I was about 5. Sitting in the living room. Watching something on TV, Blue’s Clues probably.
I heard an odd sound… to my right. I didn’t know what it is.

I looked around. I didn’t see anything. I saw a strange glowing from the fireplace. I crawled over to it.

There was a strange whispering coming from the fireplace.
“Let me out.“

I screamed and ran to my mommy. I jabbered on about the man in the fireplace.
“Oh, really? Cool!” she said.

She didn’t listen.

For a couple of weeks I talked to the man in the fireplace.

He likes green. His name is Parson. He’s missing his forehead.
We became best friends. I made a little hole in the wood so i could give him food. All i could see were his glowing green eyes.
My mom thought I had an imaginary friend.

One day Parson said to me in his creepy raspy voice, “Can I meet your daddy here at six-o’clock tonight?”
“Sure!” I said.

My dad went to the fireplace at six, like i told him. “Make him lay down!” Parson said. “Lay down daddy!” I told him. He did.