Prompt from Ennui Enigma: On first inspection, the situation seemed impossible yet...
Originally, I wanted to use tinsel, but apparently although it existed, it didn't come into fashion until after Victorian times.
"Holmes!" I rushed down the stairs from my bedroom at the sound of the great crash and sudden cry that had come from the lower stairs. Holmes had been doing a favour for Mrs Hudson by helping her decorate her Christmas tree,
I came to the top of the lower stairs and stopped in shock. Somehow, Holmes had managed to tangle something around his leg and then tripped on it, and was now hanging upside down off the stairway bannister. On first inspection, the situation seemed impossible, yet it had clearly happened. Whatever Holmes likes to say about ruling out the impossible, it doesn't do much good when the evidence insists otherwise!
"Holmes," I asked, striding over to where he was trapped, "how did you manage this?"
He scowled furiously, bending at an awkward angle to look directly at me. "These ribbons are a menace. Next year, we should keep them off the tree entirely."
I leaned around Holmes to examine where his leg was tangled, and once I was out of his sight, I was unable to hide a smile. As ridiculous as it was, he didn't seem hurt, and I was rather enjoying seeing my friend in such an undignified position.
"It doesn't look very easy to untangle," I told him, tugging at the ribbon. "For a ribbon, it's surprisingly sturdy. I may have to cut it."
"Do what's necessary, Watson, just get me off here."
"Alright, Holmes, but be warned, this is likely going to hurt." I went back into the sitting room and pulled a knife from my desk drawer, then returned to the stairway and began sawing at the ribbon. It resisted at first, the tension of Holmes' weight making it difficult to cut, but then it gave way, tearing apart almost before my knife could cut it. "Look out, Holmes!"
I heard a crash, and peered over the bannister to see Holmes looking up at me, rubbing his head. "Next time, doctor, I would appreciate more warning."
With such a perfect opening, I couldn't resist asking, "Oh, so there's going to be a next time?"