Arnold, the Bominable Snowman

When he worked for the Western Daily Press reporter Terence Pratchett regularly wrote stories for the children's pages, particularly at Christmas, and usually under the pen-name Patrick Kearns. Here's one of them, from December 1973 and with a few references to the energy crisis and power cuts of the time...

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(MIRRORPIX)

NCE upon a time there was a snowman. He wasn’t an abominable one, like the ones that grunt and sneeze up on distant Tibetan mountains, but quite English and completely bominable.

He was built by some children, but when everyone had gone to bed he jumped around the lawn and waved his arms to keep warm.

“Blow this for a lark,’ he said. “Those kids ought to know it takes more than a jumble sale hat and three bits of coal stuck down your tummy to keep you warm on frosty nights!”

There was a bang and a shower of sparks and a tall lady appeared as if by magic. She was wearing a very severe business suit and horn-rimmed glasses, and was peering at a list.

“I'm your fairy godmother” she said, uncertainly.