Who Dunnit?

 Hi! Happy New Year! It's been so cold and snowy the last few weeks so I thought: a cold and snowy story! My friends and I have been sledging and making snowmen all week and that was the inspiration for this story. Hope you enjoy!😀

Who Dunnit?

One, two three, HEAVE! The four friends put the final head on the fourth snowman. Panting, they gazed proudly at the motionless white statues. Sparkling snowflakes floated through the air, to land softly in the garden of Crawick Cottage. The cold white figures stood in a line, facing the snow covered hedge, twig arms poking absurdly from the ball in the middle. Laughing at an uncanny likeness, Katie pointed at one of the recently created snowmen, “That one has a cheeky face, just like Matthew!” Matthew ran inside and returned seconds later carrying his Harry Potter hat and scarf. He placed them on the snowman with the mischievous grin. Amilia stared lovingly at the the snowman with the widest smile. “This one looks pretty.” With a gloved hand she placed her scarf around its neck. “Just like you,” said Katie rolling her eyes at Lily. Lily picked a tall thin snowman to decorate and fashioned it with her Sanquhar pattern hat and scarf while Katie chose a smart, sneaky looking one with a jolly grin to wear her stripy scarf and furry hat.

 Stepping back to admire their work, it was as if they were staring into a mirror - at alternate versions of themselves. “Oh!” said Katie “The wind makes it look like this snowman is waving!” Everyone laughed heartily but Matthew scrunched up his face and said seriously, “I think it did move its arm.” Lost in their own thoughts the children started when Lily and Matthew’s mum called them in for dinner and the group dispersed. Katie shouted back, “Meet for sledging tomorrow if it snows again tonight in the field across from the Lawyers Brae sign!” Lily gave her the thumbs up signal and stepped inside.

 The cockerel crowed as the sun broke through the angry sky. Matthew and Lily looked out of the window to see a deep carpet of snow three inches deep. There had been a mini blizzard the previous night but even the power cut couldn’t dampen their spirits. The merciless cold stung their faces as they stepped outside. The wind was beating a violent tattoo on Lily’s and Matthew’s jackets making them shiver. They climbed the dry stone dyke and, over the wind, they heard what sounded like birds squawking in the distance. Wait-that wasn’t birds… Lily looked at Matthew, he had heard it too. They rushed along the road, slipping on the ice, and tripping over stones blanketed in snow. Rounding a corner, Lily and Matthew almost crashed into Katie and Amilia who were also trying to discover the source of the noise. Together, the foursome slid to a halt. A bundle of skirts seemed to be twisting and turning on the ground.

 Wilma, our old neighbour from down the hill, was sprawled on the ice, trying to untangle herself. The children hurried over. “Are you hurt?!” shouted Lily, helping Wilma sit up straight and gazing concernedly at her. Neighbours were running as fast as they could on the icy ground towards Wilma - who seemed unharmed apart from the embarrassment. “I’m fine! Quite fine!” said Wilma consolingly, “Now watch this ice! It’s treacherous!” “What happened?!” someone shouted. And Wilma said, “I think that someone is playing a rather crude joke. It seems that they stretched a wire at the top of the hill. But really!” said Wilma “No need to fuss, I’m fine!” Wilma was helped to her feet and led back to her house. Lily, Katie and Amilia stared at Matthew. This sounded like something he usually found funny but… “It wasn’t me!” he said incredulously.

Crawick was total chaos. Zach ran up the street shouting angrily. “Right!” he scowled, storming towards them. “Who nicked my bike?” “No one!” Said Matthew defensively. “Well, it’s gone and you’re the only person, Matthew, that’s ever said he wished he could have my bike!” “No, I didn’t!” Matthew yelled, pushing past Zach who glared suspiciously after him. The whole street was madness. Zach’s big dog Ollie came bounding out, covered in pink spray paint. Flowers that the villagers loved and cared for were upside down. Katie and Amilia’s swings were hanging from lampposts and Lily and Matthew’s mum was storming towards them.

“Matthew!? Lily!?” Matthew and Lily gulped. “Firstly,” she said, and the children wouldn’t have been surprised to see sparks fly out of her nostrils, “I want to know who stole Dad’s cans of cider from the back door. Go on, own up!” Her glare was so ferocious that it was a wonder that Lily and Matthew didn’t back away. No one had taken Dad’s cider and they were getting blamed for it. “Well, if nobody’s admitting to that theft then may I ask, WHY is our washing line stretched across the top of Miller’s Brae?” She hadn’t heard about Wilma yet and the children were glad that she was still ignorant. Nobody knew what to say. “Right, well I think it’s time to come home if neither of you know anything about it.” Lily managed a wave at Katie and Amilia before she and Matthew were marched home.

That night Lily lay in bed thinking. “Something very strange has happened here and it wasn’t me, Matthew, Katie or Amilia because we love the people of Crawick. Perhaps it’s someone from Sanquhar? It just didn’t make sense to her and soon Lily was fast asleep.

Keep your eyes peeled for Part 2!