The Chimney Sweep by Cerys H Y8

 

A story about a chimney sweep living in London, 1910 – a 500 Words Malala Competition Entry

Grab, pull, sweep, grab, pull, sweep. I listened to the rhythm of myself struggling up the chimney and dragging my brush up from behind me. Looking up, I saw that I was only a few feet away from the top of the chimney, only a few feet from freedom. I emerged from the imprisoning brick fortress I was trapped in and gazed at the scene below me. A dazzling yellow light crept around the small houses in the distance, painting the sky all sorts of colours and informing me that it a new day was dawning in London, another day in the year of 1910. Chariots had started their chaotic travelling, darting from street to street and passing the market stalls selling their freshly baked goods, toys and trinkets. As I looked down on the storybook scene, I so wished I was a part of it. I wished I was free. For I was a chimney sweep, the 'apprentice' to my master, George Williams, a stout man that I doubted had ever climbed up a chimney in his life. Unlike the waking people strolling along the market square, I did not have any rights. I worked from the hours before dawn to late in the night. Then I would lay on bags of coal and dream about the life I could have had. If only if I didn't run away from my mum in the marketplace that day... Or if I didn't follow Mr. Williams into his dark warehouse... I snapped myself out of those thoughts, no point dwelling on the past. I glanced at the now risen sun and made the same promise I always did, that I would find a way out of here, no matter how long it took.

I turned around, picked up my brush and started down the chimney. Grab, pull, brush, grab, pull, brush, grab, pull... My eyes began to droop, and I had to concentrate harder than ever to keep my focus. As I was halfway down the chimney, I doubled over in a fit of coughing, trying my hardest to take a breath of air.

"What is going on?" I thought. Then I noticed the thick black smoke coming from the fireplace below me and the unbearable heat that came with it.

"Help! Help me!" I tried to scream, but the black smoke coated my lungs and making talking any louder a whisper impossible. I was left here to die. There was no way up, no way down. As I closed my eyes for the last time, I accepted my fate and thought about the life I could've had.