Copyright Dale Rogerson
The snowman smiles his broken-pebble smile as Mildred waves from her window.
By four o’clock, he’d been freshy-built on the village green.
At six o’clock he’s across the street from Mildred’s house, his carrot-nose twitching left and right, as if scenting something. Or someone.
By midnight, he’s outside her door, and Mildred, who’s still awake, lets him in.
“Let’s dance,” says Mildred, for at 89 she seldom gets to dance.
Now Mildred lies blue and cold in her hallway and the snowman, having danced the night and Mildred away, is back in the park, smiling his broken-pebble smile…
…slowly melting.
Make of it what you will, it’s the way Dale’s lovely photo led me. 🙂 Another great choice from the Friday Fictioneer leader, Rochelle. Thanks for all you do. Now that we live by the sea we don’t get to see snow the way we did when we lived near the Pennines or in East Anglia. So I’ve enjoyed Dale’s recent captures – thanks Dale.
castelsarrasin 
Awesome!
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Thanks Reena.
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“The Snowman” for grown-ups. I love the way you think
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Thanks Neil. I shall try to do it more often. 🙂
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Superb.
A lonely lady’s dream, or nightmare, come true.
You write sublimely, Sandra.
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Thanks CE. I prefer to think it was the way she wanted to go. 🙂 And thank you for your kind comment.
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Eeeee, a horror story! :-X Very well told. I’m now afraid of snowmen. Thanks!
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Personally I find snowmen more menacing than clowns, but each to his or her own.
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Please stop putting scary ideas in my head 😦
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Dear Sandra,
This had a real Twilight Zone feel to it. Could the snowman be the angel of death? At any rate, subtle and well written. I lift my purple coffee mug to you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I think the snowman is the answer to her prayers, Rochelle. Back atcha! Only it’s Earl Grey.
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That was surreal. Maybe he was exactly who Mildred wanted that night. Nicely told, Sandra.
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Thank you. 🙂
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I did not expect that story . It was a great piece of writing, interpretable in so many ways. Lovely
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Thank you Michael.
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Ooh, this is wonderful, creepy, and surreal. It reminded me of the perfect murder tool that is always referenced – the icicle.
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Ah yes! I expect there might be a story or two on that this week. Thanks for reading Claire.
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The Last Dance, but it seems she enjoyed it.
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I think so. 🙂
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The snowman was either really bad or really good.
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I leave it up to the reader.
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I can think of a lot worse ways to exit this life. Wonderful imagination.
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Indeed. Thanks for reading.
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Being a Romantic at heart, I will take the good side of the story, that Mildred was on her way out and wanted to end it by dancing the night away and the snowman was a wish come true. Thought I can see the dark side…
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That’s my preferred interpretation, though I think I set out with the opposite intention and relented.
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This is sweet and a little spooky. Nicely done
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Thanks! 🙂
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Lovely story, really well told. To die while dancing must be a good way to end!
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I think so. Thanks for reading, Penny.
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My first thought was ‘The Snowman’ animation too. This would be a sequel I’d pay to see 🙂
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🙂 Thanks for reading, Iain.
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Brilliant! And she dies happy. Love the broken-pebble smile.
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Thanks Liz.
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What a last dance of the Snowman and the woman…
Beautifully conveyed.
Happy Valentine’s Day!
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Hope you had a lovely day too, Anita. Thanks for visiting.
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Fantastic story – the not so grim heap… of snow ⛄️
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Thanks for reading Anna.
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“Save the last dance for me!” I’m sure this is what Mildred said to the snowman. A great story, Sandra. I loved it.
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Thanks, Edith. I was going to call it “Save the Last Dance” but I thought it would give it away before it started.
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What a way to go! I hope she enjoyed her last dance.
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So do I. Thanks for reading.
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Such a great story! Magical and sinister.
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Thank you!
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I would love to give you some of my snow… that keeps coming and coming and coming…
I love what you did with my pic! I am with the positive camp: that she chose to go out with a dance and a smile…
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How could you not be with the positive camp, Dale? 🙂 And I’ll take any spare snow you’ve got…
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I concur with all the comments. A well written story with a touch of horror and romance. Well done
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Thanks, Susan.
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yikes!
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🙂
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Wonderfully descriptive. I read this a happy story. I’m sure he was a true gentle(snow)man!
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He sounds like one. Thanks for reading.
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Such a lovely story Sandra.
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Thanks 🙂
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Brilliant! So deliciously creepy and yet a ‘pulling at the heartstrings’ kind of sad story.
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Thanks for reading.
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It seems that she wanted to go this way….beautifully penned.
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Thank you Vivian.
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I wonder if the snowman had been the milkman in a past life? Great story. Well done.
Best wishes,
Rowena
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Thanks for reading Rowena.
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I love the broken pebble smile – it gives us a hint to where the story is going, though I feel Mildred was more than happy to take that last dance. Wonderfully told Sandra
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I’m sure she was, Lynn. Thanks for reading.
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smiling his broken-pebble smile…
…slowly melting. What beautiful lines
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Lovely, Sandra, just perfectly lovely.
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Oh I so wonder from this story… I hope she had a wonderful last dance, but I see a lonely woman being lost in the snow.
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Now that was creepy!
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there’s a cartoonist feel to it. kids will love this story very much. adults should keep an open mind. 🙂
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At first I thought “spooky” but at the end I was thinking the snowman had come for her as it was her time, and granted her one last dance. More likely her imagination, though 🙂
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I read the comments and how people saw it as her wish come true but I still see the element of horror more prominently.
Brilliant, as always!
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That was eerie and weird. Sent shivers down my spine,too. Excellently told.
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Ooh…I’m torn; is it a tale of snowman murder, or the imagination of an old woman, dancing in her hallway with the front door open? Either way, loved it!
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That was beautiful. The snowman came in and took her away after dancing, a cold, but happy way to go…
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Wow this is whimsical as well as spooky – very nicely done!
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Somehow I didn’t get the creepy feeling. But perhaps that was the story appealing to my dark side 🙂 I felt it was somehow sweet as he danced with her in her final hours, as she was going to die anyway. OR something like that. Well done, Sandra!
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A fairytale for adults – I really enjoyed this.
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Sad story, I suppose as it seems Mildred has met her demise. But if I live to be 89 I wouldn’t mind my last night be spent dancing with a snowman.Seems like a good way to go.
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Deliciously creepy. I’m left wondering what the snowman has to gain, if anything, and hope at least Mildred enjoyed her last night of dancing. This has the feel of Tales of the Unexpected about it.
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What a gorgeous tiny tale, Sandra! Love the way you think and write. This was a delectable read with just the right blend of romance, suspense, horror and mystery. Looking forward to your net!
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