MEGAN STARED AT the fireplace. Bits of black creosote fell
down onto the hearth like black snow. Megan kept her video camera
on the fireplace, barely breathing, scarcely able to believe she was
going to see Santa Claus emerge from the chimney with his gifts. This
moment contained the biggest question for her: How did Santa mange
to fit down the chimney with all his gifts? How did he actually climb
back up the chimney? Was he able to simply recreate the chimney
the way they did in The Santa Clause movie?
More pieces of creosote rained down into the fireplace and littered
the hearth. Then larger black pieces fell with heavy thuds. Some exploded
like small black bombs. This had never happened in any movie
Megan could remember. Now she became aware of other sounds.
Santa Claus was breathing heavy, grunting, thudding. Megan lowered
her camera and walked closer to the fireplace. The creosote was falling
like sand, as if someone was kicking the sides of the chimney. A cloud
of coal dust rolled into the living room, and somewhere far above
her she heard Santa again. His voice was deep and hollow, but that
might be because he was in a chimney. Megan stepped back into the
shadows and positioned herself. The sounds were getting louder, and
the size and amount of creosote had increased to a black avalanche.
Megan felt her heart and raised the camera again. Santa was
breathing very heavy and seemed to be grunting. A large black rock
of creosote hit the hearth and exploded like a small meteorite. The
sound stopped and Megan kept her eye on the camera, waiting for
Santa Claus to emerge in her living room. She bit her lip to make sure
she wasn’t dreaming. Here was the undisputable proof that not only
did Santa exist, but he had come down her chimney after landing on
her roof, and this proof would stream out into the world! She just had
to keep her camera aimed at the opening of their fireplace
A minute went by. Then another. Then another. Megan hit the
stop button and looked over her camera. She tiptoed up the fireplace
and bent her head, listening closely. There was no sound, then she
heard a single grunt, an expulsion of breath, then some dull cursing
followed by Santa’s voice echoing far up the chimney.
“I’m stuck!”
Real Santa Still On Holiday Sale
