Mattie's Christmas Snowman

"PUT YOUR hands under, oxters," Mattie's dad advised. "Warm them up slowly. They'll tingle if you put them to the fire". Mattie, tucked her hands in her armpits and stood hunched in the middle of the kitchen.

"You could stand by the fire if your dad would just move a bit," said her mother. Mattie's father made room for her.

"Just keep those blue hands tucked away." "I've been trying to make a snowman but it just keeps breaking up," said Mattie. "There's hardly enough snow and it's a bit powdery," said her father. "I can remember times when we had heavy falls. Me and my brother would build great snowmen with carrot noses and bits of coal for eyes ..."

"And now you think snow is just a nuisance," chipped in his wife.

"Well it does make things difficult; bad for the sheep, getting the milk away, extra work shovelling paths. Oh, it's a trouble all right."

Mattie said: "If we have a fall at Christmas, will you help me make a snowman - a real big one.""Well," said her father doubtfully. "There might be sheep to see to ..."

"Of course he'll build you a snowman," said her mother. "After all, he and his brothers were experts when they were boys."

"Oh thanks, Dad," said Mattie. "I'll get you a nice Christmas present."

"A big hug will be fine. I don't, get many cuddles these days." He went out passing his son Tom in the doorway. Tom said: "I haven't bought Dad a Christmas present yet and Christmas is only three days away. What about you Mattie?"

"Mattie shook her head and her mother said. "Well don't worry, you can both put a bit to my present. I'll just go and get it. It's a hat."

"A hat," said Tom. "He never wears a hat."

"Well, he should. That old cap he wears to market isn't fit to put on a scarecrow. Lots of farmers wear hats."

Tom looked doubtfully at the hat his mother produced. "Well, I suppose it is made of tweed, a sort of sporting hat."

"Anyway," said his mother briskly, "He can wear it wear it when he goes to see the bank manager on market days."

"I think I'll just give him a cuddle," said Mattie.

Snow fell on the day before Christmas.

"A miserable fall, said Mattie's dad. "I'll have a job to find enough for a snowman". Between milkings work on the snowman went on apace. Mattie's mum observed this activity through the kitchen window. "Where's your dad gone with the transport box," she called. "He's picking up snow around the hedges and down the road where its drifted," Tom explained.

"He seems to have got to have got the bit between his teeth," she called back.

Mattie and Tom wave and smiled. They were having great fun, despite their dad's stern direction.

By milking time the snowman was lifesize and the head was being finished off. "Surely there's a better carrot than that - no, those coals are too big, it makes him look like a Panda."

But, at last, it was done to everyone's satisfaction. A curved twig for a smiling mouth, a carrotn nose and coal eyes. A discarded milking cap much stained fron cows tails sat on his head.

"Great just great," said Mattie's father, as he subsided into his fireside chair.

After morning milking the guests started to arrive. Uncle and auntie with the children, some neighbours and soon the house was full of laughter and talk.

The snowman was much admired by the arriving guests. And then it was time for the presents.

"A dress as well as a snowman," cried Mattie excitedly.

Tom was gloating over some mechanical gadgets. Mum was trying on her new earrings and Dad was tearing the paper off a parcel.

For a moment he was quiet, then a look of sheer pleasure crossed his face. "Just what I needed," he exulted. "This is perfect."

He rushed outside, new hat in hand, down the garden path to confront the snowman.

"I knew there was something not quite right," he told the snowman and removing the milking cap, he placed his new hat on its head. He stepped back, then reached out to give the hat a more rakish angle. "Perfect," he said.

Mattie was waiting on the step to give him a big hug. His wife said, "You will wear it to market, won't you," and he said, "of course I will and you deserve a big hug too. Soon everyone was hugging everyone else, toasts were drunk and carols sung. The sound of Christmas cheer filled the house and overflowed into the garden.

Mattie looked out of the window. Down by the gate the snowman beamed happily. A glass of red wine had been placed in his hand. Someone, it seemed, was determined to include him in the family Christmas. Mattie could guess who.