire blazed up and made the room warm. “Let him sleep, poor thing”, she thought. “It is too cold. I will be back from the market, cook a hot soup for breakfast and then wake him up. Let him sleep till then.” She tightened her bonnet, tied a woolen muffler around her neck, slid the soft leather gloves on her paws, (Mrs. Harriet and Reddy were rabbits, mother and son), took her basket and purse and leaving the door a little ajar for the smoke from the fire to come out, she set out for the market.

The snowflakes had gathered on the path through the woods, on the grass, and on the leaves on the trees. The air was frosty and cold. No birds had come out and it was silent and quiet in the woods. Mrs. Harriet’s boots made a screeching sound as she walked alone on the snowy path through the woods. She reached the market of the small town Berkeley, bought the vegetables and a hot cake for Reddy and then took her way back home.

When she came near her cottage she saw a crowd of wild rabbits gathered before her door. They were talking loudly among themselves and looked very agitated. As she looked closely Mrs. Harriet saw Reddy lying before them near the rose bush in her garden with his eyes closed.  Black fumes and smoke was coming out from the windows of her cottage. She gave out a loud cry, dropped her basket filled with vegetables and ran towards Reddy. “What has happened to me boy?” She cried and picked him up on her lap. He was cold and wet and shivering. The warm touch of his mother slowly revived him and he opened his eyes and started weeping.

Mrs. Harriet changed her son’s clothes, gave him a drink of hot chocolate and made him sit on the door step in the warm sun light. While cleaning her room she heard from her neighbours what had happened. While she was in the market, a spark of fire flew from the fire place on the blanket under which Reddy was sleeping soundly. The blanket caught fire and Reddy would have burnt to death in his sleep, but it was the Snowman, standing in the garden, who saved him. He had seen through the window what was going on and had rushed into the room and picking up the sleeping Reddy in his arms had ran out and laid him on the grass near the rose bush in the garden. Then he had called the neighbouring rabbits who had come running and put out the fire by dousing it with water.

But the heat of the fire had its effect on the Snowman. He was gradually melting and turning into water. Reddy felt very sad and started crying when he saw the Snowman turn into a pool of water under the oak tree. His mother came out and consoled him telling that he can make another snowman, there was lots of snow around but Reddy could see his Snowman turning into a small, silver cloud of vapor and rising up and smiling and waving at him and whispering “I will meet you the next winter.” Reddy smiled.

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This story was shortlisted for the final round of #AWinterInStoryland Story Writing Contest. Read other shortlisted entries here.

Being a contest entry, this story has been posted in its unedited form.