THE FOURTH GRADE FROSTY

It was the beginning of December and Miss Ruhlander, my 4th grade teacher, and the meanest at the Bacon school informed our class on the first of December, “By request of our Principal Mrs. McCorristin every class  has been asked to contribute to the PTA’s Annual Christmas Assembly.  The theme this year is Christmas Greeting Cards and the shop class is building  a big frame on stage and a "card"  formed by the students will come to life and “ demonstrate our musical skills or do a seasonal reading. Does anyone have an idea for our contribution? “  No hands went up.  She looked at us sternly and growled,  “No one can play a carol on the piano?”  Still nothing. “Recite a Christmas poem?”  Again nothing.  And then for some internal compulsion I raised my hand and blurted – “I can be Frosty the Snowman!” Miss R was mildly excited as usual.  She didn’t even ask how I could be the famous frozen one.  And I didn’t know either!  What I did know is that I had about a week to figure this one out.

Nanny, Mom and I put our heads together that same night after dinner.  And Nanny volunteered, “I’ll make you a snowman costume!”  And just like that we were on our way.  I had a 45 RPM of Gene Autry's singing of Frosty’s antics and that was my contribution.  My grandmother could sew anything.  A shirt from scratch, no problem. Repair a ripped winter coat – a cinch.  But produce a snowman…I was dubious to say the least.

The days passed.  And Nanny hummed carols in her room working on some white canvas-like fabric she just happened to have.  Her Singer hummed too into the night.  Mom’s job was critical to the entire performance.  The song goes, “When they put a top hat on Frosty…he began to dance around…”  Where in this working man’s town would she get a top hat?  Mom racked her brain.  During her lunch she walked uptown and tried all of the men’s shops.  No dice!  And it was too late and much too expensive to order one from Sears & Roebucks – it would never come in time. Then she had an inspiration – She called the local funeral director.  And he said, “Sure Margaret,  had one from the old days when funerals were more formal.  So why not, anything for education.”  I couldn’t believe Mom made this deal as she always seemed to do.

The night before the show my costume was finished.   I tried on white blossoming pants with a drawstring at the waist to hold them up – we filled the legs with newspaper.  I donned a white jacket that looked  very much like one a chef would wear.  And where did Nanny get those big black buttons down the front that look like coal?  I leaned later - borrowed off her best winter coat.  Mom stuffed my jacket with three pillows.  I looked in the bedroom mirror – good grief I was Frosty! 

The show night arrived.  Mom did my makeup - white face paint left over from Halloween, rosy roughed cheeks and she drew black squares around my eyes and on my nose with an eyebrow pencil.   I was ready to perform.  We drove to the school and I nervously paced backstage waiting my turn.  The sixth grade class sang.  Next a couple fourth graders read Twas the Night Before Christmas.  The lights dimmed and I froze in place behind the big wooden "card" as the curtains rolled back and they played my record.  And timed with  the lyrics, classmate Mary Jane came on stage and placed the top hat on my head.  And of course,  I from  the “card” and started to dance around to the music.  I would have made Martha Graham proud – I improvised a series of pirouettes and finished with a magnificent high jumping twirl.  I had been inspired by the festive season and the clapping from the audience.  I only stopped once when the officer on the record hollered STOP.  The song ended and I froze again back inside the “card”.  The applause was long and loud.  Frosty was a hit.  

And from that day on whenever I see a snowman I remember the night when the magic in a mortician's hat made me a star.