It’s time for this week’s Song Title Challenge and you’re in for a bit of a treat (I hope).

After my call last week for some Christmassy songs I got three suggestions.  I decided that today, just because it’s almost Christmas, I’m going to treat you with all three.  That’s right, three stories based on Christmas-related songs in one day.  You’re welcome.

Write a short piece of fiction, around 300 words, using the song title as your story title but don’t listen to the song.  You can pick your own genre or use the one suggested to me.  Remember to link back to this post so I can find yours.

If you would like to suggest a song title for a future post, you can do so from the challenge page.  You can also leave a suggestion on the Facebook page.

Today’s first song is Christmas Tree On Fire by Holly Golightly and it was suggested by the wife.  She didn’t give a genre, so I just went with it.  The end result is not that far from the actual song.  Enjoy it.

Christmas Tree On Fire

We took position next to the door.  At O’Reilly’s signal I swung my axe.  This was not my first breach, and it connected just below the handle, shattering the lock.  I spun back to the cover of the wall, expecting the backdraft.  It didn’t come.

“Stay out here,” I told the new kid.  “We’ll make sure it’s safe first.”

I nodded at O’Reilly, fitted my oxygen mask, and took up the hose.  The door opened into a short corridor.  Light flickered through an opening at the far end.  We made our way towards it.

It looked like the living room.  Couple of couches, flatscreen against the wall, home theatre underneath to it.  Christmas tree on fire over in the corner.  Nothing else seemed to have burned and yet the room was thick with smoke.

Still, it seemed safe enough and I decided to let the kid have his first taste of fire.  I radioed him to come in with the extinguisher.  I nodded to the tree and he put the fire out in a few seconds.  O’Reilly headed back out to check the bedroom and I went to the kitchen, leaving the hose on the floor.

I should have had the kid accompany me.  Hindsight’s twenty-twenty, right?

I felt the hair on the back of my neck prickle.  I turned to see the kid opening a window, to let out the smoke.  Idiot.

The cool night air rushed in.  I knew it was only the dragon getting ready to release his flame.

“Flashover!” I yelled and threw myself to the ground.

Moments later the very air in the apartment ignited.  I must have passed out from the heat, cause next thing I was out on the street, O’Reilly slapping my face.

“The kid?” I asked.

His face told me all I needed to know.

Copyright © 2013 Herman Kok

• Fiction
• Song Title Challenge