2011 Finalist

Once upon a Munch Time, there was a cow called Munch and if you were a robin flying high up in the sky you might just about be able to see her...

Through the clouds and over fields of snow
to a farm way down below,
over a babbling stream and a stony wall -
to a place where the snow will never fall
where the sun always shines
and the grass is always green
it's Christmas Eve and there's not a snowflake
to be seen!

Now Munch lived on the farm with lots of other animals and she had lots of friends: there were some with fur, some with feathers, some with hooves and some with horns, but Munch's best friend had none of these. Instead, she had two arms and two legs, and stood no more than three and a half feet tall. Her name was Lucy, and they had been best friends as far back as Munch could remember. She was the kindest friend any cow could hope for. Every morning, Lucy made sure that Munch had the greenest, crunchiest grass in the field where she would lead her to munch all day.

"Oh, will it ever snow here?" sighed Lucy as she watched Munch happily chewing on some grass. "Why does it snow everywhere else but here?"

In the distance Lucy could see hills and fields simply covered in nothing but snow.

You can go out to play,
but don't go further than the scarecrow
her mum would always say.

"Munch, can you make it snow?" asked Lucy hopefully.

"Snow? I don't think so," replied Munch.

"Well then, who can? Who can make it snow?"

"I'm sorry Lucy, I really don't know."

So Lucy closed her eyes and tried to imagine snowflakes and ice but it was just too warm.

"Oh, I give up!" cried Lucy at last, "It'll never snow here!"
And she got up and marched up towards the farmhouse where she lived.

Now, the passing robin had heard Lucy and flew down and sat on Munch's back. He could see that Munch was unhappy too now.

"Look here Munch," chirped the robin, "If it snowed here as well, how would I get my worms? The ground would be thick with snow and my short beak would never reach!"

"I'll dig you up worms!" mooed Munch excitedly.
"With my hooves like this...
please make it snow - it's all we need!"
"Snow? I can't make it snow," said the robin.
"Well then, who can? Who can make it snow?"
"Well, why don't you ask the scarecrow?" suggested the robin.
"He might know."

Munch wandered down to the scarecrow and stared at him for a moment. He was very still, so she nudged him with her cold, wet nose. The scarecrow jumped with fright, "who's that?!" he cried.

"Scarecrow, can YOU make it snow?" asked Munch. "Of course I can, silly!" the scarecrow snapped back, not too pleased at being woken up.

"Then why haven't you?" asked Munch with surprise.
"You know today is Christmas Eve,
but just look up at the sun,
it still doesn't want to leave!"
"But the sun keeps me warm," the scarecrow replied.
"Here I have to stand night and day as you can see,
if I made it snow, cold is exactly what I would be!"
"So that's why it never snows here..." Munch realised.
"Now I understand…
Tell me what you need to make it snow,
and I will lend a hand" (or a hoof, perhaps ).

The scarecrow thought for a moment and then replied:

"Because I'm made of sticks and straw,
I tend to feel the cold much more,
but if I had a coat or something to wear,
then I'd make it snow and wouldn't care."

"A coat, of course!" mooed Munch. "At last I have an idea!", and she galloped off excitedly into the distance.

Christmas morning came and Lucy opened her eyes, she sat up in bed and looked outside.

"Snow!" she suddenly screamed. "It's snowing!"
"Snow! Snow! Snow all around!"
It was snow indeed and it lay thick on the ground.

The farmhouse door flung open and Lucy ran down excitedly towards Munch and Robin, her arms waving madly in the air, "Look, Munch - it's snowing!"

She was almost out of breath when she reached Munch. "It's snowing!" and she gave Munch a big, warm kiss. Then, through the snowflakes she noticed the Scarecrow in the distance.

"Look, Munch! The scarecrow's wearing a red coat!
Where on earth did he get that...?"

Munch turned to the robin sat on her back and winked with a smile.

Now thanks to Munch...
there was snow as far as Lucy could see.
It started at her feet
and stretched endlessly.