It's Snowing!

Hanley Bear was very sad yesterday, because his home city wasn't chosen to be City of Culture 2021.  Instead, another city in the English Midlands called Coventry was chosen.  When the result was announced, Hanley sat in front of Polar and Grizzly's television with his face in his paws, hiding the fact that he was crying.  Seeing him so sad made me cry too!

'I'll have to take my special flag down from the Christmas tree now, duck!' he said.  This time when he said 'duck' he was talking to a duck, as we had put his Stoke-on-Trent-for-City-of-Culture flag and a Tim Beak duck on top of the Christmas tree when we helped Polar to decorate it.

'Don't be upset, little bears,' Polar said.  'We didn't win the competition, but we still have all the lovely places, art, culture and kind and clever people that you were telling everyone about.  You leave the flag and Tim where they are!'  Then she made us cocoa and biscuits and tucked us up in our little bear bed near the Christmas tree. 

When we got up this morning, we saw there was white stuff all over the garden and there were flakes of it in the air.  'Oh no!' I said.  'There must have been an explosion at a pillow factory!'

'It's snowing, duck,' said Hanley.  'Sometimes, when it's really cold, the rain turns into icy crystals and we get snow.  Come outside and see!'

'Put your coats on, little bears, and don't throw snowballs!' said Polar.

'Snowballs!  That's an idea!' giggled Hanley.  'We could build a snowbear, too!'

Hanley trotted down the steps into the garden and I followed him onto the lawn.  The snow was very cold on my paws but it was soft and fluffy.  Hanley showed me how to squish it together to make a ball and together we rolled a big one for our snowbear's body and a smaller one for his head.  Then we moulded him some front and back paws, a nose and ears.

'He looks like you, duck!' said Hanley.

When I turned round to tell him that I didn't think so, something very cold, powdery and wet hit me on the nose.  Hanley Bear had thrown a snowball at me!

'I'll get you back, Hanley Bear!' I said, and I did!  We were still running around throwing snowballs at each other when Polar came out to check the garden. 

Just as she came down the steps, Hanley threw an extra big snowball at me, which went right over my nose and into my eyes.  Because he had scooped the snow up in a hurry, he hadn't noticed there was a stick in it too.  Polar was very cross.

'You silly little bears!' she said.  'It can be lots of fun playing snowballs, but you must be careful there aren't sticks, or stones, or even animal poo in the snow.  Come indoors now.  Grizzly's made you some toast and marmalade to warm you up.'

'Can I bring in the snowbear as well, to warm him up?' I asked.

'You are a daft bear, duck,' said Hanley.  'If you bring the snowbear indoors, you'll turn him into a puddle!  He'll be much happier out here where it's cold.'

I still felt sorry for the snowbear, so I borrowed Hanley's Stoke City scarf for him.  Then we went back indoors to dry our paws and eat our toast.