Richard’s Snowy Mitten

Richard and Patrick build a small snowman in the garden. Mum brings a carrot for its nose and stands nearby to help.

Richard takes off one green mitten to push the carrot into place. When he turns back to the bench, the mitten is not there.

Patrick looks beside the snowman while Richard checks under the bench. They find a brown leaf, but no green mitten in the snow.

“Where did you put it when you took it off?” asks Mum. Richard remembers laying it on his shoulder while he held the carrot.

He carefully turns around so Patrick can look behind him. The mitten is caught at the back of his coat, just below the hood.

Patrick gently lifts it free and gives it back. Richard brushes off a little snow before putting it on again.

They add small stones as buttons down the snowman’s front. Then they make a low wall of snow around its feet.

Before going inside, Richard checks both his warm hands. “Next time I will put my mitten in a pocket,” he says.