Puschel and Flauschi Build a Snow Wusel

On a bright winter day, snow covered the meadow beside the woods. Puschel and Flauschi had chosen a clear, level spot. They left the path open and the little bushes under their white blanket. Puschel squeezed some snow between his paws. A little ball held its shape.

Puschel“Flauschi! Today we can build a snowman. One with really big Wusel ears!”

Flauschi“That makes it a Snow Wusel. Let’s first check whether the snow sticks together.”

Flauschi made a small ball too. It stayed whole. The snow was a little wet and easy to pack. On another cold day, it had trickled through their paws like white powder. Today it might work. Flauschi put her green magnifying glass with its leaf-shaped handle on a low mound of snow.

Puschel“My snowball gets a head first!”

He put a bigger ball on top of his little one. For a moment it looked funny. Then the top ball tipped sideways and landed softly in the snow. Puschel looked at the two pieces.

Puschel“Our Snow Wusel has already lain down. And we haven’t even finished.”

Flauschi“Let’s give it more room to stand at the bottom. The biggest ball goes underneath and the smallest goes on top.”

Puschel nodded and slowly rolled his first ball a short way. More snow stuck to it. He also turned it in a different direction. That made it rounder instead of long like a loaf of bread. He stopped before it grew heavy. Flauschi flattened its underside a little and settled it firmly on the ground.

Puschel“A snow belly! That can be a little round.”

Together they made a smaller ball for the middle. They made a shallow hollow, a little dip, in the bottom ball and placed the second ball in it. Both could hold it comfortably. They gently packed soft snow around the join. Finally, an even smaller head went on top.

Flauschi“Now it has three snowballs. But how can we tell it’s a Wusel?”

Puschel“By the ears. And the tail, of course! Without a tail I’d keep turning round to look for myself.”

Flauschi shaped two little round ears and attached them to the head with some snow. Beside her, Puschel gathered snow for a curved tail. At first he wanted to make it very tall. The tip broke off.

Puschel“My tail can do that. The snow tail needs a different idea.”

Flauschi“Let’s rest the bottom on the ground. Then the narrow tip won’t have to hold so much.”

They shaped a broad, low curve beside the back of the bottom ball. The snow tail joined the body and rested on the ground. Puschel gently packed it into shape. Flauschi rounded an ear once more. They both took a step back to look.

Puschel“It looks as if it’s just had a very good idea.”

They had brought a carrot and a few small smooth pebbles for the face. Flauschi gently pressed two pebbles onto the snow for eyes. Puschel added the carrot nose. Four little pebbles below it made a friendly smile. Puschel added two small snow paws at the front of the belly. One was a little bigger.

Flauschi“Perhaps that’s its waving paw.”

Puschel“Then it gives an especially good wave!”

Puschel had brought a little red hat. Carefully, he placed it between the round snow ears. Their Snow Wusel was finished now: with eyes, a nose, a smile, paws and a hat.

Flauschi picked up the magnifying glass. They had broken nothing off the bushes and hidden no rubbish in the snow. Their winter friend could have a crooked smile and paws of different sizes. Puschel stood beside it and waved. The Snow Wusel stayed still.

Puschel“It’s saving its movement for later. When it gets warmer, it will travel as water.”

Flauschi smiled. One day their Snow Wusel would melt. Today it stood there, round and friendly. And indoors, a warm place was waiting for two happy snow builders. Before they left, they took the borrowed hat, carrot and pebbles back with them.