"This chimney is filthy! How is Santa supposed to slide down it?" Adam whined, throwing his arms in the air, nearly hitting Eli right next to him.
"Santa? Really, Adam?" He asked, looking at him strangely.
"What? Since when have you heard that Santa likes dirty chimneys? He's a two hundred plus pound man, carrying a heavy bag full of toys, and has to travel around the world in one night. Shouldn't he at least come to a clean one?"
"Adam, we have to clean it up, not for Santa, but to light it up. It's going to get cold tonight, so it's necessary that we finish by sundown."
"Fine, but can we at least make it a bit more presentable for the poor guy?"
"Ugh, Adam. You're such a kid! Santa Clause is not real!"
"Yes, he is." Clare said, coming down the stairs.
"Please tell me you don't believe in him, too!" He groaned, wrapping an arm around her.
"Yes, I do and I have since I was little. I did a lot of tests to check if he was and they all came out true. So he is real." She stuck her tongue out at him and he rolled his eyes playfully.
"Who is real?" Alli asked, coming down the same stairs Clare just did.
"Santa Clause."
"Hmm, I've never seen him or really heard much before. My family's pretty strict on religion and tradition. They don't think we should celebrate a fat man who goes into your house without permission."
"Well, I promise you that he is real and that he will be here tonight. And that chimney will be clean!"
Clare and Alli smiled, while Eli gave him a 'seriously' glare. He just shrugged and went into the garage to retrieve a ladder. He came back and signaled Eli to follow him. The girls sat down and started talking, letting them know that it was okay to go.
They went outside and Adam placed the ladder alongside the house, stretching it out.
"Something tells me we're climbing up there, right?" Adam nodded and placed his foot on the first step.
"We promised our girlfriends Santa and Santa they will get!" He started climbing up.
"We? I didn't promise jack!" He shouted, climbing up soon after him.
"Oh well, just come on!"
Once they reached the ceiling, Adam walked carefully to the chimney and looked in.
"Eww, saying this chimney is dirty is an understatement."
Eli went beside him and looked, making a disgusted face soon afterwards.
"So, how are we going to clean it up?"
"Well," He thought, scratching his head.
"You know there's a chimney brush stick downstairs, right?"
"I know that, and since I did, I'll go get it."
"You do that." He smirked at his friend's obliviousness as he went down the ladder.
A minute later, he came back up, brush in hand and a rope around his arm.
"You dick, I know what you did. Next time, you're going down and up, not me." He scoffed and bumped Eli on the shoulder. "Now help me tie this rope on me securely to the chimney head."
"Uhm, why?"
"Cause I'm going down there."
"Are you serious? Adam that's dangerous and I bet you won't even fit in there."
"Yes I will! Now help me!"
He sighed and grabbed the rope, tying one end to the chimney and the other around Adam's waist.
"Do it on the feet. That way it'll be more secure and easier to pull me up."
He did as he was told and helped Adam get on top of the chimney. Adam bent over as Eli held on to his legs. He managed to get his head through, but the shoulders were a challenge. After a few squirms, he fit in with just enough room for the brush.
"Hand me the brush!" He shouted. He coughed a bit because of all the dirt that built up in there, but since when did dirt have red eyes?
"Ahhh!" He screamed.
"What's wrong? Adam!" Eli shouted, pulling on his legs.
"Bats!"
Adam continued moving around, trying to get the bats out. They eventually escaped, but through his shirt. It hit Eli on their way out, causing him to scream and let go of his hold on Adam.
"Ahhh!"
"Clare, what is that?" Alli asked, standing up from the couch.
"I don't know, but it's coming from the chimney." She replied as she got up and got closer to investigate. Alli followed her close behind.
"Ahhh!"
Eli grabbed on the rope and gave it a hard pull, trying to get it to stop Adam from crashing to the ground.
Adam kept falling, but a light was up ahead. He closed his eyes, not wanting to see the rest. In a second, he felt a pull on his legs, causing him to stop. He groaned at the newfound dizziness he had.
"Santa?"
"Alli?" He opened his eyes and saw that he was hanging upside down by a rope in Clare's living room…in a chimney.
"Uhm, Alli, I don't think that's Santa." Clare knelt down next to him and wiped some of the black ash off his face.
"Adam? Adam!" Alli rushed over to him and cupped his cheeks with her hands. "Are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere? Tell me something!"
"You look cute upside down." She raised her eyebrows, showing that was not the answer she wanted to hear.
"Adam! Are you okay?" Eli shouted.
"Yeah, you can let go now!" He landed softly on the brick surface and looked at his now black clothes.
Once Eli got back, the girls were looking at both of them, furiously.
They sat down on the couch while Alli and Clare stood pacing around.
Ooh! They're going to get it now. Heck, I would've been pretty pissed off too if that happened!
Tell me if they should survive! Lol Any comments or ideas are appreciated!
R+R for more
Nicolle 3