When he arrived, Peter found himself in a dark place with a dark dust that penetrated to the very soul. You needed caving equipment to get in. You also had to be thin, which Peter was not. Now he is trapped for two long days in a dark tunnel, like a baby waiting to be born.
The rising sun cast the red chimney pot into silhouette. Silently, non-judgmentally it watched Mr Ellis sneak home from Miss Bead's house, the new man at number three quietly put a number of bottles into number seven's recycling bin, and the growing pile black bags outside Old Ma Jones'. It just rose and watched and went on its way.
The broad expanse of ten-inch by two-inch brickwork, which was the western elevation of the house, was unbroken except for two small, tall windows, one on the ground floor and another, vertically above the first, high up near the eaves, a filigree pattern of discolouration to the mortar and bricks tracing out the path followed by the numerous chimneys within.
Two teens, camera steady, explored the decaying house, the floor creaking beneath them. In the chimney, hidden in soot and silence, they found him—Santa. His bones, brittle and twisted, scattered like forgotten memories. The red suit, now faded to nothing, hung like a tattered flag. They stared, the camera trembling, as the weight of disbelief sank in.
There is a special chimney on an old abandoned house on our route to the farm. In the spring, the chimney is a home for swifts, cigar- shaped masters of flight. They return from Peru to nest and raise their young in Tennessee. They only stay to reproduce and are gone by August. I wish I could go with them.
The cord had snapped and he was now plummeting towards earth. It was just a ride for him now as he swept closer to the manor and it's gigantic chimney. Maybe the slanting walls would slow his fall. He was sucked in and ground to a halt, his feet tickling the logs below. "Weird boots, Santa!" he heard a sarcastic voice say.
Our chimney always seemed scary to me. It never worked for one reason or another: structural design flaw, too dirty to use and might start a fire, water damage. It was a gaping hole of darkness for me to conjure bad dreams about. One cold night a scuffling and moaning began to emanate from it. Poor Santa was stuck!
He had successfully stolen the plans. All that remained was delivery. When he heard the knocking, he panicked. In desperation, he stuffed them up the chimney.
His girlfriend was at the door. He let her in and pretended everything was normal. While he went to the kitchen to fetch wine, she proceeded to light a romantic fire in the fireplace.
-Ok, I'll go there.
When he arrived, Peter found himself in a dark place with a dark dust that penetrated to the very soul. You needed caving equipment to get in. You also had to be thin, which Peter was not. Now he is trapped for two long days in a dark tunnel, like a baby waiting to be born.
PROMPT: CHIMNEY
THE CHIMNEY
We’d been watching the chimney for a while.
And if anything happened, we were determined to witness it.
But it’d been hours, and there was no sign of any men in red outfits, or any activity at all.
Then finally, just as we were about to give up, we saw it.
Billowing white smoke.
A new Pope had been chosen… 😎
CHIMNEY (60)
“I got a specialist to fix your chimney,” the contractor said.
I pictured a Dickensian waif climbing up to the roof, holding a dead bird that had been stuck in the flue.
Sean arrived, pocketed a $1300 check, and disappeared.
“I’m sorry,” the contractor said. “He doesn’t answer my calls. How much do you use that fireplace all summer, anyway?”
Silent witness
The rising sun cast the red chimney pot into silhouette. Silently, non-judgmentally it watched Mr Ellis sneak home from Miss Bead's house, the new man at number three quietly put a number of bottles into number seven's recycling bin, and the growing pile black bags outside Old Ma Jones'. It just rose and watched and went on its way.
The broad expanse of ten-inch by two-inch brickwork, which was the western elevation of the house, was unbroken except for two small, tall windows, one on the ground floor and another, vertically above the first, high up near the eaves, a filigree pattern of discolouration to the mortar and bricks tracing out the path followed by the numerous chimneys within.
Seems many went this way-
Two teens, camera steady, explored the decaying house, the floor creaking beneath them. In the chimney, hidden in soot and silence, they found him—Santa. His bones, brittle and twisted, scattered like forgotten memories. The red suit, now faded to nothing, hung like a tattered flag. They stared, the camera trembling, as the weight of disbelief sank in.
There is a special chimney on an old abandoned house on our route to the farm. In the spring, the chimney is a home for swifts, cigar- shaped masters of flight. They return from Peru to nest and raise their young in Tennessee. They only stay to reproduce and are gone by August. I wish I could go with them.
Thank you, Miguel for the like and the opportunity.
I thank you for joining in ! I love your takes 🫶
The cord had snapped and he was now plummeting towards earth. It was just a ride for him now as he swept closer to the manor and it's gigantic chimney. Maybe the slanting walls would slow his fall. He was sucked in and ground to a halt, his feet tickling the logs below. "Weird boots, Santa!" he heard a sarcastic voice say.
That was too funny!! hahahaha
😁 Glad you liked it.
Microdosing - 60mg of a Chimney
===
He ponders on the stacks of interior drawings. The drug lord owned so many properties. His team had searched dozens of houses.
Couldn’t find the stolen weapons.
Someone jumped between rooftops last night. Dodged the camera, ran behind a chimney.
He looks at the drawings and can't find any designated fireplace in those houses.
Some rooftop inspections are in order.
Almost spit some coffee (from laughing)...
Our chimney always seemed scary to me. It never worked for one reason or another: structural design flaw, too dirty to use and might start a fire, water damage. It was a gaping hole of darkness for me to conjure bad dreams about. One cold night a scuffling and moaning began to emanate from it. Poor Santa was stuck!
The chimney ignited which ruptured into a fire. “Wow, that was fast.” Lana said
Her father replied, “yeah I got special logs for Santa tonight.”
“Ooh you’re gonna get him good daddy.” Lana replied. “You think he’ll learn his lesson?”
“Of course.” He said with a wicked grin.
Through the Living Room Window
_______
Each flake descends like a tiny astronaut,
spinning in the December darkness,
past the colored lights that transform
our ancient fur tree into a carnival at midnight.
.
The old glass bulbs, handed down
from some grandmother's careful box,
catch each crystalline visitor
in their warm amber and emerald glow.
.
From my chair, I watch this slow dance
between winter and electricity,
how each snowflake pauses briefly
in the colored halos, as if deciding
which light to honor with its presence
before continuing its gentle fall
toward the waiting earth below,
where millions of its siblings gather
in drifts against the chimney's base,
building their own constellation
of white stars beneath
our decorated sentinel.
This is gorgeous ❤️
Beautiful!
Thank you
You're very welcome.
He had successfully stolen the plans. All that remained was delivery. When he heard the knocking, he panicked. In desperation, he stuffed them up the chimney.
His girlfriend was at the door. He let her in and pretended everything was normal. While he went to the kitchen to fetch wine, she proceeded to light a romantic fire in the fireplace.
LOL That ending makes me giggle! Nice one!