The Snowman

The snowman appeared overnight after the biggest snowfall the community had yet known. The children danced about, their faces obscured by hats and scarves. They pointed in delight at the snowman's grin, a smile that made the adults shudder. Who had built the snowman? No-one knew. The children were happy not to know. The adults weren't.

Two days later, the snow began to melt and, with it, the snowman. A flap of clothing was revealed first, then a sleeve, then a jacket. Several villagers worked to scrape away the snow. Underneath was a man, nailed to a post. Stone-cold. Dead.

Jonathan Hill Merits