Winslet was a small girl that believed in “winter magic.” And that was all that was needed to bring to life two large snowmen created earlier in the day.
She had built the snowmen facing each other. Then, dressed them in her father’s and brother’s matching “coffee cup” vests, touques, and golf gloves. Each had a carrot nose and coal for eyes. There would be no “corn-cob” pipe because smoking is bad.
The snowmen stood motionless and silent.
“Abracadabra!” She waved a stick in an overhead motion. Nothing happened.
She thought of Frosty. “Ah, happy birthday!” Still silent.
But Winslet was certain she saw a smirk. So she rushed to the one wearing the blue vest. Hugging him, she said, “Mel!” Then turned and hugged the one in the green vest, “Irving!” Irving moved his gloved hand and hugged her back. And so Mel and Irving came to life that day.
May the games begin!
Winslet unhooked the colourful Christmas lights from the house and laid the string on the ground between them.
“I am the referee,” she said with authority. Then ordered them to “pick up the rope!” So Mel and Irving bent over and picked up the lights.
“Take the string!” she ordered with good humour. The string of lights became taut. Then as if she had a flag, she raised her right arm above her head. They looked at her, then at each other. Finally, she dropped her arm and yelled, “Pull!”
The tug-of-war was on!! The rules were simple; pull and move the yellow Christmas light to your side of the snowballs. And pull they did. They were evenly matched.
Though Winslet was the referee, she was also the audience and chanted, jeered and cajoled.
“Come on, Irving, you are not snowman enough!”
“Mel, you are getting slushy!”
But nothing happened. The light didn’t budge. So Winslet tried cheerleading;
“Irving, you are the strongest snowman ever!” The yellow light moved closer to Irving.
“Mel, lean way back! You got this, baby!” The yellow light moved back in Mel’s direction.
And so the encouragement and accolades continued until Winslet began to get hoarse and grew tired. And when she became tired, the snowmen became tired too.
“Mel, one final heave!” And with that, Mel did; the yellow light moved over to his side of the snowballs. Irving was off balance. He was falling forward; bracing himself, he let go of the string of lights. Mel fell backwards from the momentum, and both lay on the ground. Their snow bodies had come apart from the fall.
“And heads will roll,” Winslet said, watching Mel’s and Irving’s heads coming to rest a distance away from their torsos.
“Indeed,” said a deep voice from the porch. Winslet’s dad surveyed the mayhem; snowmen in pieces, his clothes and Christmas lights strewn about the front yard. Then, he added, “Winnie, I think it’s time you come inside.”
Winslet looked at Mel and Irving and winked. Irving raised his left eyebrow, and Mel smirked. And walking towards the porch, she said, “Later!” and added, “best two out of three, fellas!”
Happy Holidays to All! Enjoy the magic of winter.
