The Mighty Fine Snowman

The Mighty Fine Snowman, a short story.

After a particularly big winter storm Snowman was feeling mighty fine, mighty fine. "I'm mighty fine," he said, "Look at how fat and round I am. So well packed. My children did a magnificent job making me. Why, I hardly have a speck of grass stuck to me anywhere. I'm packed so tight I can probably last the whole winter long.

"This is a wonderful scarf they brought me, so red and long, it nearly sweeps the ground with it's fringe, and it wraps around my neck soooo smooth.

"Would you just look at how I gleam in the sun. I sparkle and shine. Yes, I am mighty fine.

"My whole family worked on me, so I must be important. I can tell there were adults here, no child could get me so tall.

"I have boots and mittens, nothing was forgot. My charcoal eyes are the very best. I'm so proud of my rock buttons. My nose is a wonderful, stupendous carrot. Even my hat is fantastic. What an excellent hat, brown is absolutely my color.

"I've heard of a few good snowmen, but me, I'm mighty fine. My, my, my I'm mighty fine."

The mighty fine Snowman almost rocked back and forth he was so pleased with himself. He hummed a little wintry tune as he looked around out of his splendid charcoal eyes, the ones he was so pleased with.

He was surprised when he looked across the yard and saw a Snow Dragon. A Snow Dragon, just lying there sleeping in the sun. "Well, how absurd," he muttered. The Dragon heard, but pretended he didn't.

"Harrumph," harrumphed the Snowman, "There have never been Snow Dragons around here before. How did this happen?"

The Snow Dragon turned his sparkling, crystal eyes (well, I think he turned his eyes) and said in his deep Snow Dragon voice, "Somebody had to make me, for here I am all long and slithery, but not scary at all."

"My scarf is eight feet long," the Snowman bragged.

"Well, my tail is twenty-five feet long," said the Snow Dragon rather smugly. "My children measured me."

"I never particularly liked long tails myself," said the mighty fine Snowman. "Who ever heard of a Snow Dragon. I am most shocked, here in this neighborhood."

The Snow Dragon had been taught to be polite so he answered quite slowly. "There were lots of children here today. They liked (he stressed the word 'liked' a second time) they liked making me. They were very proud of me. They got excited at how big I grew and how well I turned out. I was quite a success."

"Well," said the Snowman, changing the subject, "You don't gleam at all!"

"I got sprayed with colored water," said the Dragon, "Blue and green, even a little violet and magenta here around my spines."

"It looks most odd is all I have to say," said the Snowman, "Most odd," and he looked down at the Dragon again. "Who ever heard of a snow snout so long and low to the ground. Mine is a proper carrot nose--"

"-- I like my snout," said the Dragon, "Just the way it was made. It's over a foot wide." By now the Snow Dragon was getting just a little bit cranky. "I think I'll take a nap," he said, "you tire me out," and with that he closed his large, gleaming, crystal eyes. (Well, I think he closed his eyes.)

"Do as you please," said the Snowman and turned his attention back to his mighty fine self, and tried not to notice the horrid Snow Dragon sleeping like a fifty-foot giant in the neighbor's yard.

"What's that sticking out of your head?" the Snowman couldn't help but ask, his curiosity was just to great.

The Dragon rumbled in his Snow Dragony voice, "One boy gave me some horns. Don't try to make something out of it. I think they are a rather nice touch. Creative, a creative touch."

With his eyes closed the Snow Dragon thought about Mr. Mighty Fine Snowman and tried and tried to think of some way to melt him right down into the ground!

Mr. Snowman wanted to pick his rock buttons off of his chest and chuck them at the Dragon. He huffed and puffed and tried to turn away, but, of course he stayed stuck right where he was.

The Snowman and the Snow Dragon lived next door to each other for a very long time, but the never liked each other, not even on Christmas Day.

The End