If you click the image below you will be able to visit my NaNoWriMo profile and see my current projects and attempted projects from the past. (Opens in a new window).
Some year’s ago when I did NaNoWriMo I wanted to work on a book of short stories about shoes. The book is on hold but I did have a few ideas and this story below was inspired by a longer story I had created for that book.
The Snolar Bear
Bright whiteness filled the room, even with my eyes closed tight I noticed it, as I slowly stir from slumber. The house was wrapped in a sunny silence, so bright for a November morning. As I stretch and raised myself from the bed, I look from my window to see a new world. A place of wonder, bright and white as far as the eye could see.
I wasted no time, I jumped from the divan, dressed quickly in thick warm clothing and was downstairs in no time. Grabbing my phone, I rush to pull on my boots, then I stepped forward to open the back door and look outside. The cold crisp air was fresh and clean, I needed to snap a few pictures whilst the ground was pristine. Only a few bird prints were seen upon the patio, around the bottom of the feeder where a few seeds had been knocked out upon the ground.
Slowly I lift my right foot to press gently into the deep snow, the left followed. I was careful not to rush and topple over, I wanted to make sure my feet left perfect prints. No time was wasted as I set about snapping images of my beautiful snowy garden. Who knew how long it might last? I closed the door behind me only remembering at the last moment. I didn’t want the heat to escape after all. Now what to do?
My mind was quickly made up, I must build a snowman. I started off with a tiny but tightly packed snowball and then began to roll it over the snow that I had disturbed with my footprints. I needed to make a big round ball for the main body, so I continue to roll the ever-growing snowball around the edge of the garden. Careful to disturb as little snow as possible. At the top of the garden I roll the large ball back upon itself and settled the large body into place.
I started another snowball rolling, moving to the opposite side of the garden slowly building up a shape for the head. I have to admit the body and the head were a bit wonky, but I was having so much fun. Slowly I roll the head back to the body I had to make sure it was not too big. The snow was packing together nicely so I picked it up carefully ready to drop it onto the body. I lifted it a little higher then dropped it in hope that it might stick itself firmly.
Oh, dear. As I step back to look at my work, I noticed I did not have a snowman after all. The shape was all wrong, still I smoothed out the joints blending body and head together. The head was huge, almost giant sized even bigger than my own head. I gave a little giggle. It was like being a child again.
There was a need now to find something to use for eyes and a nose, so I wandered around the edge of the garden where the flattened grass shows through after rolling the snow. I discovered some wonderful soft brown leaves, almost almond shaped. They would be perfect for the eyes. By this time, I had wandered some distance from the snowman so I decided now would be a good time to turn and snap a few more pictures with my phone.
What a surprise! It was as I turned that I saw it. My creation was not a snow person; indeed, it did not resemble any form of human what-so-ever. It was more of a big bear shape. The snow creature was enormous, and from this distance it actually looked like a polar bear with its eyes closed.
This would be my very own unique piece of snow sculpture, and I would call it a Snolar Bear. I could not stop myself from laughing with glee and clapping my now cold pink hands together. I walked the perimeter of the garden and placed the leaves carefully upon the bears face. Then with a little bit of moulding I formed the snout and two ears.
Down the front of the body I moulded two strong thick legs, and used a fallen twig to mark out paws. Soon all was finished and looking upon the creature I decided to take a selfie with him. I truly could not believe how big he was.
My hands were becoming numb, so I pat the Snolar bear upon his large forehead and made my return to the back door taking pictures on my phone every few steps. I kick my boots against the door step, trying to remove any snowy remnants before opening the door and stepping into the warmth. I hadn’t realised how cold and hungry I was.
I certainly had not expected to find that I had been outside for over two hours. It was just after 8am when I began to make my breakfast. As the porridge turned in the microwave, I looked out of the window which was now steamed up. My breath caught; I was truly shocked at the sight before me. My beautiful creation looked like a real polar bear in the wild. He would not have looked amiss on a David Attenborough wildlife special.
What a marvellous start to the weekend.
Rose English UK 