Snowman Family

Synopsis:  Felicity Grey has been building snowmen family since she was 12.   Now that her parents are with God, she has no family of her own.    She makes a desperate plea to God and literally bumps into a divorced father of 2.    They fall for each other and decide to start seeing each other exclusively. 

Chapter 1—Positive Despite the Pain 

Felicity Grey had always been a jovial child, full of optimism, smiles and jokes.   She was immensely liked and to many she lived a gilded life with the ‘perfect family’.   One blustery day while visiting her great grandma Yvonne, her family tragically died in a car accident.    Everything she had ever known had been violently ripped from her so suddenly.   She was only 12, but death had been a constant, even at that tender age.  

Felicity had made it a tradition to start making snowmen families at 12 in honor of the one she had lost.   Though it made her cry, she only let God and the snowmen see her tears.   She kept the grief hidden from her friends and every so often, her grandparents would see a window of sadness open during the holidays, which were difficult for her. 

Despite the holidays being so hard at times, Felicity remained tough and upbeat.  They were her favorite time of year, and one could always find her singing, dancing, and singing at the top of her lungs.    She grew older, maintained her own social life and success, but still didn’t have the family she longed for.     

Felicity was getting older, and she found herself reaching her forties.   She had dated, but no one ever stayed longer than getting intimate and ultimately ghosting her after putting a proverbial notch in their belts.    She hated getting into relationships now since it seemed the men she met were only interested in instant gratification.    She wanted something more enduring and permanent than a simple roll in the hay.     

Chapter 2—A Trip to the Park  

After being a bridesmaid so long, Felicity had the familial ache in her soul begin to irritate her.    She cried out in her bed, cuddling her sheets close to her body, 

‘If it is supposed to be that I’m single forever, just let it be so.   Either that or cut this desire from my being !   I loathe it God !’, she bellowed.    She hated being alone and she abhorred the fact that she wouldn’t be making love to anyone.   She had been celibate that just to have the touch of a man’s hand on her shoulder would’ve given her more joy than the intricacy of an intimate embrace.     She cried herself to sleep even though she had been having the time of her life at her best friend’s holiday party.    She wasn’t the type to drink, but she had gotten slightly tipsy on egg nog and all she wanted to do was sleep, now.    

The next day, she groaned.    Looking at herself in the mirror, she almost didn’t recognize herself.   She looked at her phone and checked the forecast for the week.   It was going to snow today.   Picking herself up mentally, she motivated herself to go to the local park and build a new snowman family; one that reflected what she had been praying for since her last boyfriend left town and never returned.    

The snow was falling in massive, huge chunks, blanketing the ground in pristine white.   From the angle of the sun’s light, it seemed the fields were glistening diamonds or powdered sugar atop cute little festive houses in the neighborhood apartment complex nearby.   

It was frigid, but the hot cocoa being offered for the local walkthrough light display was more than welcomed by everyone who wished to boost their holiday cheer.    Felicity smiled at the beautiful lights and found herself feeling less depressed the more she heard little kids pelting others with snowballs. 

Chapter 3—A Chance Meeting

Felicity began her work and in no time, her snowman family had been built to perfection.    Many onlookers were admiring her artistic talent and felt she should be entered in the ‘Snow Queen’ contest that would be held over the weekend in a gargantuan climate-controlled expo hall.    She had never considered making a snowman family in front of others, but decided to go outside her comfort zone for once.    Besides, the grand prize winner would be heading to Bruges to the local ice sculpture festival held every year.    This had been one of Felicity’s dreams since childhood.    

While chatting up the locals, a snowball hit Felicity smack dab in the nose.   Laughing hysterically, she inquired, ‘Ok, who threw that ?’.    A young boy, no older than 7, reluctantly confessed his culpability. 

‘I wasn’t aiming for your face, I promise !’, the charming raven haired boy said.   His raven curls were tightly packed under a Luigi beanie.    His brother, most likely 13, came over to him and asked, ‘Is my little brother Arnie giving you grief ?   Only I can do that !’

The elder brother proceeded to playfully noogie his brother’s head.  

‘Austin, stop !’, Arnold griped.   The elder brother looked a bit different.   His hair was curly and brown, longer, and tucked neatly under his Mario beanie.    Then, came their father, Ron.  

‘I see you’ve met my boys.   Ooh, nice sculpture.   They your family ?’, he asked.    Ron and his boys looked every bit alike.   Ron resembled a mixture of Robert Downey and Kurt Cobain with a dash of Justin Scarred.    He had a tender voice and an incredible personality.   Felicity found herself blushing around him.    He and his sons were genuinely great people to be around.

‘Actually, it’s my dream family.  I’ve been dreaming of having one my whole life.  A lot of people say I’m too old, but I don’t listen to society.’, Felicity laughed.   Ron knew it was rude to ask a woman’s age, but his inquisitive nature overcame him.    When she revealed her age, he simply laughed and boldly asked her out for a cup of coffee at his favorite local brewery. 

Chapter 4—Creating a Real Snow Archangel 

Over time, Felicity and Ron became exclusive and she didn’t mind having the boys pal around with them either.   Oftentimes, they would head places they enjoyed going to as a group but every so often, Austin would hang out with his friends and Arnie would go off on an adventure with his friend group.   

That weekend before Christmas, Felicity attended the event as requested.   Instead of crafting a snowman family, she built her favorite angel, Michael.    Michael looked imposing with his sword of righteousness, wings furled, small smirk on his face and immense attention to the tone of his physique.    The judges went silent looking at all the entries but only one stood out, and that was Felicity’s master work.    She was given the option to take 3 other people with her.    She almost wept from the euphoria she felt as many of her prayers were answered.   

‘Would you guys like to go to Bruges with me ?’, she asked. 

‘What’s there ?’, Austin inquired.     Felicity explained that it was a tradition that ice sculptures were made this time of year and people could wander around a frozen wonderland of incredibly splendid ice sculptures.    Bruges wasn’t the only country that did this.   In fact, Canada, Japan, Siberia, Alaska and Paris were some of the places that did this to really pinpoint the awe and wonder surrounding the cold, winter months.    

‘Congradulations !’, Ron said, hugging Felicity and causing her to blush.   She kissed him deeply and held him close. 

‘Ew, gross.’, Arnie kvetched.   Still, he was happy to see his dad reclaiming joy again and finding a potentially better mommy than the one he had before.   At least, he and Austin prayed that Felicity would become their mom.    She was everything that they hoped she would be, and she was even taking them on an exclusive all expenses paid trip to Bruges !  

Chapter 5—Getting Closer 

The ice sculpture festival had been the highlight of their festivities thus far.   Everything the 4 saw was something straight out of a winter fairy tale.   Ron and Felicity talked at length about taking their friendship further.   

‘I know it’s a bit early and we’ve only been together for over a few weeks, but honestly, I have never felt this good.   The boys really like you.   You really get along with them.’, Ron said, stroking Felicity’s hands as they walked through the illuminated corridors and gawked at the glistening ice sculptures of swans, faeries, angels, skaters, and most striking, a couple dancing a waltz.    

‘Yes, maybe this is moving a bit too fast.   You told me how the divorce seemed to have happened in a whirlwind and I don’t want to come into this too soon.   The thing is, I really love you.   There.  I said it.’, Ron stated, boldly.    Even though Ron had never said he loved Felicity before now, there had been many ways he had told her how he felt.    How he opened the door for her, how he shared his food with her.    The way he laughed when he was around her, how he noticed her care and genuine interest in his boys.    It was certain that this woman was everything he wanted and didn’t know he needed until the snowball of fate smacked her in between the eyes.    

Chapter 6—Each Christmas Together 

After a year of truly getting to know each other, Ron decided to do something incredibly romantic for his beloved girlfriend.    He wrote a song for her with the help of his kids and serenaded her at a picnic he had intentionally set up for her. 

‘I know it’s not Paris, but this is all I could afford at the time !’, he said, laughing heartily. 

‘I don’t care that it’s not Paris.   All I care about is the fact that you and the boys went to such great lengths just to make me feel special.   And the answer is YES.   Of course I want to marry you and be your mom !’, Felicity said.   It was New Year’s Eve and the ball was about to drop.   They had been watching Dick Clark and listening to the music, dancing until the New Year was official.     With great anticipation, they watched the mirror ball descend and the countdown begin.   Each had their flask of sparkling apple cider ready to toast the new year.  Once the cheer for the new year began, everyone sang Auld Lang Syne and the couple offered their sparkling cider to each other.     Then, once again, they kissed passionately, Ron dipping Felicity into his arms and doing his best impersonation of Raul Julia.    

Each year now since their spring wedding and subsequent honeymoon in Paris, the Daily family was spending Christmas together with the entire Daily clan.    Yes, it was chaotic, colorful and cheerful, but it was everything a true holiday should be with plenty of heart.    Felicity no longer had to make snowman families because those would always melt away.   This one, however, would remain by her side until her dying days.    

Epilogue 

Felicity made it her life’s work to give others the gift of warmth for the holiday that she had so graciously received.   Like herself, there were still so many orphans in the world, but she finally had the family she had always wanted.   In fact, only currently had she given birth to a baby girl she aptly named Hope.    Hope became instantly adored by her elder brothers, who would often fuss over her, but she made it known that she could tend to her own needs unless she truly needed their assistance.    Hope was often found working at her mom’s business to reach out to the ‘forgotten’, the orphan and the widow.   Her mission was called Operation: Outreach, and to this day, her snowmen ornaments are used to bring awareness to those who may have more difficulty being jolly this time of the year.    Her selflessness simply reminds us that even something as small as a snowman or the gift of companionship on a cold winter day can mean everything to someone who might just need just a smidge of Christmas joy.  

The End